The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) and Global VSAT Forum (GVF) – leading trade associations representing the satellite communications industry – have released a joint statement on the satellite industry’s commitment to cybersecurity, articulating core principles for cybersecurity and encouraging all segments of the satellite industry to continue efforts to address the dynamic challenge of cybersecurity.

The statement emphasizes the criticality of cybersecurity to the satellite industry’s core goal of providing mission critical, highly reliable, and secure connectivity. “The satellite industry has a long history of providing secure solutions to diverse global customers,” the associations said, “including military and government users, corporations of every size and type, the non-profit and scientific communities, and individual consumers.”

Drawing upon the industry’s experience, SIA and GVF have identified three principles that— although not intended to be a comprehensive roadmap or exhaustive list—should be at the center of private and government efforts to promote national and global cybersecurity:

Voluntary, industry-led efforts and public-private partnerships are the optimal way to address cybersecurity at the national or international levels.

Robust cybersecurity is aided by voluntary information sharing, free from fear of adverse consequences.

Satellite industry organizations should actively address cybersecurity using industry best practices for risk management.

The associations expand upon these principles in the statement, offering further details of how they might be implemented by companies throughout the satellite industry and through government efforts. In addition to articulating these core principles, the joint statement also details numerous initiatives within national governments, intergovernmental organizations, and international standards bodies evidencing the satellite industry’s foundational and long-standing commitment to cybersecurity.

The joint statement and core principles are a product of the important lessons for effective cybersecurity learned by SIA and GVF members. The associations stress that security and risk management should be part of an organization’s overall corporate culture. Organizations should, implement and maintain best practices to protect against evolving threats, including by leveraging industry-driven resources to inform their own development of voluntary, proactive, risk-based approaches to mitigate risks. Collaboration, not regulation, is the best way for organizations to manage cyber risks, the associations argue. Finally, voluntary information- sharing among the private sector, between the private sector and government, and between the private sector and end users is vital.

Full text of the core-principles document can been seen at: http://www.sia.org/wp- content/uploads/2016/11/SIA-GVF-Joint-Cybersecurity-Policy-Statement-FINAL-v.1-Nov- 2016.pdf

About Global VSAT Forum (GVF)

GVF is the single and unified voice of the global satellite industry. Founded in 1997, it brings together organisations engaged in the delivery of advanced broadband and narrowband satellite services to consumers, and commercial and government enterprises worldwide. Headquartered in London, GVF is an independent, non-partisan and non-profit organisation members from every region of the world. The broad-based membership represents every sector of the satellite industry, including fixed and mobile satellite operators, satellite network operators, teleports, satellite earth station manufacturers, system integrators, value added and enhanced service providers, telecom carriers, consultants, law firms, and users. For more information contact david.hartshorn@gvf.org or angie.mar@gvf.org.

About The Satellite Industry Association

SIA is a U.S.-based trade association providing representation of the leading satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. For more than two decades, SIA has advocated on behalf of the U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business. For more information, visit www.sia.org.

SIA Executive Members include: The Boeing Company; DIRECTV; EchoStar Corporation; Intelsat S.A.; Iridium Communications Inc.; Kratos Defense & Security Solutions; Ligado Networks; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Northrop Grumman Corporation; OneWeb; SES Americom, Inc.; Space Exploration Technologies Corp.; SSL; and ViaSat, Inc. SIA Associate Members include: ABS US Corp.; Artel, LLC; COMSAT Inc.: DigitalGlobe Inc.; DRS Technologies, Inc.; Eutelsat America Corp.; Global Eagle Entertainment; Glowlink Communications Technology, Inc.; Hughes; iDirect Government Technologies; Inmarsat, Inc.; Kymeta Corporation; L-3 Electron Technologies, Inc.; O3b Limited; Panasonic Avionics Corporation; Planet; TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.; Telesat Canada; TrustComm, Inc.; Ultisat, Inc.; and XTAR, LLC.

SIA Contact Regarding Cybersecurity:
Charity Weeden
Senior Director of Policy

SATELLITE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
cweeden@sia.org

SIA Media Contact:
Dean Hirasawa
Endeavour Communications dhirasawa@sia.org