• The European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) two new major cybersecurity resilience systems, the Cyber Safety and Security Operations Centre (C-SOC) and the Space Security Cyber Centre of Excellence (SCCoE), are now entering their operational phases.
• Starion Group and Nexova Cyber SA, in partnership with NVISO, have been awarded contracts to provide maintenance and operations services to the C-SOC.

From infrastructures on the ground to satellites in orbit, ESA systems must be protected against growing cyber threats. ESA has awarded contracts for the maintenance and operations of its C-SOC and SCCoE centres, cornerstone initiatives that will safeguard ESA’s missions and corporate activities by providing critical cybersecurity engineering and monitoring capabilities.

The C-SOC ensures monitoring of cyber threats and vulnerabilities across ESA systems at corporate and space infrastructure levels. Under the new contracts, Starion and Nexova, in partnership with NVISO, will oversee these operations, providing continuous monitoring while delivering advanced capabilities such as digital forensics, incident response support, threat hunting and system maintenance.

The SCCoE serves as a cornerstone in safeguarding the European Space Agency’s (ESA) space missions and corporate operations, from initial design to final qualification. Under its new contract, Nexova will assume full responsibility for SCCoE’s daily operations and maintenance, drawing on a cutting-edge cyber-range and emulation solution jointly developed by Nexova and ESA. As part of its mandate, Nexova will equip spacecraft operators and technical staff with the skills to identify and respond to cybersecurity threats, using advanced space and ground-based emulation environments. Through this comprehensive approach, the overall resilience of ESA’s missions against emerging cyber risks will be enhanced.

In delivering this contract, Nexova will operate the SCCoE’s three core services: cyber awareness and training, security validation functionality, security testing and vulnerability assessments.

Markus Rückert, Head of Mission Operations Infrastructure IT at ESOC, said: “Maturing C-SOC and SCCoE and entering operations is the result of ESA’s commitment to safety and security under our ESA Agenda 2025. Under the lead of ESA’s Security Office, ESA experts teamed up with European industry to take cyber resilience to the next level. Together, we are establishing unique cybersecurity operations capabilities, geared towards the comprehensive protection of critical corporate, space and ground systems alike.

“Given the knowledge that Starion and Nexova have of our security systems, and experience with ESA’s C-SOC and SCCoE from their very beginning, we look forward to a fruitful continuation of our relationship as we move into their operational phase. We highly appreciate that Starion and Nexova teamed up with NVISO, whose profile and competence is already making a difference.”

Gaëtan Desclée, CEO of Starion, explained: “Our heritage in supporting ESA with the development of the C-SOC since its creation means we are already very well acquainted with the C-SOC concept and remit. Now, as the C-SOC enters its operational phase, together with Nexova and NVISO we will leverage our heritage to provide an efficient and effective service to ensure the security of ESA’s operations. We look forward to supporting ESA in its ambitions to have the best possible cybersecurity framework and seeing the C-SOC operating effectively.”

Matteo Merialdo, Cybersecurity Principal at Nexova, said: “Our cybersecurity experts are very familiar with both the C-SOC and SCCoE as they have been involved in their design and development for the last 3 years. They therefore fully understand their functionalities and use cases, and the broader space context in which they play a vital role. We are delighted to have been chosen to lead operations and maintenance for both of these essential operational units and look forward to supporting ESA in maximising its cybersecurity posture.

“The geographical proximity between ESEC and Nexova’s new Cyber Centre of Excellence in Transinne will provide additional benefits, as we leverage synergies between our two physical sites as well as between the C-SOC and SCCoE.”

Pierre-Alain Mouy, Managing Partner, NVISO, added: “We recognise the importance of the C-SOC in ESA’s cybersecurity strategy and are excited to be working with Starion on the operations and maintenance of the C-SOC in Germany and Belgium. Cyber resilience is essential for the European space sector, and we look forward to playing our part in achieving that.”