The White House has released a new cybersecurity policy for systems used in outer space and near space.

Space Policy Directive- 5 (SPD-5) is claimed to be the first comprehensive government policy related to cybersecurity for satellites and related systems.

The policy outlines a set of best practices that agencies and companies should follow to protect the nation’s space assets from cyber vulnerabilities and malicious threats.

Also, SPD-5 makes clear the lead role the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have in in enhancing the nation’s cyber defenses in space.

The policy also focuses on the fact that space systems and their supporting infrastructure should be developed and operated using risk-based, cybersecurity-informed engineering.

It also adds that space system cybersecurity requirements and regulations should leverage widely-adopted best practices and norms of behavior.

Further, the principles outlined in the policy include collaboration between space system owners and operators to promote the development of best practices and mitigations.