7SHIELD · Project

AI-Powered Security System Protecting Satellite Ground Stations from Physical and Cyber Attacks

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Imagine the ground stations that receive satellite data are like post offices for space — they collect everything from weather images to security footage. Right now, these stations are vulnerable to both break-ins and hacking, and a single attack could knock out data that governments and businesses rely on daily. 7SHIELD built a smart security system that combines physical protection (like radar fences and laser sensors) with AI-driven cybersecurity, all working together in one control dashboard. They tested it at 5 real satellite ground stations across Europe to make sure it actually works under real conditions.

By the numbers

Ground segment installations where the system was field-demonstrated

Consortium partners involved in development

Countries represented in the consortium

Industry partners in the consortium

SMEs participating in the project

Total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Satellite ground stations are classified as EU critical infrastructure, yet they remain vulnerable to both physical break-ins and cyberattacks. A successful attack can disrupt satellite data distribution — affecting everything from weather forecasting to emergency response — while a cyber breach compromises the reliability and accessibility of the data itself. Current security approaches fail to combine physical and digital protection into a single, coordinated defense system.

The solution

What was built

7SHIELD built an integrated cyber-physical protection platform that combines e-fences, passive radars, laser technologies, AI-powered video surveillance (deliverable D4.5), machine learning threat detection, recommendation systems, and unified security dashboards. The system was field-demonstrated and evaluated at 5 real ground segment installations (deliverable D7.3), with 23 deliverables produced in total.

Audience

Who needs this

Satellite ground segment operators (e.g., Copernicus data centers)Critical infrastructure security integratorsNational space agencies and defense ministriesEarth observation data service providersManaged security service providers for high-value facilities

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Space & Satellite Operations

enterprise

Target: Satellite ground segment operator or earth observation data provider

If you are a satellite ground station operator dealing with increasing physical intrusion attempts and cyber threats to your data infrastructure — this project developed an integrated protection system combining e-fences, passive radars, laser sensors, and AI-powered video surveillance that was field-tested at 5 real ground segment installations across Europe. It plugs into your existing security setup rather than replacing it.

Critical Infrastructure Security

mid-size

Target: Security integrator or managed security service provider for critical infrastructure

If you are a security solutions provider struggling to offer combined physical-and-cyber protection for high-value facilities — 7SHIELD developed a modular platform with machine learning-based threat detection, recommendation systems, and unified dashboards that was validated with 22 consortium partners including 13 industry players. The system is designed to interoperate with protection solutions already deployed at client sites.

Defense & Government Security

enterprise

Target: National space agency or defense ministry responsible for space asset protection

If you are a government body responsible for protecting space infrastructure classified as EU critical infrastructure under directive 2008/14 — this project delivered field-demonstrated technology for cyber-physical protection including AI video surveillance, passive radar, and data security modules. The solution was co-designed with first responder teams and contributes to policy and standardization for contingency planning.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would this cost to deploy at our facility?

The project data does not include pricing or per-unit costs. As an Innovation Action with 22 partners, the technology was developed for enterprise-scale critical infrastructure. Contact the coordinator Engineering Ingegneria Informatica SPA to discuss licensing and deployment pricing for your specific installation.

Can this scale to protect multiple ground stations or facilities?

Yes — the system was designed as a flexible and adaptable platform and was demonstrated at 5 separate ground segment installations. The modular architecture means components like e-fences, passive radars, AI video surveillance, and cyber threat protection can be deployed individually or together depending on facility needs.

Who owns the IP and how is it licensed?

The consortium of 22 partners across 12 countries jointly developed the technology. Engineering Ingegneria Informatica SPA (Italy) coordinated the project. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated with the relevant IP holders — likely the partners who led specific technology modules such as CERTH for video surveillance.

Does this meet regulatory requirements for critical infrastructure protection?

The project explicitly addresses EU critical infrastructure directive 2008/14 and contributes to policy making, standardization, and new guidelines for contingency planning and service continuity. It also addresses FAIR data standards (findability, accessibility, interoperability, reusability) for satellite data.

How long would deployment take?

The project ran for 30 months (September 2020 to February 2023) including development and field demonstrations. Based on available project data, the system is designed to integrate with existing protection solutions, which should reduce deployment time compared to a full replacement. Specific timelines would depend on your facility's current setup.

Can it integrate with our existing security systems?

This was a core design principle. The project objective explicitly states the system is built for 'integrating or interoperating with existing protection solutions already deployed at installations.' The platform uses data integration, processing, and analytics layers that connect to your current infrastructure.

Was this tested in real operational environments?

Yes. Field demonstrations were conducted at 5 installations of ground segments of space systems, with results documented in deliverable D7.3 (Field demonstrations and final system evaluation). The final demonstration showcased full 7SHIELD functionality and pilot implementation.

Consortium

Who built it

The 7SHIELD consortium is heavily industry-oriented with 13 out of 22 partners coming from industry (59%), including 9 SMEs — a strong signal that commercial exploitation was a priority from the start. The partnership spans 12 countries (BE, CH, CY, EL, ES, FI, FR, IL, IT, NL, PT, UK), giving it broad European market reach. The coordinator, Engineering Ingegneria Informatica SPA, is a major Italian IT company (not an SME), which adds credibility for enterprise buyers. With 6 research organizations and 1 university providing the scientific backbone, the balance favors practical deployment over academic output. For a business looking to adopt this technology, the wide industry participation means multiple potential vendors and integration partners are already familiar with the system.

ENGINEERING - INGEGNERIA INFORMATICA SPACoordinator · IT
RESILTECH SRLparticipant · IT
ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXISparticipant · EL
SATWAYS-OLOKLIROMENES LYSEIS ASFALEIAS KAI AMYNAS-IDIOTIKI EPICHEIRISI PAROCHIS YPIRESION ASFALEIAS (IEPYA)-ETAIREIA PERIORISMENIS EFTHYNISparticipant · EL
SPACE APPLICATIONS SERVICES NVparticipant · BE
CENTRO REGIONALE INFORMATION E COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY SCARLparticipant · IT
DEIMOS ENGINEERING AND SYSTEMS SLUparticipant · ES
DR FRUCHT SYSTEMS LTDparticipant · IL
SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITYparticipant · UK
KENTRO MELETON ASFALEIASparticipant · EL
CS GROUP - Franceparticipant · FR
ILMATIETEEN LAITOSparticipant · FI
RESILIENCE GUARD GMBHparticipant · CH
ETHNIKO ASTEROSKOPEIO ATHINONparticipant · EL
CYBERLENS BVparticipant · NL
ACCELIGENCE LTDparticipant · CY
HELLENIC POLICEparticipant · EL
SERCO ITALIA SPAparticipant · IT
INOV INSTITUTO DE ENGENHARIA DE SISTEMAS E COMPUTADORES INOVACAOparticipant · PT
DEIMOS SPACE SOCIEDAD LIMITADA UNIPERSONALparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

Engineering Ingegneria Informatica SPA (Italy) — a large IT services company. Look for their space/defense division or innovation department for commercial inquiries.

Order a report on this consortium See ENGINEERING - INGEGNERIA INFORMATICA SPA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the 7SHIELD team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right technical contact for your specific security needs — whether that is AI video surveillance, passive radar, cyber threat protection, or the full integrated platform.

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