GMV hosts ISAC plenary meeting

On June 5, GMV hosted the plenary meeting of the EU Space Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (ISAC) at its headquarters. This pivotal initiative is aimed at strengthening the resilience and security of the European space ecosystem. The event brought together more than 40 senior participants, including representatives from the National Intelligence Center (CNI), the European Commission, the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), and leading industry figures.

Held within the framework of the European Union’s Space Strategy for Security and Defence, the meeting facilitated discussions on the current cybersecurity threat landscape, sharing insights on emerging risks, and reviewing advancements in information-sharing platforms. Javier Candau, Deputy Director General of the National Cryptologic Center, opened the session with an overview of the geopolitical context and the goals of the European defense and security strategy.

The event began with a presentation outlining ISAC’s structure, membership, and the key stakeholders involved in its development and evolution. This was followed by updates from the two active working groups within ISAC: WG-1, focusing on security and cybersecurity threats, and WG-3, which addresses standards, norms, and best practices for cybersecurity in the space sector. Financial matters and new European legislation related to space security were then discussed, emphasizing the urgent need to bolster the EU’s strategic stance and technological autonomy amid increasing hostile threats.

A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the “EU Space ISAC Madrid Declaration”, a declaration of intent underscoring the imperative to enhance cooperation between industry and European institutions to safeguard the resilience of the space sector. The declaration reaffirmed ISAC’s role as a central hub for information sharing and incident advisory, fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual trust. It issued an open call to all European space stakeholders, including engineers, manufacturers, operators, and service providers, to unite in building a resilient, secure, and competitive ecosystem.

In the afternoon, the agenda continued with contributions from the National Cryptologic Center on two decades of cybersecurity expertise, a presentation by Miguel Álvarez Martínez, Director General of Mobility at the Ministry of Transport, and a talk by Jorge Blanco, CISO of Google for Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, on emerging space-related threats. The meeting concluded with closing remarks from the European Commission and EUSPA, who praised the event’s success and stressed the importance of further developing such forums for dialogue and cooperation.

Through this plenary meeting, GMV not only reaffirmed its position as a key player in space cybersecurity but also strengthened its commitment to European strategic collaboration aimed at protecting and ensuring the continuity of space infrastructures and services in the face of present and future challenges.