Australia: Space Cyber Security Report Challenges, Anticipated Readiness, and Future Directions

Australia: Space Cyber Security Report Challenges, Anticipated Readiness, and Future Directions

Sponsored by the Australian Government Department of Defence's Strategic Policy Grants Program, researchers from RMIT University's Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation investigated Australia's preparedness to respond to space cyber security vulnerabilities and enhance its resilience.

The project team conducted a threat assessment, reviewed counterstrategies, and examined vulnerabilities within Australia's space sector.

This rapid expansion increases exposure to cyber threats, yet Australia lacks a unified national Space Cyber Security (SCS) framework, creating ambiguity over responsibilities.

Space is a key warfighting domain for Defence and is integral to military operations, critical infrastructure monitoring, navigation, and telecommunications

However, space systems face compounding vulnerabilities, including complex supply chains, single points of failure, a specialised workforce shortage, and significant risks from dual-use commercial systems that interact with critical government infrastructure.

Summary – Findings:

Cyber attacks on space systems represent a rapidly growing threat to national security. The report finds a dramatic increase in attacks from both criminal and state actors, which are exacerbated by the integration of AI, IoT, and third-party solutions.

While Australia's space ecosystem is growing and designated as critical infrastructure under the SOCI Act 2018, it is highly vulnerable due to a narrow education base, a critical cyber talent shortage, and an over-reliance on global partners and workforces.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is deeply dependent on space for capabilities like precision strikes and ISR, but current acquisitions fail to adequately address cyber vulnerabilities, and dual-use commercial providers are deemed unreliable in crises.

The report stresses an urgent need to define what sovereign capability means for Australia to guide investment, bolster supply chains, and enhance resilience through a whole-of- government approach incorporating secure-by-design and Zero Trust principles from inception.

Recommendations

The report issues a series of strategic recommendations to secure Australia's space assets. Key actions include:

  • Developing an Australian sovereign space capability to support Australian military and commercial needs.
  • Promoting and expanding job opportunities in the Australian space industry and cyber security with a program to connect both.
  • All Australian commercial space infrastructure should be considered dual sector and appropriate standards/ definitions understanding need to be developed. Which means adopting a dual sector understanding of policies and regulatory features.
  • Strengthening Australia’s space and cyber supply chain security.
  • Developing a resilience action plan for Australian space infrastructure.
  • Australia to develop comprehensive space-based cyber security standards.
  • Deepening relationships between the Australian military and Australian commercial space operations.
  • Enabling Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) and Secure-by-Design principles as a foundation for all Australian cyber space-based systems.
  • Integrate Space into the proposed Cyber Workforce Professionalisation Framework.

Funding and institutional support

RMIT CCSRI and WiseLaw were collaborative research partners on this  project. This research was supported by the Department of Defence as part of the Strategic Policy Grants Program.  

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29 October 2025

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29 October 2025

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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