Microsemi has unveiled its BlueSky GNSS Firewall to provide critical infrastructure providers with enhanced security from GPS threats. While GPS has revolutionized the world with its ability to provide accurate and cost-effective positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), its rapid adoption has caused critical infrastructure sectors to be overly dependent upon the satellite-based system. The signals transmitted from GPS and other GNSS constellations can be a threat vector, which, if disrupted, could harm key critical infrastructure sectors including telecommunications, energy, transportation, emergency services and data centers.
The susceptibilities of the GPS signal to attack, whether intentional or not, are viewed similarly as a cybersecurity threat. In recent months, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of reported GPS incidents, causing critical infrastructure providers to evaluate the security, reliability and resiliency of their GPS-based PNT dependency.
Microsemi’s new security-hardened system provides protection against GPS threats such as jamming, spoofing and complete outage. It also supports a range of precision timing technologies, including atomic clocks, to enable continuous operation when GPS may be completely denied for extended periods. In addition, Microsemi is expanding the GNSS portfolio with the introduction of a BlueSky option to its TimePictra software management suite, providing centralized control and visibility of GPS reception across regional, national and global geographic areas.
Microsemi has applied the same principles of a firewall used for network security to defend against GPS threats coming from the sky. Within the new BlueSky GNSS Firewall, the incoming GPS signal is analyzed in real time to detect a wide range of threats before connected GPS receivers and related systems are affected. The Firewall incorporates an optional internal rubidium Miniature Atomic Clock (MAC) enabling continuous output of the GPS signal to the downstream GPS receiver in case of complete loss of live sky GPS reception. Alternatively, Microsemi's cesium clocks, such as the 5071A or TimeCesium 4400/4500, can be connected to the device, enabling UTC traceable time for more than 30 days.
Microsemi's BlueSky GPS Firewall platform features optional BlueSky software incorporated into its TimePictra management system. To ensure the BlueSky GNSS Firewall is equipped to defend against an ever-evolving threat, Microsemi updates and continuously tracks GPS signal manipulation, spoofing threats, jamming attacks, multipath signal interference, atmospheric activity and many other issues which can create GPS signal anomalies, disruptions and outages. These updates are available through a BlueSky subscription service.
Microsemi's technical experts are showcasing the new BlueSky GNSS Firewall, along with its full range of timing and synchronization solutions including the latest advancements in atomic clocks, timescale solutions, and PTP and NTP server systems, in booth 612 at the International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of the Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+) taking place from Sept. 24-28 in Miami, Florida.
Click here to learn more about Microsemi's GPS threat protection and security solutions, including videos demonstrating how the product provides secure and resilient protection.
