Cybersecurity for Space Companies

Requirements depend on your customers and what kind of data you handle. Companies working on defense contracts must protect Federal Contract Information under FAR 52.204-21. If they handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), they must also meet DFARS 252.204-7012, which requires implementing NIST SP 800-171 and reporting cyber incidents to DoD within 72 hours. Many space companies also handle ITAR- or EAR-controlled technical data, which adds export-control obligations.

Beyond contracts, federal guidance such as Space Policy Directive-5 sets expectations for securing space systems and ground infrastructure. No matter your specific environment, RADICL helps you map which requirements apply to your business and then helps you operate the controls continuously.

If you hold or pursue DoD contracts or subcontracts, then yes, CMMC very likely applies to you. The CMMC program rule is in effect, and Level 1 and Level 2 self-assessments are already appearing in contracts.

As of July 2026, DoD has paused the phase that would have made third-party (C3PAO) certification required for CUI contracts, but the pause doesn’t change the underlying requirements. NIST SP 800-171 and DFARS 7012 obligations still apply, and primes increasingly expect their suppliers to demonstrate readiness. RADICL helps you build and maintain a program that holds up under a self-assessment, a prime’s review, DIBCAC audit, or a future third-party assessment.

NIST SP 800-171 is the security baseline for protecting CUI in contractor systems, and it is the foundation that CMMC Level 2 is built on. For space and aerospace companies, CUI can include engineering drawings, mission specifications, and export-controlled technical data. That data typically lives in CAD and PLM tools, file shares, and the inboxes of a fast-moving engineering team.

Meeting 800-171 means controlling access to that data, monitoring it, and showing evidence that the controls are working. RADICL operationalizes the hardest of these controls, such as continuous monitoring, incident response, and vulnerability management, so they get you to a perfect assessment score and keep you safe long after the assessment is over.

Space companies are prime targets for nation-state actors seeking to shortcut years of R&D. RADICL’s 24/7 virtual SOC monitors your endpoints, identities, and cloud environments for the behaviors that signal intellectual property theft, such as compromised accounts, unusual data access, and lateral movement.

When something suspicious is detected, RADICL investigates and coordinates the response. Attack surface management finds exposed systems before adversaries do, and security awareness training prepares your team for the targeted phishing that often starts these campaigns.

Growth-stage space companies need what a SOC delivers: 24/7 detection, investigation, and response. Most don’t need to spend the time or resources to build their own in-house. Staffing a SOC around the clock requires multiple analysts, tooling, and threat intelligence, which is a major cost for a company still scaling.

RADICL’s virtual SOC provides that capability as a managed service, sized for growing companies. The RADICL Platform is modular, so you can start with the coverage you need most and expand as your contracts, headcount, and risk grow.

Yes. RADICL focuses on security operations, including detection, investigation, response coordination, and remediation tracking, while your MSP or IT team continues to run day-to-day IT. RADICL hands off clear, prioritized remediation work and tracks it through to verified closure, so everyone knows who owns what. This lets you add enterprise-grade security without replacing partners who already know your environment.

Defense customers and primes expect their suppliers to protect CUI, report incidents quickly, and demonstrate compliance with NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC. RADICL was built for growing businesses in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), and we have deep military experience on our staff.

Our vSOC continuously operates the controls that DoD contracts require and generates the documentation that shows those controls are working. That means fewer scrambles when a prime sends a security questionnaire, faster incident reporting under DFARS 7012, and a stronger position when you bid on new work.

RADICL tracks security work from detection to verified closure, so you get a record of outcomes instead of a simple list of tools you’ve deployed. That evidence supports CMMC and NIST 800-171 assessments, prime supplier reviews, customer security questionnaires, and investor due diligence, giving you a credible answer to “how do you know you’re secure?”

Most small security teams aren’t short on alerts, they’re short on time to determine which alerts matter. RADICL’s platform combines AI-driven analysis with human expertise to qualify and correlate signals across endpoint, identity, and cloud before anything reaches you.

Analysts investigate the alerts that are real, so your team only hears about issues that need action. On the vulnerability side, RADICL prioritizes findings by exposure and risk rather than raw severity scores, then tracks remediation until it’s done.

Yes. Incident response is both a NIST 800-171 requirement and an operational necessity. If a breach hits during a launch campaign or a contract milestone, you need a plan that works in practice.

RADICL helps you build and test an incident response plan grounded in the threats our vSOC sees every day. If an incident occurs, RADICL leads the investigation and coordinates response, which supports your 72-hour reporting obligation under DFARS 7012.

Good scoping is one of the most effective ways to reduce compliance cost and risk. Start by identifying where CUI and export-controlled data flow: which teams, systems, and cloud environments create, store, or share it.

Many companies can reduce their assessment scope by consolidating sensitive work into a defined enclave rather than securing everything to the highest standard. Mission-critical systems such as ground stations, test infrastructure, and flight software pipelines deserve separate attention even when they don’t contain CUI. RADICL can help you map that footprint and focus protection where it matters most.

RADICL’s mission is to protect American innovation in all forms, and we support a broad swath of industries.. Many space companies operate in both markets, selling commercially while pursuing government contracts, and the threats they face are the same either way.

Nation-state actors and criminal groups target valuable IP and critical infrastructure regardless of who the customer is. Commercial space companies benefit from the same 24/7 detection and response, attack surface management, and security awareness training as DIB companies. If you plan to pursue defense work later, starting with a NIST 800-171-aligned foundation now makes that transition much easier, and we can help.