1
Find the terrain that matters
Identify mission systems, users, trust boundaries, command paths, telemetry paths, external dependencies, and hidden assumptions.
Space & Defense Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity for the systems behind space operations.
CAST helps federal space and defense programs understand, secure, and defend the cyber terrain that mission success depends on.
We support mission system cybersecurity, Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) integration, RMF evidence development, and mission cyber terrain analysis for programs where cyber risk must be tied to real engineering and real operational impact.
The problem
Space cyber risk gets lost between engineering, RMF, intelligence, and leadership.
CAST was built to close that gap.
2
Connect risk to mission effect
Translate findings into what could degrade, delay, deny, expose, misroute, or compromise mission operations.
3
Build evidence that holds up
Map NIST SP 800-53 controls to design, implementation, verification artifacts, and authorization needs.
The CAST Mission Cyber Method
Mission first. Cyber terrain second. Compliance evidence third.
CAST does not treat cybersecurity as a paperwork problem. The method ties cyber requirements and findings to actual system behavior and mission consequence.
Terrain
Map the systems, interfaces, users, data flows, and trust boundaries that matter.
Threat
Connect adversary behavior to realistic paths through the environment.
Impact
Translate technical findings into operational effects leaders can understand.
Evidence
Build control traceability and verification support that matches the system.
Decision
Support risk acceptance, mitigation, escalation, and program review decisions.
Core capabilities
Focused support for space and defense programs.
CAST helps teams secure mission systems, produce defensible RMF evidence, and connect cyber findings to operational risk.
Mission System Cyber Engineering
Cybersecurity engineering embedded into system design, interfaces, and the software development lifecycle so controls are reflected in real system behavior.
- Space system cybersecurity (SPARTA Framework)
- Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) integration
- Build review and security risk identification
- Architecture and interface risk
- Certificate of Flight Readiness (CoFR) cyber support
RMF Evidence That Matches the System
NIST SP 800-53 implementation mapped directly to system design, verification evidence, and authorization requirements.
- SSP-ready implementation statements
- Control validation support
- Audit-ready traceability
Mission Cyber Terrain & Attack Path Analysis
Threat-informed analysis connecting adversary behavior, system dependencies, and mission impact to support operational decisions.
- Mission cyber terrain mapping
- MITRE ATT&CK and SPARTA context
- ACAS / NESSUS vulnerability analysis
- Commander-ready reporting
Ground segmentOperators, tools, networks, and mission data
Identity accessUsers, roles, privileges, and authentication
InterfacesTrust boundaries and data exchanges
External supportVendors, primes, labs, and partner systems
CAST maps cyber risk to mission terrain
Technical findings become mission impact, engineering actions, and defensible evidence.
Mission softwareImplementation behavior and verification needs
Command pathsAuthorization, integrity, and replay resistance
Telemetry pathsAvailability, integrity, monitoring, and recovery
Mission effectDegrade, delay, deny, expose, misroute, compromise
Why it matters
Cyber risk is only useful when it is tied to mission effect.
Technical finding
A vulnerable interface, weak authentication path, unmanaged dependency, or control implementation gap.
→
Mission path
The system, user role, data flow, command path, telemetry stream, or dependency the issue touches.
→
Operational effect
What could degrade, delay, deny, expose, misroute, or compromise the mission.
Relevant background
Experience brought into CAST from space and defense environments.
The following experience was performed by CAST’s founder as an employee under other organizations prior to establishing CAST.
NASA Gateway
SSDLC integration for NASA Gateway flight software — leading the security workstream within the development lifecycle, reviewing builds, identifying security deficiencies, recommending fixes, and driving technical risk discussions to align system design and verification with NIST 800-53 requirements for human spaceflight mission systems.
Space Force Mission Cyber Analysis
Mission cyber terrain mapping, mission dependency analysis, and threat-informed operational reporting in support of planning and mission assurance.
USAF / USSF Intelligence
All-source intelligence analysis, adversary threat modeling, course-of-action analysis, and commander-focused decision support.
Cleared support for space and defense