In today’s digital operating environment, the electromagnetic spectrum has become a fiercely contested domain. From military operations to civil infrastructure, the risks posed by electromagnetic intrusion and interference are growing, driven by advances in technology and the increasing reliance on wireless communications. Recent incidents, such as the Viasat satellite hack and persistent GPS jamming in Norway, highlight the urgent need for organizations to adopt comprehensive strategies to protect their systems, components, facilities and networks.
Hardening systems and infrastructure
The foundation of electromagnetic resilience lies in hardening systems, components, facilities and networks against intrusion and interference. This means designing architecture with resilience and redundancy at the forefront, protecting sensors, platforms and command infrastructure from unauthorized access. For example, anti-jamming GNSS antennas are essential for maintaining accurate navigation and timing in environments where interference is prevalent. These antennas use advanced filtering and innovative design to ensure reliable signal reception, even when intentional jamming or congestion threatens to overpower weak signals.
Facilities and networks must also be protected through emissions security solutions, such as those adhering to TEMPEST standards. This involves conducting harmonized threat risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities, securing workstations, routers, switches and other devices, and modifying equipment to meet stringent emission security requirements. By implementing these measures, organizations can safeguard sensitive data from electrical and electromagnetic threats, reducing the risk of unauthorized electronic intrusion.
Real-time monitoring for active intrusions detection
Hardening alone is not enough. Real-time monitoring is critical for detecting active intrusion and responding swiftly to threats. Modern cybersecurity solutions leverage AI-driven threat detection and 24/7 monitoring to identify suspicious activity across endpoints, identities and IoT devices. For instance, the use of security operations centres (SOC) and managed extended detection and response (MXDR) services enables organizations to continuously monitor their networks, detect anomalies and respond to incidents before they escalate.
Active monitoring also extends to data flows within command-and-control architectures. By adopting a systems-agnostic approach to interoperability, militaries can monitor data in and out, reconfigure networks to operate on different frequencies and adapt to evolving threat environments. This flexibility and agility are vital for evading jamming or intrusion and maintaining operational continuity.
Robust response procedures and tools
When an electromagnetic attack occurs, robust response procedures and tools are essential to limit its impact. Incident response plans and digital forensics capabilities enable organizations to quickly assess the situation, contain the threat and recover critical operations. Tabletop exercises and technical training ensure that leaders, staff and stakeholders are prepared to act decisively in the face of an attack.
The lessons from the Ukraine conflict underscore the importance of resilience and rapid response in the electromagnetic spectrum. Maintaining an advantage in this domain is essential for digital and operational mobility. Western militaries and industries must protect platforms, devices, infrastructure and installations against unauthorized access to electronic data, ensuring that they can operate securely even in contested environments.
How Calian can help
Reducing risks in the electromagnetic spectrum requires a multi-layered approach: hardening systems and infrastructure, conducting real-time monitoring and having robust response procedures and tools. By partnering with Calian to implement these strategies, industries and militaries can protect themselves against electromagnetic intrusion and interference, detect threats as they arise and respond effectively to limit the impact of attacks. In an era where spectrum superiority is essential, resilience is not just a technical requirement—it is a strategic imperative.
For more information, visit https://www.calian.com/defence/defence-cybersecurity/
To learn more about this topic read our whitepaper Managing Operations in Contested Electronic Environments
FAQs
- The electromagnetic spectrum includes all forms of electromagnetic radiation, from radio waves to gamma rays. Modern communication, navigation and control systems rely heavily on this spectrum. Protecting it is vital to ensure secure, uninterrupted operations for both military and civilian organizations.
- Threats include jamming, spoofing, electromagnetic interference, and unauthorized access to systems through side-channel emissions. These can disrupt communications, compromise data integrity and impact mission-critical operations.
- Hardening refers to designing and modifying systems, components and facilities to resist electromagnetic intrusion and interference. This can involve using anti-jamming GNSS antennas, implementing TEMPEST-compliant designs, and reinforcing network security to prevent data leakage.
- Real-time monitoring allows organizations to detect anomalies and potential intrusions as they occur. Through AI-driven threat detection and 24/7 monitoring—such as through Security Operations Centres (SOC) or Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR), organizations can quickly identify, isolate and respond to attacks before they cause significant damage.
- A systems-agnostic approach to interoperability allows organizations, especially military operations, to reconfigure networks, switch frequencies and adapt to evolving threats. This agility ensures continued operations even under jamming or interference conditions.
- A robust response plan should outline procedures for detection, containment, recovery and communication. It should also include digital forensics capabilities, regular tabletop exercises and technical training to ensure all stakeholders are prepared to act decisively in a real-world event.
- Calian provides end-to-end solutions for electromagnetic risk reduction, including system hardening, real-time monitoring and incident response support. By leveraging Calian’s expertise and technologies, organizations can enhance their resilience, protect critical assets and maintain operational integrity in contested environments.
- As digital systems become increasingly interconnected and reliant on wireless communication, the electromagnetic spectrum has become a key operational domain. Ensuring resilience not only protects technical assets, it preserves strategic advantage, mission success and national security.
