(8 July 2008). Logica, one of Europe’s leading IT and business services companies, has been awarded a new contract for security for the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Earth observation missions. The contract will see Logica defining the security measures needed to ensure the integrity of the Payload Data Ground Segment (PDGS), which acquires, processes, archives and disseminates ESA’s Earth observation programme data, including third party and (in the future) Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security (GMES) missions.
The project covers the Payload Ground Segment security of the Agency’s distributed ground segment. This includes its management and control centre in Frascati, Italy, and several receiving stations and processing facilities across Europe from the Arctic Circle to the Canary Islands.
Logica will produce an all-encompassing, innovative information security design that includes organisational and procedural security, buildings, personnel, hardware, software and communications. It will also include the initial audit and testing of the current PDGS, and a risk analysis to link the business impact of a compromise, with the likelihood of it occurring. The project will also define the security contractual conditions to be included in contracts and agreements relating to the use of GMES data.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Gunther Kohlhammer, head of Earth Observation Ground Segment department at ESA said: “The importance of security and data integrity has become increasingly evident as ESA is now involved, through GMES, in the development of user-driven missions of a more operational nature. We chose Logica because of their extensive experience in all matters relating to security, particularly within the space arena where Logica has led many security aspects of Galileo and EGNOS.”
Stuart Martin, director space and satcoms at Logica said: “Earth observation data is immensely powerful in terms of telling us how the world is changing and for informing necessary decisions that need to be taken as a result. It influences all manner of investments such as infrastructure planning, and as such must be absolutely trustworthy. Logica has one of the largest security practices in Europe and we shall be combining this expertise with our experience of GMES security, PDGS design, and data policy to give ESA a clear set of recommended actions.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Logica
Logica is a leading IT and business services company, employing 39,000 people across 36 countries. It provides business consulting, systems integration, and IT and business process outsourcing services. Logica works closely with its customers to release their potential – enabling change that increases their efficiency, accelerates growth and manages risk. It applies its deep industry knowledge, technical excellence and global delivery expertise to help its customers build leadership positions in their markets. Logica is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext (Amsterdam) (LSE: LOG; Euronext: LOG). More information is available at www.logica.com.
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Nicky Rich
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Logica
Tel: +44 (0) 78 345 83185
Email: nicky.rich@logica.com