BlueSky GNSS firewall update protects infrastructure
Critical infrastructure systems (e.g. power utilities, financial services, mobile networks and transportation) rely on timing derived from global positioning system (GPS). An update by Microchip Technology to its BlueSky GNSS Firewall software raises the level of resiliency against GPS vulnerabilities for systems.
Microchip’s BlueSky GNSS Firewall software release 2.0 performs real-time analysis to detect jamming and spoofing for protecting reception of the GPS signal and hardening response and recovery to avoid signal disruption. Release 2.0 includes charting and advanced threshold settings of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) elements such as satellites-in-view, carrier-to-noise, position dispersion, phase time deviation and the RF power level to simplify system turn-up and deployment.
Microchip developed improvements as a result of participation in an industry live-sky testing event hosted by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate. It identified new solutions to prevent signal disruption to develop the Blue Sky GNSS Firewall software release 2.0 to address operators’ evolving requirements.
Updates are essential to defend against rapidly-evolving GNSS disruptions and enable critical infrastructure operators to avoid interruptions of service.
Microchip’s BlueSky GNSS Firewall software release 2.0 is provided as part of a subscription service and is installed on the BlueSky GNSS Firewall device. When connected to Microchip’s TimePictra management software, critical infrastructure operators also can monitor and analyse GNSS signals in cities, across geographic regions, throughout a country and even globally.
Complementary devices and software in Microchip’s suite of GPS systems and services include the TimeProvider 4100 precise timing grandmaster with gateway clock, SyncServer 600/650 timing and frequency instrument, miniature atomic clock (MAC), Time Cesium and 5071A Cesium primary frequency standard.
