GPS Security Solutions

Excerpt of “Designing Around the Threat to Timing in Modern Networks”

A GPS Security Solutions Primer

As technology and services advance, GPS security solutions must keep up the pace. Reliable network timing is more critical than ever. While legacy analog networks traditionally required frequency synchronization from a central source, properly functioning modern networks require increasingly precise references to single-clock sources. This is a modern demand for telecommunications, media, IT and utility networks. As is the case with all critical requirements, there exists the threat of disruption – both intentional and accidental. In the case of network timing, which is commonly derived from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) source like GPS, the intentional GPS threats to disruption most often comes in the form of jamming or spoofing. The ease with which jamming and spoofing can be applied to GNSS systems has created the need to ensure that a common clock source can survive multiple types of disruption, be they local or widespread, short in duration or prolonged. This paper will describe the current need for network timing and the reality of the GPS threats against it. It will also explore the proper methodologies and systems that should be employed in network design and operation to protect the timing source and guarantee consistent, quality services. With attacks rising, your network needs GPS security solutions.

What Makes Network Timing Critical?

Data transactions between network equipment and applications that are distributed around the world are growing in number quickly year after year. Meanwhile, expectations for performance by users and service providers continue to get more demanding. GPS security solutions are needed. Highspeed, low latency, high throughput networks are being deployed to enable the normal demand plus new services. IT networks are being designed with faster interfaces, faster processors, and faster storage to shave every possible microsecond off transactions.

Smart Grid technologies are revolutionizing how power is generated and distributed, saving energy, and improving the performance of utilities. 5G wireless technologies have been deployed to satisfy the rapid growth in the number of wireless devices, as well as the demand for high bit rate, low latency services. Edge networks are bringing formerly centralized functions closer to their consumers, further augmenting performance. All of this depends on geographically diverse network architectures to operate.

Synchronization of network time – down to the microsecond –is critical for network performance, stability and most importantly, security. This is not optional. Any drift from a commonly referenced time causes operations to
unravel.

Precision Timing Protocol (PTP)

PTP is used to counteract this issue, with a standard reference source invariably derived from an RF signal transmitted by the different GNSS satellite networks in Earth’s orbit. This is often achieved simply with an antenna at each location or for each different application. It is seemingly always available, which has caused a dependency that is now being exploited. GPS signals originate in space, far away from any terrestrial consumer of the signal. They are very low power, and well documented so the specifications are known. The signal can be spoofed and replaced with a similar signal of a higher power, or, more easily, jammed with different signal of a higher power. While spoofing is an intentional attempt to disrupt service reliant on GNSS signaling, jamming can be intentional or accidental. In modern war zones, jamming or spoofing GNSS signals is a standard tactic, as it is an effective way to insert chaos into standard operations, as well as disrupt tracking capabilities of weapons systems.

Even in peaceful regions, GPS jammers are widely available for purchase. Commercial drivers use them to disrupt monitoring of their delivery vehicle location or speed. Individuals use them to protect themselves from stalkers
using tracking devices. Journalists and detectives may use them to avoid being tracked when meeting with confidential sources. Sometimes, car thieves will use them to avoid being caught. For just a few hundred US dollars, it is possible to purchase a handheld jammer that will disrupt an entire city block – including the critical networks that run through it. While network time may be an afterthought for many networks, protection from the harm that GPS disruption can cause is relatively inexpensive and should be a standard component of network architecture.

To fully appreciate the importance of designing timing resiliency for networks, it is important to understand the applications of PTP in several common modern networks. Wireline networks, 5G wireless networks, power utility networks, and high-performance edge data networks are critical to our lives and our national security and need to be protected.

Syncworks offers GPS security solutions that incorporate Low Earth Orbits (LEO) satellites. Above is a map of Low, Medium, and Geostationary Earth orbits. Lower latency and higher data rates are benefits of LEO.

Utilities and GPS Security

Our critical energy infrastructure is being upgraded to meet evolving standards for efficiency, output, stability, security, and environmental impact. As it stands today, power generation and distribution systems are a mix of old and new. This mix makes network timing and synchronization more critical components of utilities’ infrastructure. With recent weapon attacks in North Carolina, GPS security solutions and backup plans are essential.

In power generation, PTP is used to synchronize the clocks of generators, turbines, and other equipment. It is essential to maintaining a stable and reliable power grid. For example, PTP is used to synchronize the clocks of two generators operating in parallel. This ensures that the generators are consistently producing the same frequency and voltage. A lack of synchronization creates inconsistencies that can cause power brownouts and blackouts. PTP is also used to support frequency regulation of generators. This matches output to consumption, which is necessary to ensure an optimally efficient utility.

In power distribution, PTP is used to synchronize the clocks of substations, transformers, and other equipment. Consistency is necessary for not only efficiency, but also safety. For example, two substations connected by a transmission line could be receiving their timing source from separate GPS references. When things are working properly, they will be in phase with each other. But the loss of one reference at one substation with no backup source for PTP can cause widespread outages. This is a significant security concern, as any power outage results in
disruption of critical services and infrastructure. PTP is at the heart of future GPS security solutions.

Finally, it is more common than ever for businesses and residents to not only consume energy but produce it. The cost of solar, wind and other private power generation infrastructure has declined significantly in the past two decades. It is often the case that these systems produce more power than is consumed by the functions they support, especially during off peak times. Excess power is fed back into the utility power distribution network for use by other consumers. These private systems typically derive their timing from the larger distribution grid for this to work properly. Like wireless networks, power infrastructure is distributed, is largely outdoors, and can operated by multiple entities. IEEE 1588 indicates that power networks should not rely on GPS alone for network timing reference. The proper means of providing reliable network timing is by providing it from a central source with adequate protection and holdover.

The GPS antenna farm outside of Syncworks.

About Us Syncworks

Syncworks is a value-added stocking reseller of network sync and timing equipment for critical infrastructure companies. SyncCare and Field Services ensure your network equipment is flawlessly executed and supported.  

As a Microchip Diamond Partner, we maintain the largest and most diversified stocking supply of Microchip network sync & timing products to meet our customers’ every need when it comes to sync and timing technology.  

For more information, contact sales@syncworks.com or call (904) 280-1234