Time FireWall™ Protecting Critical Infrastructure

In our modern world, more and more devices and systems as well as critical infrastructure and networks rely on GPS or on other GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) for navigation and for providing accurate timing and synchronization. Precise time, frequency and phase are all key elements in critical sectors such as Power and Utility Companies, Financial and Banking markets, Mobile and Computer Networks, to name just a few examples. According to a report from the US Department of Homeland Security; “16 out of the 19 Critical Infrastructure & Key Resources Sectors have some degree of GPS timing usage”.

TFW2 Data Sheet

It is a well-known fact that satellite signals coming from the GNSS units in space are precariously weak and these signals can easily be blocked, jammed or spoofed (delivering bogus signals to the GNSS receiver) intentionally or unintentionally. Such attacks are recognized as posing a serious threat to many critical infrastructure applications which currently rely heavily on the publicly available GPS signal. A group of researchers recently demonstrated how a relatively simple spoofer can cripple an entire power network causing electrical outages to millions of subscribers within minutes. Similarly the financial and business world is totally dependent on accurate time-stamping for all transactions carried out and disruptions to the timing networks in a financial institution could mean the difference between gaining or losing millions of dollars.

AccuBeat is proud to introduce the unique and patented Time FireWall™ (TFW™) which when inserted into a timing network provides security and backup of the accurate time obtained from a GNSS receiver. AccuBeat’s patented Time FireWall™ is a 19 inch 1U unit that is inserted between the antenna and the existing GNSS receiver. The TFW™ receives the GNSS satellite signal from an antenna, checks the integrity of the signal using an internal atomic clock and various techniques and when it determines that the GNSS signal is reliable it passes an RF signal on to the timing network with “a seal of integrity”. If the Time FireWall™ determines that the GNSS signal is unreliable (either due to blocking or jamming or spoofing or any other malicious attacking), the TFW™ sends out a warning alarm and uses its internal satellite signal simulator and Rubidium Atomic Clock to provide an alternate GNSS signal to the customers receiver, allowing continuous and uninterrupted operation of timing and synchronization even in a GNSS denied or spoofed environment.

Key Features

▶ Ensures Accurate Time during a GNSS Jamming or Spoofing attack
▶ Patented Solution (Patent no: 235356)

▶ Easy to install without disruption to existing legacy equipment
▶ Sends an alarm upon detection of an attack
▶ 19” Rack Mounted Solution
▶ Winner of the 2016 Quality Innovation Award
▶ Holdover (Rb clock configuration): 1µs/24 hrs (typ.)
▶ Input: GPS L1 antenna
▶ Output: GPS L1 signals
▶ Monitor & Control: RS232
▶ Power supply: 110 / 220 V AC