OPSWAT space cybersecurity has been demonstrated during a near-space validation mission, where the company’s MetaDefender Kiosk Mini successfully operated under extreme environmental conditions while continuously processing malware samples from removable media.

OPSWAT released a video showcasing the mission, which was designed to validate prevention-first cybersecurity for critical infrastructure operating in harsh and remote environments. The MetaDefender Kiosk Mini, which sanitizes USB devices, external drives, and other removable media before they enter critical infrastructure environments, processed thousands of malware samples throughout the mission.

The device was attached to a weather balloon and reached an altitude of 104,883 feet (31,968 meters). During the flight, it was exposed to high radiation, temperatures as low as -45.6°F (-43.1°C), and near-vacuum pressure of 9.5 hPa. The mission lasted nearly 230 minutes. Even after the balloon burst, the kiosk continued operating during freefall until it landed in a river.

According to OPSWAT, the mission demonstrates that the MetaDefender Kiosk Mini can continue operating in extreme environments while protecting systems against cyber threats. The company said the test also reinforces the importance of prevention-first cybersecurity, where mission-critical systems function locally, offline, and independently when cloud connectivity, rapid patching, or onsite support are unavailable.

Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 states that 15 percent of organizations worldwide now consider dependence on space-based assets, including satellites, GPS, and satellite communications, as part of their overall cyber risk mitigation strategy. The report also notes that as access to orbit becomes more affordable and widespread, cyber threats targeting space assets are expected to expand beyond terrestrial systems.

“Space systems should be treated as critical infrastructure, and the cyber infrastructure that supports them should be treated as mission-critical infrastructure,” said Benny Czarny, Founder and CEO of OPSWAT. “Cybersecurity in space cannot be built around the idea that someone on Earth will always be available to fix the problem. It must be local, deterministic, segmented, and prevention-first.”

During the mission, the MetaDefender Kiosk Mini operated entirely on local compute without relying on cloud connectivity. It also used OPSWAT’s Deep CDR technology to process thousands of malware samples from removable media. The technology assumes files may be malicious, removes potentially risky active content, and reconstructs clean files. This approach is intended for environments where connectivity may be delayed, degraded, denied, or unavailable, including space, defense, and other critical infrastructure sectors.

Furthermore, the validation mission showed that the MetaDefender Kiosk Mini could withstand frequent movement, significant temperature fluctuations, humidity, water exposure, high ultraviolet radiation, near-vacuum pressure, and extended offline operation without cloud dependency.

“More than the altitude, technology, and cool video, the idea was that cybersecurity has to work in environments where humans cannot easily reach, repair, or reset,” said Czarny. “In space, there is no simple onsite support, quick replacement, or easy second chance. The system must have full trust before it leaves the ground.”

The MetaDefender Kiosk is currently deployed across industries that operate in demanding environments, including facilities exposed to flammable materials, toxic chemicals, dust, humidity, and varying temperatures. Its rugged design supports long-term deployment across industrial, office, and space environments. The solution also holds Class 1, Division 2 (C1D2) certification issued by UL, qualifying it for use in hazardous locations where flammable gases or vapors may be present, including oil and gas, chemical, and mining operations.

As interest in securing space-based infrastructure continues to grow, OPSWAT space cybersecurity initiatives highlight the role of prevention-first, air-gapped, and offline cyber protection for critical infrastructure operating in some of the world’s most extreme environments.

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