A method for a virtual transponder which is a transponder partitioned into multiple transponders, said virtual transponder utilizing inband telemetry, inband being the frequency band utilized to transmit payload data, the method comprising: transmitting, by a hosted payload, HoP, operation center, HOC, (860, 8060), encrypted hosted commands to a host spacecraft operations center, SOC, (850, 8050); transmitting, by the host SOC, encrypted host commands and the encrypted hosted commands to a vehicle (810, 8010), wherein the encrypted host commands are encrypted utilizing a first communication security, COMSEC, variety and the encrypted hosted commands are encrypted utilizing a second COMSEC variety; decrypting, by a first communication security module (862, 8062) on the vehicle, the encrypted host commands utilizing the first COMSEC variety to generate unencrypted host commands; decrypting, by a second communication security module (865, 8065) on the vehicle, the encrypted hosted commands utilizing the second COMSEC variety to generate unencrypted hosted commands; reconfiguring a payload on the vehicle according to at least one of the unencrypted host commands or the unencrypted hosted commands; transmitting, by a payload antenna (880, 8080) on the vehicle, payload data to at least one of a host receiving antenna (885, 8085) or a hosted receiving antenna (890, 8090); encrypting, by the first communication security module (862, 8062), unencrypted telemetry received from the payload (805, 8005) by utilizing the first COMSEC variety to generate encrypted telemetry, said unencrypted telemetry comprising unencrypted host telemetry and unencrypted hosted telemetry; transmitting the encrypted telemetry to the host SOC (850, 8050); transmitting the encrypted telemetry to the HOC (860, 8060). transmitting, by a hosted payload, HoP, operation center, HOC, (860, 8060), encrypted hosted commands to a host spacecraft operations center, SOC, (850, 8050); transmitting, by the host SOC, encrypted host commands and the encrypted hosted commands to a vehicle (810, 8010), wherein the encrypted host commands are encrypted utilizing a first communication security, COMSEC, variety and the encrypted hosted commands are encrypted utilizing a second COMSEC variety; decrypting, by a first communication security module (862, 8062) on the vehicle, the encrypted host commands utilizing the first COMSEC variety to generate unencrypted host commands; decrypting, by a second communication security module (865, 8065) on the vehicle, the encrypted hosted commands utilizing the second COMSEC variety to generate unencrypted hosted commands; reconfiguring a payload on the vehicle according to at least one of the unencrypted host commands or the unencrypted hosted commands; transmitting, by a payload antenna (880, 8080) on the vehicle, payload data to at least one of a host receiving antenna (885, 8085) or a hosted receiving antenna (890, 8090); encrypting, by the first communication security module (862, 8062), unencrypted telemetry received from the payload (805, 8005) by utilizing the first COMSEC variety to generate encrypted telemetry, said unencrypted telemetry comprising unencrypted host telemetry and unencrypted hosted telemetry; transmitting the encrypted telemetry to the host SOC (850, 8050); transmitting the encrypted telemetry to the HOC (860, 8060).