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, encrypted hosted commands to a host spacecraft operations center, SOC; transmitting, by the host SOC, encrypted host commands and the encrypted hosted commands to a vehicle , 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 on the vehicle, the encrypted host commands utilizing the first COMSEC variety to generate unencrypted host commands; decrypting, by a second communication security module 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 on the vehicle, payload data to at least one of a host receiving antenna or a hosted receiving antenna ; encrypting, by the first communication security module, unencrypted host telemetry from the payload by utilizing the first COMSEC variety to generate encrypted host telemetry; encrypting, by the second communication security module, unencrypted hosted telemetry from the payload by utilizing the second COMSEC variety to generate encrypted hosted telemetry; transmitting the encrypted host telemetry to the host SOC; transmitting the encrypted hosted telemetry to the HOC. transmitting, by a hosted payload, HoP, operation center, HOC, encrypted hosted commands to a host spacecraft operations center, SOC; transmitting, by the host SOC, encrypted host commands and the encrypted hosted commands to a vehicle , 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 on the vehicle, the encrypted host commands utilizing the first COMSEC variety to generate unencrypted host commands; decrypting, by a second communication security module 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 on the vehicle, payload data to at least one of a host receiving antenna or a hosted receiving antenna ; encrypting, by the first communication security module, unencrypted host telemetry from the payload by utilizing the first COMSEC variety to generate encrypted host telemetry; encrypting, by the second communication security module, unencrypted hosted telemetry from the payload by utilizing the second COMSEC variety to generate encrypted hosted telemetry; transmitting the encrypted host telemetry to the host SOC; transmitting the encrypted hosted telemetry to the HOC. <EOS>