F-Secure’s Aviation Cyber Security Services Takes Off

Trust is everything in the aviation industry. And, a successful cyber attack – even a minor one against something like an in-flight entertainment system – could undermine confidence in airlines or even the entire aviation industry. That’s why global cybersecurity provider, F-Secure, has launched a specialized Aviation Cyber Security Services offering that’s designed to help airlines and similar organizations protect their aircraft, infrastructure, data, and reputations.

Cybersecurity has emerged as a significant issue for many industries, including those working in aviation. So, 85 percent of airline CEOs identified cybersecurity as a significant risk in a 2015 survey. While many industries have been dealing with data breaches and cyber attacks for many years, F-Secure’s Hugo Teso says that changes in the aviation industry are bringing new risks for airlines.

“Off-the-shelf communication technologies are finding their way into aircraft, which makes security much more complicated than in the past,” said Teso, a former pilot and current head of F-Secure’s Aviation Cyber Security Services. “Because these off-the-shelf technologies weren’t necessarily created to meet the rigorous safety requirements of airlines, the aviation industry is making cybersecurity a top priority. But they need a partner that understands both cybersecurity and the details of airline operations, because it’s an industry where those details make a big difference.”

F-Secure’s Aviation Cyber Security Services was designed to help airlines and other companies working in aviation secure their operations from the ground up. It integrates security assessments of avionics, ground systems and data links, vulnerability scanners, security monitoring, incident response services, and specialized cybersecurity trainings for IT managers as well as cabin and cockpit crews, into a single package that helps airlines harden their operations against cyber attacks.

Security assessments play a particularly vital role in aviation cybersecurity by flagging potential issues before airlines or manufacturers attempt to certify devices or services for use. Security assessments can focus on individual components such as specific pieces of hardware and software, or broader issues, such as how different systems interact with one another in an entire aircraft program.