How the cyber threat landscape of airports has evolved - Airports need a new and improved approach towards cybersecurity as there is an urgent need to counter ever changing security challenges

Nov 18, 2019 06:00 am Cyber Security 269

Airport security has been an important area of focus for more than 50 years. Anyone who flies is well aware of the airport screenings meant to protect passengers from bombs and hijackings. Behind the scenes, however, airports today must also increasingly focus on and address cybersecurity threats to the IT systems that manage their operations and safeguard sensitive data.

Any cybersecurity slip-up can have serious consequences. For example, in April of 2019 hackers knocked out computers behind flight message boards and some airport office operations at Hopkins Airport in Cleveland, Ohio. In July of 2018, hackers were caught selling codes on the Dark Web that enabled remote access to the security systems for an unnamed airport.

Unfortunately, airports today have an extremely complex and constantly evolving IT environment that makes it difficult to keep ahead of cybersecurity threats.

Why airports need a new approach to cybersecurity

Numerous scenarios are forcing airports to seek more advanced and agile cybersecurity solutions. These include:

Continually evolving threats: Cyber-attacks are on the rise and increasing in sophistication. They often originate from well-organized and adequately funded groups and at times, are even state-sponsored. Solution providers and cyber criminals are both exploiting technological advances to further their respective goals. Attacks may go undetected for a long time or even never found without the right solutions in place.

Convergence of IT and Operational Technology: Once strictly operational, today’s OT systems include IT or are integrated with the airport’s IT infrastructure. For example, electronic boarding systems use an e-Gate driven by an electric motor drive that opens and closes the gate and are controlled by the airport’s boarding system (IT). Similarly, while building management systems (BMS) that monitor elevators and escalators are operational, IoT sensors send s ..

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