International Air Transport Association (IATA), believes the industry has not built enough corporation and strategy to combat the ‘imminent’ threat, although the global aviation sector has been spared from the snares of cyber thieves.
Tony Tyler, director-general of IATA while speaking at AVSEC World, Washington, D.C., said there are concerns that entails proactive steps be taken to guide against such, hence it developed cyber security toolkit.
Tyler said, “We have not had the cyber equivalent of a printer cartridge plot but we are not waiting for one to occur before moving forward. Aviation relies on computer systems extensively in ground and flight operations and air traffic management, and we know we are a target.
He disclosed that IATA has put in place a three-pillar strategy that encompasses working to understand, define and assess the threats and risk of cyber-attack; advocating for appropriate regulation and mechanisms for increased cooperation throughout the industry and with governments.
The DG revealed that, as part of this strategy, IATA has joined with ICAO and other stakeholders through the Industry High Level Group (IHLG) to coordinate cybersecurity activities and provide a common framework for the industry.
“IATA has also developed an Aviation Cyber Security Toolkit to help airlines implement their own cybersecurity programs. It contains tools to help airlines identify and assess cyber risks as well as practical guidance materials and videos”.
He added that it is vital that government and industry embrace collaboration to understand and identify any threats and devise strategies to combat them.
“We cannot afford information silos. Regulations should be outcome-focused, not prescriptive. This is a fast-evolving threat that simply cannot be addressed with static, one-size-fits all solutions.
“At the top of my remarks, I noted that aviation was built on collaboration, but that we have not achieved a satisfactory level of collaboration when it comes to security.
“I do not see this as a reason to be discouraged, however. I view it as a tremendous opportunity. We have made extraordinary progress over the past 13 years since 9.11.
“Imagine how much more we can accomplish by exercising a mindset of partnership and collaboration rather than working separately toward the same goals. By adapting this model to managing security, we will ensure that commercial aviation’s second century is even more successful and secure than the first,” he concluded.