While cybersecurity remains high on the agenda and is a spending priority for both airport and airline CIOs, faster progress towards implementation of concrete cyber prevention and management initiatives remains a challenge.
This is according to the 2018 Air Transport Cybersecurity Insights, new research released by global IT provider SITA. The report shows that 89% of airline CIOs plan a major program around cybersecurity initiatives in the next three years, up from 71% last year. This is even higher for airports, with 95% of them planning major programs by 2021. Business continuity, through the protection of operational systems and processes, remains the priority for more than half (57%) of airline and airport executives.
As a result of the heightened focus, spend on cybersecurity is increasing year-on-year, reaching $3.9bn in 2018. SITA’s research shows that airlines will spend an average of 9% of their overall IT budget on cybersecurity this year, up from 7% in 2017. Similarly, airport investment in cybersecurity in 2018 is set to rise to 12% of their overall IT budgets in 2018, up from 10% last year.
Barbara Dalibard, CEO, SITA says: “The importance of cybersecurity is well recognized and airlines and airports are investing in building a solid security foundation. However, the number of cyberthreats continues to grow exponentially every year, as does the sophistication of those threats. Given the complexity and integrated nature of the air transport industry, we need to move far quicker in establishing proactive defenses to ensure we stay ahead of the game.”
The most common cybersecurity spending priorities among airlines and airports today are; employee awareness and training (76%); achieving regulatory compliance (73%) and identity and access management (63%). However, SITA’s Insights identified several focus areas that need more attention over the next few years. These include proactive network monitoring and protection, securing the
Michael Schellenberg, Head of Cybersecurity Solutions, SITA, says: “We at SITA recognize that moving from awareness to action can be challenging. It was with this in mind that we – together with other industry specialists such as Airbus – have built up a portfolio of cybersecurity solutions that help air transport industry organizations monitor, detect and manage cyber risks. It is only by collaborating as an industry that we can move forward faster and ensure our industry remains well protected and prepared.”
Source: SITA