Air traffic control systems are now more important than ever to secure safety. To help protect passengers, data and information, keep operating both efficiently and environmentally friendly. Having strong security measures in place is really key to keeping this industry alive and both employees and passengers safe. In order to do that, they need robust measures in place to secure data within the air traffic control space.
- Network security
If there are threats outside of the internal network, security measures such as firewalls can really help to protect from cyber attacks, hacking and any other suspicious activities. Firewalls can provide a secure barrier and prevent any unnecessary information from being leaked and handed to the wrong people. It’s a technological security that helps protect data based on predefined rules.
In addition, intrusion detection and prevention systems can be highly beneficial. These systems have been significantly upgraded and can monitor any potential threats and prevent them from infiltrating systems. They can block malicious traffic and help prevent threats before they become a serious concern.
- VPNs
VPNs are Virtual Private Networks that help to create secure ways to share data over the internet. It also allows for encryptions so others cannot see the information. It protects customer and employer data, and sensitive personal data from being either intercepted or accessed by third parties and those not privy to that information.
There are different types of VPN protocols, but for traffic control information a reliable and trusted source is definitely the best.
- PPTP – this is a point-to-point tunnelling protocol. It’s easy but isn’t always as secure.
- SSTP – a secure socket tunnelling protocol that uses SSL code for a more secure data transport.
- L2TP – Layer 2 tunnelling protocol with IPsec, allows better security and double encryption.
- Open VPN – This is an open-source protocol but offers robust security and a lot more flexibility.
- IKEV2 – Internet Key Exchange version 2 – is particularly known for stability and is better for mobiles.
- Data backups
Air traffic control will need backup systems in place to make sure data is saved and protected, especially if something were to go wrong. If something were to fail, there are backups in place to pick up the data and make sure that there are no system failures. It also helps with ensuring that any stored data is safe and encrypted which prevents unauthorised access.
ATC systems implement redundancy and backup systems to ensure data availability and integrity. Redundant systems allow for continuous operation even if one component fails. Regular backups ensure that data can be restored in case of corruption or loss due to cyber-attacks or system failures. There are certain advanced encryption standards to meet especially with industries such as this that need higher levels of security such as authentication, and authorization and require regular audits and updates as technology advances.
In conclusion
Securing air traffic control data is so important and requires multiple ways to protect it. This includes encryption, access, securing the network, VPNs and a constant evaluation and measurements to ensure people are protected from cyber threats and hostile situations. This can help passengers and employees ensure their data and lives are protected, giving airlines more integrity, reliability and trust.