SITA has linked up with Airbus to provide a cybersecurity service designed specifically for the air transport industry.

In 2016, SITA identified cybersecurity as one of its five priorities. Its Airline IT Trends Survey 2016 found that 91% of airlines were planning to invest in this area over the next three years.

The “Security Operations Center Services” is the first of a new portfolio of cybersecurity products  launched as part of this strategy. By linking up with Airbus’ dedicated cybersecurity unit, SITA believes that it can “detect, analyse and counter increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks”.

SITA works with most airlines and airports around the globe, while Airbus works with governments, defense departments and national infrastructure businesses. The combination means that users of the service will have access to insight and intelligence specifically sourced for the air transport industry, which SITA defines as airlines, airports and other stakeholders.

Barbara Dalibard, CEO of SITA, said:

“As an industry we need to move faster in developing new cybersecurity solutions that mitigate the risk of ever-changing threats. This requires constant collaboration and innovation.”

François Lavaste, head of Airbus CyberSecurity, said:

“Our standard solution mainly combines real-time monitoring services for applications and communications dedicated to air transport and incident response services.”

As part of its security brief, SITA recently formed a “Secure Journeys Working Group” to look at ways to make non-secure areas of airports safer.

Related reading from Tnooz:
Aviation’s gatekeepers call on governments and hackers alike to tackle cyberthreats (Aug2016)

NB: Image by RedPixel.pl/BigStock