Why fortifying cyber security defences is key to aviation future

The aviation industry is experiencing a renaissance, fueled by cutting-edge technology that promises to make travel more seamless and personalised than ever before. Astonishingly, 99% of executives in the travel industry acknowledge that technology is the primary driver of their organisation’s reinvention and transformation strategies.

Airlines are redefining how passengers experience this privilege, tapping into new revenue streams through advanced digital platforms, AI-driven personalization, and cloud-based operations. However, with these exciting advancements come new cybersecurity challenges that could jeopardize operations, compromise data, and erode trust. As the industry progresses, safeguarding against cyber threats is more critical than ever.

Tech-powered transformation takes flight

Accenture is leading the charge in helping airlines navigate this digital revolution.

For example, Saudia Airlines is set to launch a groundbreaking GenAI-powered digital platform that will allow travelers to effortlessly plan, book, and adjust their trips through a customized, conversational interface. Designed to evolve continuously, it will integrate additional services, aligning with Saudia’s vision of setting new standards for travel in the digital age.

In another leap forward, Accenture teamed up with Riyadh Air to create the world’s first fully cloud-based airline. By providing a cloud-only infrastructure coupled with strengthened cybersecurity and AI-driven operations, Accenture is ensuring Riyadh Air’s digital core is both future-proof and scalable.

This partnership aims to support Riyadh Air’s ambitious goal of operating over 100 destinations by 2030, showcasing a commitment to innovation that underscores the need for top-tier cybersecurity measures to protect these new digital infrastructures.

Facing the cybersecurity conundrum

Despite these great technological strides, the aviation industry grapples with debilitating cybersecurity challenges. The complexity of managing a modern technological architecture and multiple digital ecosystem partners creates substantial barriers to implementing effective security measures, with three major issues coming to the forefront: a lack of comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, insufficient threat detection capabilities, and inadequate controls for technology and data security.

Recent findings are eye-opening: 83% of travel industry CEOs report that compliance is their primary driver for cybersecurity, while just 39% of airline, travel, & transport companies have real-time incident detection mechanisms for their IT and OT systems.

Moreover, 58% of airlines do not have a security transformation program in place, and almost half of them indicate that they don’t have an Information Security Management System (ISMS) in place, nor have these companies enforced or updated measures to secure their technological infrastructure.

These gaps expose the industry to vulnerabilities that could undermine the very innovations fueling its growth.

Three essential steps for elevating cybersecurity

Aviation companies must take decisive action to address these challenges and elevate their cybersecurity defenses. This involves embedding cybersecurity into their core business strategies, reinventing their approach to cyber-resilience, and modernising security practices to keep pace with rapid technological advancements.

1. Embed Cybersecurity in Business Strategy

To tackle aviation’s cybersecurity challenges, senior leadership must embed cybersecurity into business strategy from the start, using risk assessment frameworks to guide decisions and investments.

Additionally, their strategies should address cyber and supply chain risks, particularly those tied to geopolitical tensions. Collaboration with third-party vendors is critical, prioritizing those with strong cyber resilience and enforcing tailored policies for joint crisis assessments. A comprehensive supply chain cyber risk management programme, using automation and data, is key, especially as aviation IT vendors present significant risks.

Continuous cyber risk assessments across all strategic initiatives—new products, services, acquisitions, and expansions—ensure early identification and mitigation of potential threats, with clear targets and thorough reporting throughout the process. This proactive approach not only mitigates risks but also positions having modern cybersecurity measures as an important competitive edge.

A prime example of this approach is Accenture's work with one of the largest international airports in the Middle East.

Accenture is transforming the airport's cybersecurity through a managed services approach, creating a consolidated operating model that aligns business, security operations, and third-party suppliers. This model bolsters the airport's security environment while providing annual assessments of its security capabilities and technological maturity, enabling to remain ahead of evolving threats. This case underscores the importance of viewing cybersecurity as fundamental to business strategy and demonstrates how a proactive, integrated approach can reinforce an organization’s defenses.

2. Reinvent cyber-resilience

Building cyber-resilience is an ongoing journey that demands regular updates to security programmes. To boost resilience, aviation companies need a comprehensive view of their attack surface, covering both IT and OT environments. As digital initiatives expand, so do the risks of ransomware and malware attacks. Identifying and securing all assets - whether legacy or new - is crucial for mitigating these threats.

Accenture Security’s managed cyber defence model exemplifies this approach. Deployed at a leading international airport in the Middle East, it provides enriched detection and response capabilities and insider threat monitoring, offering full visibility into IT and OT environments. This has led to faster threat responses, lower costs, fewer insider threats, and better compliance.

Streamlining security tools and using AI-driven solutions are also key. Many organizations have overlapping security tools that cause misconfigurations and gaps. By consolidating these into a unified system, companies can simplify their security strategy and enhance protection. Generative AI solutions, like Accenture’s MxDR service, heighten detection, response, and remediation efforts.

3. Modernise security to match innovation

To stay ahead of industry disruption, security must evolve at the same pace with business advancements. This requires embedding cybersecurity into every new development from the outset and addressing vulnerabilities in both emerging technologies and legacy systems.

A comprehensive, adaptive security approach is crucial, ensuring that all processes remain aligned with ongoing business transformations. Beyond traditional information security, aviation companies must evaluate how their security capabilities support overall business resilience, enabling scalable operations and rapid adaptation.

Modernising IAM practices with a zero-trust network architecture—where every access attempt is treated as potentially unauthorised—can drastically reduce breach risks.

As emerging technologies like quantum computing, space security, and human-AI interfaces advance, partnering with specialised security experts is critical.

Take quantum computing: although fully capable quantum computers don't yet exist, adversaries are already harvesting sensitive data to decrypt in the future. Achieving crypto agility is vital for aviation companies, allowing them to seamlessly adapt encryption methods and replace compromised keys without disrupting critical infrastructure.

Conclusion

As the aviation industry soars to greater heights, it must also elevate its cybersecurity defences. By embedding cybersecurity into business strategies, reinventing cyber-resilience, and modernising security practices, aviation companies can protect their innovations and ensure a secure, sustainable future for air travel. The challenge is clear: fortify defenses to keep the future of aviation on course. Only those who rise to this challenge will truly succeed.