The long-term vision is to enable a more cyber-resilient ATM, focusing on reducing the risks of virtualisation and increased data-sharing between all components of the ATM infrastructure and the relevant stakeholders.
Enabling cyber-robust air traffic management
The digitalisation and modernisation of ATM will bring many advantages to aviation, but these will come with challenges in managing cyber vulnerabilities.
Strengthening safety and resilience in air traffic management
The SEC-AIRSPACE project plays a crucial role in strengthening the security and resilience of Air Traffic Management (ATM) as the sector undergoes rapid digitalisation and modernisation. These advancements promise significant benefits for efficiency and capacity but also introduce new cyber vulnerabilities that must be addressed. To tackle these challenges, SEC-AIRSPACE focuses on improving the existing cybersecurity risk assessment methodology used in ATM, ensuring it can effectively identify and mitigate emerging threats linked to virtualisation, data sharing, and interconnected systems.
Increased awareness about cybersecurity
Beyond technical measures, the project adopts a holistic approach by integrating human and organizational factors into cybersecurity strategies. Recognizing that people are often the weakest link in security, SEC-AIRSPACE explores the use of people analytics (PA) to enhance cybersecurity awareness and maturity among ATM stakeholders, including air navigation service providers and air traffic controllers. This data-driven approach aims to foster a culture of security and improve decision-making related to cyber risk.
A robust and future-oriented ATM ecosystem
To ensure practical relevance, the project validates its methods and tools through two real-world use cases involving key stakeholders. These demonstrations will confirm the effectiveness of the proposed solutions in operational environments. Building on previous SESAR initiatives, SEC-AIRSPACE positions cybersecurity as a transversal element within the Digital European Sky framework, contributing to a robust, future-proof ATM ecosystem that can withstand evolving cyber threats while maintaining safety and efficiency.
SINTEF is the coordinator for this project.