In this information age, communication and the sharing of data are constantly improving at a fast rate. This equates to easier everything, most of the time, but nothing is perfect. People and businesses are vulnerable because when everything exists on the same digital grid there is always the chance that private information can be affected. Netizens, companies and institutions that do business online must be wary of all types of malware, designed to do all sorts of nefarious things. Data security is important, especially at airports, which are humming with digital information.

Protecting an Airport's OT Is Not a Small Task

The OT (operational technology) in the aviation sector is vast, and malware could create a crippling scenario in an airport. With information traveling to and from so many sources, the logistical problems that could occur range from headache scenarios to jeopardous scenarios. If, for instance, the baggage handling technology has been affected, it's a problem that could very well be remediated quickly, assuming that some red flags go up before baggage headed for Denver ends up in Singapore. The real question that administrators would be considering, though, is how many other workstations had been subject to cyberattack. At this point, do they risk data corruption or manipulation in the air traffic control tower? When facing the potential of a communication breakdown between pilots and controllers, the risk of shutting down becomes acute. The right data security system could prevent such a scenario from happening.

Protecting the Client's Sense of Autonomy Is Important

People want to feel like they are in control. This could mean arriving three hours early for a flight or triple-checking the itinerary regarding those connecting flights. The computers used to verify people's identities and status must match the information that they have. If a single flight information display system, for instance, changed the data on the screen so that none of it was correct, people would immediately become confused and begin seeking resolution. This confusion would be confounded because the staff probably wouldn't have immediate answers for the issue, and would still need to communicate the correct airlines, times and destinations to the passengers.

Protecting Consumer Information Is Vital

If the customers' experience is tarnished, for any reason, business could suffer. Besides protecting itself from cyberattacks, the airport's administration must ensure that all of the consumers' personal information that passes through that electronic space is incorruptible, and remains unobtainable to hackers. There are systems that are engineered to diminish the risk of cyberattack. Fido authentication can have a tremendous effect on both the consumers' vulnerability as well as their sense of vulnerability. Fido authentication replaces the one-dimensional, password-based login scenario with a login experience by which users establish their identities with a that was initiated upon registration. This system removes the risk of password-dependent attack vectors like credential stuffing and keylogging.

Protecting the Wi-Fi Is Essential

If you picture a busy terminal, with people moving around and waiting for boarding instructions and such, how many cell phones do you count? Every device that taps into an airport's wi-fi is a potential target for malware. Looking at it from a different perspective, somebody installing malware into a system would certainly get a lot of information to mine by running through the wi-fi of a large airport. Unless the airport is determined to apply protections designed to thwart such attempts, there is no reason to think that this problem will ever go away.

Protecting Virtual Data Is Everybody's Business

With hundreds of thousands of commercial flights happening every day, virtually everybody is flying at some point in their lives. It is a necessity of the business world. People bring physical baggage and a digital presence. They rely on state-of-the-art equipment and trained professionals to take them safely and efficiently where they need to go. By protecting data security, the airport is protecting its clients. A traveler is happiest when most relaxed, and the peace of mind that comes from security generates equanimity. Just like there are metal detectors and X-ray machines that keep harmful elements from physically being on premises, data security needs to be applied to the OT to keep cyber crime out.