Cyber experts to gather for aviation security conference

Cyber security and aviation experts from all over the world are set to gather in London this Autumn for the Aviation Cyber Security Summit.

Taking part in the Marriott Hotel in Regent’s Park on the 21^st and 22^nd November, the event will explore how to manage the tension between the ‘smart’ aviation industry and the inevitable security threat caused by the use of new digital technology.

Addressing key issues such as supply chain and third party risk, the importance of information sharing and collaboration, incident response and the integration of cyber security and safety, the event will explore how both the cyber security and aviation industries can work together to mitigate risks and improve safety without compromising efficiency.

As part of the event, there will be a number of panel sessions covering topics such as incident response, developing a culture of awareness, managing the skills gap and IT and operational technology convergence.

A number of experts in both the global aviation industry and security sector are also confirmed as speakers at the event. These include:

• Filippos Komninos, Athens International Airport S.A., Information Security Specialist
• Chris Blask, US ICS ISAC, Unisys Director Industrial Control Security
• Jonas Jorgensen, Copenhagen Airports, IT Director
• John Hird, Eurocontrol, ATM & Cyber Security Senior Expert Directorate
• Mike Heath, Calgary Airport Authority, Information Security Lead
• Anson Fong, Los Angeles World Airports, Chief Information Security Officer
• Peter Williams, Manchester Airports Group (MAG), Chief Information Security Officer
• Kevin Borley, Bristol Airport, Head of IT and Innovation
• Chris Johnson, University of Glasgow, Head of Computing
• Fazle R Quasha, Fort McMurray Airport Authority, Manager Information Technologies
• Ladislav Kašpar, Czech Airlines, j.s.c., Head of Security and Emergency Response Planning
• Paul Hunton, Hunton Woods, Digital Forensics Expert

Discussing the event, organiser James Nesbitt of Sagacity Media commented: “The aviation industry is evolving rapidly and the integration of numerous smart technologies in areas such as airports, aircrafts and control towers will undoubtedly help drive the sector forward.

“This tech brings with it many benefits, in everything from enhancing the customer experience to enabling asset owners to be more easily able to troubleshoot problems before they arise. However, it also makes aviation assets vulnerable to cyber threat and, perhaps in aviationmore so than in any other industry, security breaches have the potential to be truly catastrophic.

“Cyber threats to the aviation industry are constantly evolving and asset owners must ensure that they have the most up-to-date strategies to ensure that they can manage them. This event will help them do that.”