Discover what businesses can learn from the aviation sector’s approach to security.
A Bombardier CRJ Series aircraft departs Düsseldorf. (Photo: AirlineGeeks Fabian Behr)
Not many industries face the level of regulation and scrutiny that the airline sector does. You have things like passenger screening, and you also have things like perimeter surveillance. Airlines also operate under constant pressure as they must anticipate and neutralize threats. A lot of the time, this also has to be done in real time. Looking beyond airlines, it’s clear to see that the security measures in place can also be used to offer valuable insight into how businesses can better manage their risk overall.
If you want to find out more about security principles that enterprise leaders can borrow from the aviation sector to strengthen their operations, then take a look below.
One thing to know about the aviation industry is that layered security is far more effective than having single barriers. At the end of the day, airlines rarely rely on a single line of defense. You have terminal access points, and you also have different forms of cockpit vision. By using layers, it’s clear that each one can catch what the layer previously might have missed. If you apply this to the business world, it’s possible to take this approach and implement it.
If you have a keypad entry to your building, then this is great, and you may think that this is enough. With that said, if someone knew the PIN, then they could have access to everything in your premises. If you want to elevate your security, then you could pair your PIN code access with a Genetec Synergis access control system. By doing this, you can add an extra layer of security, which would benefit you moving forward. You may also find that you can reduce your insurance costs by having more measures in place.
Another thing to take note of is that strict access control is not negotiable. In the world of aviation, not everyone can go everywhere. If you have an engineer, then they cannot go into the secure data center. If you have a baggage handler, then they cannot go into the cockpit. By segmenting your team and what they can access, it becomes clear that security is improved, and this is great, to say the least. Of course, if you adopt role-specific access points, then this makes it easier for you to implement more advanced security measures.
Access is also limited to what is necessary, and if you feel as though someone has abused their privileges, then you can easily revoke them just as fast. In high-risk sectors, pairing things like access control with things like biometrics can help to add even more protection, which is great to say the least.
Airline staff, whether you are a cleaner or a cabin crew member, are all trained to spot behavior that might be suspicious. This helps to create a culture of shared responsibility, and it also helps to reduce reliance on a single team or even a single tool. If you can take the time to invest in security awareness training, then this would help you considerably. If you can, you need to try and recognize unusual activity, and you also need to try and report breaches in any kind of unusual activity. You also need to follow data security protocols. At the end of the day, security isn’t just a department; it’s more of a mindset, and if you can focus on this, then you will be way better for it.
Airlines rehearse a lot of emergency procedures all the time. They even simulate things like evacuations and cyber incidents. Bomb threats are also monitored to make sure that people are as safe as possible, all the time. When a real crisis happens, this means that people know what to do in the instance, so that extra steps can be taken to ensure that everyone is safe. The takeaway in this instance is to ask if you have an emergency protocol for any physical threats in place and if you have a designated design team. You also need to check to see if you have a crisis response team, and if you have run any drills or tabletop exercises in the last year or so. If you can be prepared, then this will help you quite a lot, and it will also help you to get the result you need.
You need to use tech as much as possible. The best possible airline security systems tend to blend automation with things like human oversight. If you use AI scans, then this will help to identify threat patterns, but at the end of the day, human experts can also validate and respond to them accordingly. Smart surveillance tools can also be used to detect movement, but at the same time, you have teams of security staff who can assess the context of this, so they can act accordingly.
If you can use tech to try and amplify decision-making, then this will help you to avoid replacing human intervention, which is an important part of running a business. If you can, you also need to try and install some smart cameras that come with facial recognition and smart cameras. If you can use AI footage to detect abnormal patterns, then this will help you even more. Of course, you can then have your managers assess things further, which is a major support. If you can, you need to be mindful of the fact that balance is key, and that people can prevent things like false positives. Tech can also be used to stop missed threats as well. If you can, you should also try and make sure that you are always aware of what opportunities you can capitalize on, and the impact of them on your company.
Small things can make a big difference, so keep that in mind if you can, as it will make a major difference to you and your security level. Doing a security assessment is also a very good thing to do, so keep that in mind.
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