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Information Security: Protecting Your Place in the Aerospace Supply Chain
- Danny Lee
- Aug 9
- 3 min read
Information security is no longer just an IT issue.
For many aerospace suppliers, it has become a prerequisite for winning and retaining business. Whether you're supporting civil aviation or defence, your customers increasingly expect evidence that their information, and their supply chain, is protected.
This means that aerospace is one of the most important industries to the global economy and state security. It is also one of the most targeted industries for cyber criminals, organised crime groups and state sponsored threat actors across all three pillars of information security: confidentiality, integrity and availability.
Supply chains are highly sensitive to information security and often expect their suppliers to operate to numerous frameworks, from Cyber Essentials at the basic level, through to an ISO 27001 ISMS and even customer specific frameworks.
For example, in the UK, the Ministry of Defence operates the Defence Cyber Protection Partnership (DCPP), which assesses cyber security maturity throughout the defence supply chain. Defence suppliers may be required to achieve a specific cyber risk level depending on the sensitivity of the contract.
What Information is Targeted?
A huge amount of information is generated throughout the lifecycle of an aerospace asset, which increasingly involves high tech components.
Initial designs and engineering drawings can contain intellectual property and proprietary technologies that supply chains are keen to protect, but maintaining the integrity of this information can also be critical to the safety and operation of the component.
Customer, employee and supplier data can also expose supply chains to risks from bribery and corruption and other interference.
The purpose and location of an aerospace asset can also be considered valuable information, especially for those used in defence applications.
Key Cyber Threats Facing Aerospace
Each organisation should conduct their own risk assessment specific to their environment. The key risks we see at VAELO Aerospace include:
State Sponsored Cyber Espionage
Disruption from hostile states is a constant risk and could be closer to home than you realise. Schemes like cyber essentials provide a basic level of protection, but through your risk assessment you may identify more robust controls that can help manage the risk.
Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware attacks have caused major disruption to public services and critical industries in recent years with the WannaCry ransomware affecting the NHS in 2017 and Jaguar Land Rover in 2025 (which halted production and caused significant disruptions throughout the supply chain).
Supply Chain Compromises
Compromise in the supply chain can take many forms but one of the most significant is fraudulent components which affect the integrity of aircraft. AS9100 specifically handles this issue and has cross overs with information security in this way.
Insider Threat
Like in many industries, aerospace is vulnerable to the insider threat which is well addressed through ISO 27001 Annex A controls for employee screening, disciplinary processes and competence requirements.
Email Compromise and Phishing
One of the biggest attack vectors is still phishing where credentials can be exposed to an attacker or fraud can be committed. Mitigating actions can include security software, training and simulated attacks.
The Consequences of a Security Breach
Whether you are operating in defence or civil aviation, the consequences of a security breach can be severe, ultimately resulting in a safety failure that can cost lives.
Commercially of course, contracts can be lost, penalties applied and irreparable reputation damage results.
Small Aerospace Suppliers are also Targets
A common misconception might be that the smaller aerospace suppliers, providing CNC services or small scale manufacturing for example, are not targeted.
However, this is often an easier entry point for attackers into the supply chain. AI and automation has increased the scale and quantity of attacks to the point where most organisations are vulnerable.
Five Questions To Ask Yourself
Do we know what information is most critical to protect?
Could we recover from a ransomware attack?
Are suppliers assessed for cyber risk?
Are employees regularly trained to recognise phishing?
Would we satisfy a customer's information security requirements today?
At VAELO Aerospace, we are actively helping clients protect against information security threats by implementing frameworks such as ISO 27001 and customer specific requirements to build a culture of “security first”.
This ensures the requirements from primes and tier 1's are met and evidenced.
Contact us to discuss your information security posture.
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