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Dawon
Airports and Aviation

Cybersecurity for Integrated Airport Operations

Airports operate as interconnected ecosystems of operational technology, IoT, building systems, security infrastructure, and digital services. Dawon provides a shared operational and risk context across these systems, helping airport operators maintain continuity, manage exposure, and coordinate response.

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  • Baggage and Cargo
  • Airfield and Apron
  • Security and Access Control
  • Terminal and Facilities
  • Passenger Operations
  • Fuel and Ground Services
The Airport Cybersecurity Challenge

Operational Risk Extends Across Interdependent Systems

Airport operations depend on many specialized systems owned, operated, or maintained by different stakeholders. A disruption affecting one subsystem can quickly influence passenger movement, baggage processing, aircraft turnaround, facility operations, or airport security.

  • Complex System Environment

    Airports combine baggage systems, airfield equipment, security infrastructure, passenger processing technology, facility controls, and supporting utilities across multiple terminals and operational zones.

  • Continuous Operations

    Many airport systems have limited maintenance windows. Security monitoring, testing, and remediation must be planned around live operations and safety requirements.

  • Legacy and Proprietary Technology

    Long lived equipment and specialized protocols often operate alongside modern IoT devices, wireless networks, enterprise applications, and externally hosted services.

  • Shared Responsibility

    Airlines, ground handlers, government agencies, OEMs, contractors, and airport departments may all require access to shared systems, creating complex ownership and accountability.

Six Operational Domains, One Set of Controlled Dependencies

  • A baggage reclaim hall with two carousels and their conveyor runs, seen from the concourse floor
    Baggage and CargoSORTATION · SCREENING
  • An airliner parked nose on at a stand with its passenger boarding bridge attached and a tug in front of it, under heavy cloud
    Airfield and ApronLIGHTING · DOCKING
  • A row of automated access control barriers with card readers on their pedestals, closed across a walkway
    Security and Access ControlBARRIERS · SURVEILLANCE
  • A terminal check in hall under a ribbed vaulted roof, its counters and queue lanes empty
    Terminal and FacilitiesBUILDING SYSTEMS · POWER
  • A flight information display board listing departure times and destinations in amber type
    Passenger OperationsFLIGHT INFORMATION · GATES
  • An airliner on stand at sunrise surrounded by ground support equipment, with a loader and tugs alongside it
    Fuel and Ground ServicesSERVICING · TELEMETRY
Across a governed interface

Airport Operations

SHARED OPERATIONAL CONTEXT

Owned, operated or maintained by

AIRLINES · GROUND HANDLERS · GOVERNMENT AGENCIES · OEMS · CONTRACTORS · AIRPORT DEPARTMENTS

  • Controlled dependency between a domain and airport operations
  • Interface where that dependency is governed

Each domain reaches the others through airport operations, across an interface that can be governed. It is not one flat network.

Airport Wide Operational Security

One Security Model Across Airport Operations

Dawon connects asset, communication, threat, access, risk, and compliance information across airport environments while preserving the operational context of each system.

  • Operational Asset and Dependency Mapping

    Identify OT, IoT, building management, and supporting systems across terminals, airfield infrastructure, security zones, baggage facilities, and utility environments. Map how these systems communicate and which airport functions depend on them.

  • Passive and Distributed Monitoring

    Deploy monitoring capabilities across terminals, remote facilities, operational zones, and constrained network segments without actively scanning or interfering with airport systems.

  • Threat and Change Detection

    Detect abnormal communications, unauthorized devices, suspicious engineering activity, configuration changes, and deviations from approved operational behaviour.

  • Critical System Risk Prioritization

    Identify the systems most important to airport continuity and prioritize exposure according to potential effects on safety, security, passenger flow, aircraft turnaround, and financial operations.

  • Segmentation and Third Party Assurance

    Understand communication paths between IT, OT, airport stakeholders, and external services. Assess supplier access and verify that security boundaries protect critical airport functions.

  • Incident and Compliance Management

    Coordinate response across security, engineering, airport operations, facilities, and leadership teams. Maintain the evidence required for internal assurance, regulatory reporting, and post incident review.

From Airport Systems to the Teams That Act on Them

  1. Airport systems

    • Baggage
    • Airfield
    • Security
    • Facilities
    • Passenger Operations
    • Ground Services

  2. Distributed data collection

    • Passive Sensors
    • Existing Network Sources
    • System Integrations

  3. Dawon operational context

    • Assets
    • Communications
    • Threats
    • Dependencies
    • Risk
    • Compliance

  4. Operational users

    • SOC
    • Airport Operations
    • Engineering
    • Risk and Compliance
    • Executive Leadership
Across the Airport Environment

Protection Across Critical Airport Functions

One Airport, Five Operational Zones

  1. Landside

    Landside

    ROADS · KERBSIDE

    • Passenger and Airport Operations

  2. Terminal

    Airside

    CHECK IN · SCREENING

    • Security and Access Control
    • Terminal and Facility Systems

  3. Baggage and Service Areas

    Airside

    SORTATION · PLANT ROOMS

    • Baggage and Cargo Operations

  4. Apron

    Airside

    STANDS · TURNAROUND

    • Fuel and Ground Services

  5. Airfield

    Airside

    TAXIWAYS · RUNWAY

    • Airfield and Apron Infrastructure
  • Security boundary, at screening inside the terminal
  • Where each application applies
Where it applies
  • A baggage reclaim hall with two carousels and their conveyor runs, seen from the concourse floor

    Baggage and Cargo Operations

    Maintain intelligence across baggage handling, sort allocation, reconciliation, screening interfaces, cargo conveyors, and the systems supporting baggage and freight movement.

  • An airliner parked nose on at a stand with its passenger boarding bridge attached and a tug in front of it, under heavy cloud

    Airfield and Apron Infrastructure

    Monitor aerodrome ground lighting, aircraft docking guidance, passenger boarding bridges, apron systems, and other infrastructure supporting aircraft movement and turnaround.

  • A row of automated access control barriers with card readers on their pedestals, closed across a walkway

    Security and Access Control

    Protect physical access control, perimeter monitoring, surveillance, screening equipment, automated barriers, and communications across restricted airport zones.

  • A terminal check in hall under a ribbed vaulted roof, its counters and queue lanes empty

    Terminal and Facility Systems

    Monitor building management, HVAC, fire detection, elevators, emergency exits, power distribution, water systems, and other infrastructure required for terminal continuity.

  • A flight information display board listing departure times and destinations in amber type

    Passenger and Airport Operations

    Understand dependencies between passenger processing systems, flight information displays, operational databases, public address systems, gate operations, and connected terminal services.

  • An airliner on stand at sunrise surrounded by ground support equipment, with a loader and tugs alongside it

    Fuel and Ground Services

    Maintain intelligence across fuel management systems, aircraft servicing infrastructure, ground support equipment, remote telemetry, and supporting utilities.

Operational Resilience

Maintain Continuity Across the Airport Ecosystem

  • Improved Operational Intelligence

    Create a consistent view of systems, communications, dependencies, and ownership across airport departments and operational zones.

  • Reduced Service Disruption

    Identify threats and unauthorized changes before they affect baggage movement, passenger processing, airport security, or aircraft turnaround.

  • Consequence Based Prioritization

    Direct remediation toward findings with the greatest potential effect on safety, security, operations, passenger experience, and financial performance.

  • Stronger Third Party Governance

    Understand which suppliers, contractors, airlines, and ground handlers can access each system and what operational functions their access could affect.

  • Coordinated Incident Response

    Provide security, engineering, facilities, operations, and leadership teams with a shared record of the incident and its operational context.

  • Regulatory Assurance

    Maintain current evidence for applicable requirements and guidance, including ICAO cybersecurity guidance, TSA requirements, EASA Part IS, NIS2, ISA/IEC 62443, and relevant national aviation regulations.

A runway seen from the air along its centreline at dusk, threshold bars and the designator 28 painted across the wet surface
Aligns With
  • ICAO cybersecurity guidance
  • TSA requirements
  • EASA Part IS
  • NIS2
  • ISA/IEC 62443
  • National aviation regulations

Regulatory applicability depends on the airport's jurisdiction, operating model, and assigned responsibilities.

Discuss Your Airport Cybersecurity Requirements

Explore how Dawon can support baggage operations, airfield infrastructure, airport security, terminal facilities, and third party access through a unified operational cybersecurity model.

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