FUTURE
TECHNOLOGY
MDR partner
implements Cisco
solution for better
airport security
ku
l
Destrel, a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) partner, has worked
with Istanbul Grand Airport to implement an integrated security solution
from Cisco to increase its protection against physical threats. With airports
being a potential goldmine for hackers, Destrel has played a vital part in
securing beyond physical threats at the airport.
W
hen you think of security within
an airport, what’s the first thing
that comes to mind? It is most
likely security check points. These security
measures are absolutely crucial when it
comes to the safety of all customers and
workers within the airport.
However, these security standards
are only protection against physical
threats. What about cyberthreats? With
advancements in technology, threats have
evolved beyond physicality. Cyberthreats at
an airport are particularly detrimental.
Think about it: airports are goldmines for
hackers. Not only do they store airline data
from major carriers such as Turkish Airlines,
United or Lufthansa, the airport network
also contains business data from restaurants
and shops. More importantly, it carries
millions of customers’ data.
Whether passengers are purchasing
an item at a store, going through airport
32
security, or connecting to the free airport
Wi-Fi; data is essentially everywhere.
Therefore, securing beyond physical threats
at an airport is extremely critical.
Becoming the largest airport in
the world
Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA) was founded
in 2013 and is on a mission to construct the
largest airport in the world. IGA recently
completed and launched the first phase of the
airport, which encompasses two runways and
can accommodate 90 million passengers.
Once fully complete, IGA intends to hire
approximately 1.5 million employees and
will have the ability to connect up to 200
million passengers in over 300 destinations,
annually. The airport is currently being
constructed in an area of 76.5 million square
metres, north of Istanbul, which is Turkey’s
largest city and Europe’s fourth most
populated city; currently with 15 million
, C
IO
, Is
t an
b ul
Grand
Airport
residents and seven million foreign visitors
a year. Because Turkey sits geographically
at the centre of four critical regions – Asia,
Africa, the Middle East and Europe – this
airport will be considered a central hub for
the world.
Built with security as a foundation
IGA is constructing the Istanbul Airport from
the ground up. But before even beginning
construction, security was always a priority
in the airport leadership’s blueprints.
IGA acknowledged the importance
of encompassing a strong security
infrastructure and had plans to build the
world’s largest airport with security as a
core foundation.
Emrah Bayarcelik, the Head of Security
at IGA, said: “At IGA, our business objective
is to provide smooth operations for our
passengers, starting from the check-in point
to take off.”