Ernst & Young recently reported, data security is behind many of the biggest challenges plaguing the Aerospace and Defense (A&D) industry today. Companies face restrictions on where sensitive information can be accessed and stored, and on which users can access it. Combined with insider threats and supply chain risks, this can create hurdles in globalizing operations, increasing time-to-market for products and affecting an organization’s competitive edge.Â
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Aerospace & Defense
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Electronic Export Compliance
Explore the collaborative solution by NextLabs and SAP designed to assist aerospace and defense firms in complying with ITAR and EAR export regulations
Complex Regulatory Environment
Aerospace & Defense companies navigate multiple complex regulations like Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). They must adapt to evolving regulations influenced by geopolitics, ensuring classified information is strictly need-to-know to safeguard national security.Â
Supply Chain Security
A&D companies are embracing Over the Counter (OTC) components and partnering with foreign firms for manufacturing and designing, as well as maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO). With multiple vendors involved, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity across the supply chain is essential to mitigate cybersecurity risks. Robust access management systems are necessary to protect sensitive information, including classified data and proprietary technologies, from unauthorized access.Â
Cyber Attacks
The A&D sector confronts cybersecurity risks from both insider threats and outsider attacks, including politically motivated or state-sponsored hackers. These threats exploit vulnerabilities in valuable assets and intellectual property, posing challenges to operational continuity and innovation. Insiders may inadvertently assist outsiders, underscoring the need for robust access control and monitoring systems to prevent data compromise and unauthorized access.Â
Outsourcing and Offshoring
Some A&D companies are hesitant to leverage outsourcing or offshoring due to the lack of technology to address concerns about inconsistent or inadequate global data protection regulations, leading to higher costs and reduced competitiveness. However, to stay competitive in the global market, there is a growing interest in outsourcing and offshoring to improve efficiency and lower costs. When proprietary information is shared with external entities, the risk of unauthorized access or disclosure increases, highlighting the need for a data-centric security approach to protect data regardless of its location.Â
Data-Centric Security Solutions to Safeguard Sensitive Technologies and IP
Protecting classified information such as sensitive technology and IP is crucial to Aerospace & Defense companies to maintain competitive advantage and safeguard national security. This necessitates a comprehensive data-centric approach that involves the following:Â
Unified Policy Platform
A dynamic authorization policy engine with attribute-based access control (ABAC) enables organizations to automate actions based on real-time attributes and policies. Integrated with existing IT infrastructures, it ensures seamless application of identity-driven policies, enabling consistent enforcement of fine-grained policies. This facilitates flexible adjustments to access rights without complex customization, prioritizing data protection and enhancing scalability and security.Â
Data-Centric Security Enforcement
As A&D companies work with suppliers and begin to leverage on outsourcing and offshoring, it is necessary to prevent data loss through implementing data-centric security controls. Companies can enforce data masking, data segregation, and encryption using policies to shield data from unauthorized users and to prevent wrongful extraction of data. Furthermore, fine-grained access control such as ABAC can address cyber-attacks by preventing identity-theft and stolen credentials.Â
Automate and Prevent
A policy engine automates security and compliance policy procedure by evaluating policies dynamically based on real-time attributes. Through preventive controls, unauthorized access, disclosure, modification, or destruction of sensitive information can be averted, enhancing data security and promoting effective data governance. This ensures compliance with evolving regulations while safeguarding national interests.Â
Centralized Audit and Reporting
The information system can continuously log data activities and transactions from multiple sources in real-time as they occur. By consolidating these logs onto a centralized platform, A&D companies gain complete visibility, streamlining the audit and reporting process. Moreover, incorporating AI tools can self-mitigate potential risks by identifying patterns and anomalies in the data flow, optimizing reporting processes for greater efficiency and accuracy.Â
NextLabs Solution
CloudAz Centralized Policy Platform
CloudAz applies the zero trust principles to secure access and protect data across silos using attribute-based policies. CloudAz secures resources by eliminating implicit trust and verifying every stage of a digital interaction. This reduces the risk of cyber-attacks and external adversaries in this sector where national security and proprietary technologies are of prime importance.
SkyDRM Digital Rights Management
Many A&D sensitive technologies and designs are stored in PLM or CAD applications, underscoring the need to protect data in PLM and CAD. SkyDRM enables seamless global sharing of valuable intellectual property from PLM applications, such as Siemens Teamcenter and Bentley ProjectWise, with real-time access and usage controls. Furthermore, it can protect the rights of CAD files, such as AutoCAD and PTC Creo, ensuring organizations share critical information securely with third parties, including offshore, outsourced, and supply chain partners.Â
SkyDRM Digital Rights Management
Many A&D sensitive technologies and designs are stored in PLM or CAD applications, underscoring the need to protect data in PLM and CAD. SkyDRM enables seamless global sharing of valuable intellectual property from PLM applications, such as Siemens Teamcenter and Bentley ProjectWise, with real-time access and usage controls. Furthermore, it can protect the rights of CAD files, such as AutoCAD and PTC Creo, ensuring organizations share critical information securely with third parties, including offshore, outsourced, and supply chain partners.Â
Data Access Enforcer (DAE) Data-Level Security Controls
DAE enforces “need-to-know” data access at runtime using fine-grained attribute-based policies. DAE provides dynamic data masking and segregation capabilities compatible with cross-domain policies. By dynamically segregating data based on policies, data can only be viewed by authorized users with permitted access. The content can also be modified according to attribute-based policies with data masking, and with format preserving encryption (FPE) capabilities, confidential information such as export controlled data can be protected even if shared with unauthorized users.Â
Application Enforcer
In the A&D industry, valuable information is frequently shared via applications like SharePoint and SAP, internally or externally with vendors or contractors. NextLabs’ Application Enforcer automates information controls by identifying, classifying, and persistently protecting data, even after leaving the application, fostering collaboration and governance. It also enforces real-time segregation of duties (SOD) policies to prevent single individuals from controlling all process phases or transactions, enhancing data security and compliance.Â
CloudAz Report Server
CloudAz simplifies audit processes with centralized logging and reporting of all data access activity and authorization decisions. Reports also notify project managers and team members whenever a user tries to export classified data outside of the export-regulated project collaboration locations. This provides centralized visibility, preventing non-compliance activities and maintaining comprehensive reporting for audit and compliance purposes.Â
CloudAz Report Server
CloudAz simplifies audit processes with centralized logging and reporting of all data access activity and authorization decisions. Reports also notify project managers and team members whenever a user tries to export classified data outside of the export-regulated project collaboration locations. This provides centralized visibility, preventing non-compliance activities and maintaining comprehensive reporting for audit and compliance purposes.Â
