Air transportation relies on highly interconnected digital networks to manage passenger data, flight schedules, and safety systems. These networks face increasing cybersecurity risks, with even minor breaches potentially causing severe disruptions. Three key technologies – TAPs, packet brokers, and data diodes – are transforming how the aviation industry protects its critical systems. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• TAPs (Test Access Points): Allow passive, uninterrupted monitoring of network traffic, ensuring visibility without interfering with operations.
• Packet Brokers: Streamline and manage network data, routing only relevant traffic to security tools, and preventing system overload.
• Data Diodes: Ensure one-way data flow, physically blocking reverse access to safeguard sensitive systems.

Together, these tools provide aviation organizations with the visibility, traffic management, and secure data transfer needed to protect against cyber threats while maintaining smooth operations.

This article explains how these technologies work, their applications in aviation, and how leading vendors like Garland Technology, Profitap, and Cubro are tailoring solutions to meet the industry’s needs.

Aviation Cybersecurity Requirements: Staying Safe in the (Cyber) Skies

TAPs: Network Monitoring Without Disruption

Test Access Points (TAPs) are the unsung heroes of aviation networks, providing complete visibility without interfering with operations. As part of a comprehensive security strategy that also includes packet brokers and data diodes, TAPs allow seamless monitoring of network traffic. In an industry where even a brief disruption can ground flights or jeopardize passenger safety, TAPs ensure uninterrupted oversight while staying entirely passive.

How TAPs Work in Aviation Networks

TAPs create a permanent inline link between devices like switches and routers, duplicating all network traffic – such as radar, scheduling, and check-in data – and sending it to monitoring tools. This ensures the live network flow remains untouched and uninterrupted.

One standout feature of modern TAPs is the inclusion of unidirectional (TX-only) monitoring ports. These ports send traffic to security tools without allowing any data to flow back into the live network, enhancing safety.

TAPs are designed to capture all network traffic, including malformed packets, physical errors, and VLAN tags that other methods might miss. Because they lack a physical or logical address, TAPs are invisible to network devices and potential attackers alike, making them a secure and effective solution.

TAP Solutions from Garland, Profitap, and Cubro

Several leading vendors offer TAP solutions tailored for aviation’s unique challenges:

• Garland Technology: Known for their passive fiber TAPs, Garland’s solutions require no power and use optical splitters to duplicate traffic. This design makes them immune to power outages – an essential feature for airports that operate around the clock. With less than 1 nanosecond of delay, these TAPs ensure no impact on time-sensitive communications. For active monitoring needs, Garland also offers TAPs with battery backups and electromagnetic relay failover to maintain connectivity during power failures.
• Profitap: Specializing in high-speed TAPs, Profitap supports full line-rate monitoring from 1G to 400G without packet loss. Their solutions are perfect for aviation networks that handle massive data loads, maintaining precise timing and sequencing critical for systems requiring microsecond accuracy.
• Cubro: Offering enterprise-grade TAPs, Cubro focuses on minimizing signal interference. Their TAPs feature a typical insertion loss of only 3.0 to 4.5dB, ensuring signal quality while enabling multiple monitoring tools to access the network simultaneously.

These TAP solutions are integral to maintaining secure and reliable aviation networks.

TAP Applications in Air Transportation

TAPs are deployed across various segments of aviation networks to ensure comprehensive monitoring and security. For example, air traffic control centers rely on TAPs to monitor radar data feeds and communication systems without jeopardizing flight operations. The ability to connect or disconnect monitoring devices without disrupting live traffic allows teams to maintain or upgrade their tools without scheduling downtime.

Passive TAPs also safeguard critical operations by keeping the network flowing even if monitoring equipment fails. This passive monitoring approach, combined with advanced traffic management through packet brokers, enhances the overall security and reliability of aviation systems.

Packet Brokers: Traffic Management for Better Security

TAPs lay the groundwork for network visibility, but packet brokers take it a step further by acting as smart traffic managers. In aviation, where multiple security systems monitor vast amounts of data, packet brokers help streamline traffic flow. They ensure each tool gets only the relevant data it needs, preventing overloads and maintaining smooth operations. By building on the visibility provided by TAPs, packet brokers fine-tune data distribution to support precise security monitoring.

How Packet Brokers Work

Packet brokers serve as central hubs, gathering network traffic from TAPs and distributing only the necessary data to specific tools. This approach keeps security systems from being bogged down by irrelevant information while maintaining a clear view of potential threats.

These brokers filter traffic starting at Layer 2, directing different types of data to the appropriate tools. They also handle tasks like deduplication, load balancing, and packet slicing, which reduces bandwidth by sending only the essential parts of each packet.

Modern packet brokers come equipped with advanced features such as timestamping for accurate event tracking, tunneling support for protocols like GRE, VXLAN, and ERSPAN, and SSL/TLS decryption to monitor encrypted traffic. These capabilities ensure visibility even in complex, encrypted network environments.

Now, let’s explore how top vendors customize packet broker solutions to meet aviation security needs.

Aviation Packet Broker Solutions

Packet brokers, combined with TAPs, help aviation networks manage critical traffic for enhanced security. Leading vendors bring unique strengths to the table:

• Garland Technology: Known for focusing on operational technology (OT) and critical infrastructure, Garland’s solutions are a natural fit for aviation. Their packet brokers include aggregation and filtering capabilities without per-port or feature fees, which helps airports and airlines scale their security systems affordably. Garland’s XtraTAP™ hybrid NPBs combine TAP functionality with packet brokers, simplifying deployments and reducing hardware needs. For inline security, their EdgeLens® inline packet brokers feature bypass integration and configurable heartbeat technology to ensure uninterrupted network uptime – essential for air traffic control systems.
• Profitap: Designed for high-performance environments, Profitap’s packet brokers handle speeds up to 400G, making them ideal for large international airports. Their features include TCP packet reordering, fragment reassembly, IMSI filtering for mobile tracking, and NetFlow export capabilities. Profitap addresses aviation-specific challenges like detecting cyber threats at airports and securing industrial networks. Their PTPv2 time synchronization ensures precise timing across distributed systems, while SSL/TLS decryption and data masking allow monitoring of encrypted traffic without compromising sensitive passenger data.
• Cubro: Focused on high-speed performance, Cubro’s packet brokers support connections up to 400Gbps. Their 1-nanosecond timestamping ensures precise event correlation, while built-in ARM CPUs handle tasks like Regex Search filtering and NetFlow generation directly within the packet broker. This reduces the workload on downstream tools and enhances efficiency.

Case Studies: Packet Brokers in Aviation

Real-world applications highlight the effectiveness of packet brokers in aviation security. For example, Profitap’s solutions are used to monitor critical infrastructure at airports, enabling security teams to detect and analyze cyber threats targeting passenger systems, baggage handling networks, and operational technology. Their tools also integrate seamlessly with SCADA and other industrial control systems, providing comprehensive monitoring for these critical systems.

Cubro’s packet brokers shine in scenarios requiring precise event tracking across multiple network segments. With 1-nanosecond timestamping, security teams can accurately sequence events during investigations, which is crucial for identifying threats that could disrupt flight operations or compromise passenger safety. Additionally, Cubro’s built-in ARM CPU processing allows airports to handle complex filtering and analysis within the packet broker itself, reducing the need for extra hardware while maintaining strong security coverage.

These examples demonstrate the practical advantages of combining TAPs and packet brokers to safeguard aviation networks effectively.

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Data Diodes: Critical Infrastructure Protection

While TAPs provide visibility and packet brokers manage traffic flow, data diodes serve as a crucial defense mechanism by ensuring data flows in only one direction. In aviation, where operational data must move from secure networks to less secure ones, data diodes enforce this one-way transfer, physically blocking any reverse data flow. This hardware-based approach eliminates the risk of external threats infiltrating critical systems, even if downstream networks are compromised. The following sections explore how this technology is applied in aviation and the tailored solutions offered by leading vendors.

Data Diodes in Aviation Security

Data diodes rely on hardware-enforced unidirectional communication to protect aviation systems. They allow data to travel from secure networks to less secure ones without the risk of reverse infiltration. This is vital in aviation, where air traffic control systems, flight operations centers, and maintenance networks need to share information with external systems while remaining shielded from cyber threats.

For example, operational technology (OT) networks often need to send telemetry data, operational reports, or status updates to business networks, cloud platforms, or regulatory systems. Data diodes achieve this through physical separation at the hardware level, typically using fiber optic connections that enable data transmission exclusively from the secure side. This ensures that critical flight safety systems stay isolated from potential threats while still allowing essential data sharing for operations, compliance, and analytics.

Data Diode Solutions from Garland, Profitap, and Cubro

To meet the unique needs of aviation, several vendors offer specialized data diode solutions:

• Garland Technology: Known for its focus on critical infrastructure protection, Garland’s solutions are well-suited for aviation environments. Their data diodes provide zero-risk data transfer, enabling operational technology networks like SCADA systems and industrial control systems to securely transmit data. Garland also supports real-time data replication and database synchronization, ensuring business continuity while maintaining security.
• Profitap: This vendor delivers high-performance diodes designed for encrypted data transfers, helping aviation networks comply with stringent data protection regulations. Their solutions include protocol conversion and data transformation, which are especially useful for integrating legacy aviation systems with modern security infrastructures.
• Cubro: Cubro specializes in high-speed data diodes capable of handling multi-gigabit data flows without introducing latency. Their hardware-based approach ensures microsecond-level processing, making them ideal for time-sensitive aviation operations. Cubro’s diodes also feature data validation and integrity checking, ensuring transmitted data remains accurate and complete.

Data Diodes for Air Traffic Control

Air traffic control systems represent one of the most security-sensitive areas where data diodes play a critical role. These systems depend on secure, one-way data sharing to prevent external interference while enabling safe communication with external partners.

For instance, data diodes allow air traffic control centers to transmit radar data securely to airline operations centers. This enables carriers to monitor their aircraft and optimize flight paths without introducing vulnerabilities. Similarly, they facilitate regulatory reporting by allowing one-way transmission of flight data to government agencies and international aviation authorities.

Airport operations centers also benefit from data diodes. These systems securely share passenger flow data, baggage handling updates, and ground operations information with airlines and service providers. This level of coordination ensures smooth operations across different organizations while maintaining strict security around critical infrastructure like runway systems, terminal security, and emergency response systems.

Beyond security, data diodes help aviation organizations meet regulatory requirements for data protection and infrastructure security. By providing auditable proof that sensitive systems are isolated from external networks, they simplify compliance reporting and reduce regulatory risks. Together with TAPs and packet brokers, data diodes form a layered security approach, ensuring safer and more reliable air transportation systems.

Combined Solutions: Layered Security for Aviation

When TAPs, packet brokers, and data diodes work together, they create a powerful, multi-layered security framework tailored to the unique demands of aviation networks. This approach ensures high visibility, manages traffic flow effectively, and secures data transmissions across critical systems. By combining the strengths of these technologies, aviation organizations can achieve a more comprehensive and reliable defense against threats.

TAPs provide constant, non-intrusive visibility into network traffic, feeding data to packet brokers that manage and distribute it efficiently. Meanwhile, data diodes enforce one-way data transfers, safeguarding sensitive information from unauthorized access. Together, these technologies not only strengthen security but also support seamless operations, ensuring aviation networks are protected from both internal and external risks.

Benefits of Combined Network Security

Integrating TAPs, packet brokers, and data diodes into a single framework offers several key advantages over standalone systems. This layered approach builds redundancy and resilience, ensuring the network remains secure even if one component faces challenges.

By capturing all network traffic, TAPs enable packet brokers to direct critical data where it’s needed most, while data diodes ensure secure, one-way data flows. This combination enhances threat detection, enabling faster identification of anomalies and more effective incident response. The result? A security system that stays ahead of evolving threats.

Additionally, this integration boosts network reliability. For instance, during maintenance or updates to monitoring tools, packet brokers can reroute traffic to backup systems, maintaining visibility and minimizing disruptions. In cases of external system issues, data diodes isolate critical components, ensuring uninterrupted operations.

Streamlining these security functions into a unified framework also simplifies regulatory compliance, reduces complexity, and lowers overall costs.

Customer Success Stories

Real-world examples highlight the effectiveness of this integrated security strategy:

Garland Technology partnered with a major international airport to implement a unified security solution. This deployment secured communications between air traffic control systems, airline operations centers, and regulatory reporting channels. The airport’s IT team reported improved network visibility and faster troubleshooting, with the solution bridging previous gaps between network segments.

Profitap collaborated with a regional airline to address challenges in integrating legacy systems with modern security tools. The combined solution enhanced network visibility and security, enabling flight operations teams to quickly resolve connectivity issues. Additionally, the system ensured secure data transmission to regulatory authorities, helping the airline meet strict cybersecurity standards.

Cubro worked with an air traffic control center to deploy high-speed TAPs, packet brokers, and data diodes across its network. The system maintained the precision required for air traffic management while adding robust security measures without causing delays. Non-intrusive monitoring enabled air traffic controllers to process radar data and communicate seamlessly with aircraft, while security teams gained real-time insights into network activity.

These success stories demonstrate the value of integrating monitoring, traffic management, and unidirectional data transfer into a single, cohesive strategy. This approach not only strengthens aviation network security but also enhances operational efficiency and simplifies compliance efforts.

Conclusion: Improving Air Transportation Security

The security of aviation networks is evolving through the targeted use of TAPs, packet brokers, and data diodes. Together, these technologies form a robust defense for critical aviation systems.

TAPs provide a way to capture network traffic without disruption, while packet brokers ensure data is efficiently directed to security tools, maximizing their effectiveness and improving threat detection. Data diodes add another layer of protection by enforcing one-way data flows, safeguarding sensitive air traffic systems from unauthorized access.

Real-world applications demonstrate the strength of this layered security approach. From international airports achieving better network visibility to regional airlines meeting strict cybersecurity benchmarks, this strategy has proven its value time and again.

Looking ahead, new trends are emerging to complement these practices. AI-powered threat detection is now analyzing the detailed data streams delivered by TAPs and packet brokers, identifying subtle anomalies that might go unnoticed by traditional methods. Machine learning is playing a key role in processing vast amounts of network data in real time, offering predictive insights to preempt potential threats.

Additionally, the integration of cloud-based security analytics with on-premises monitoring is gaining traction. This hybrid model allows aviation organizations to benefit from advanced threat intelligence while maintaining strict control over sensitive operational data, thanks to the protective capabilities of data diodes.

Telnet Networks, with decades of expertise, is at the forefront of implementing these advanced solutions. By collaborating with leading technology providers, they help aviation organizations design resilient security architectures that address both current and future challenges.

As aviation systems grow more complex and interconnected, the combined use of TAPs, packet brokers, and data diodes will remain a cornerstone of the industry’s efforts to ensure safety, security, and reliability.

FAQs

How do TAPs, packet brokers, and data diodes improve cybersecurity in the aviation industry?

TAPs, packet brokers, and data diodes play a crucial role in bolstering aviation cybersecurity by ensuring secure data flow and enhancing network visibility. Data diodes are designed to enforce one-way data transfer, physically preventing any reverse flow of information. This feature is critical for shielding sensitive aviation systems from cyber threats, making them a key component in protecting essential networks.

Meanwhile, TAPs and packet brokers add another layer of security by supporting passive network monitoring and aggregating traffic. These tools provide real-time insights into network activity, making it easier to spot unusual behavior or potential security threats. When used together, these technologies create a robust, multi-layered defense strategy – safeguarding critical systems while offering comprehensive visibility into network performance and potential vulnerabilities.

What benefits do data diodes offer for securing air traffic control systems?

Data diodes enable one-way data transfer, effectively blocking external threats such as malware, ransomware, or DDoS attacks from breaching critical systems. By physically separating internal air traffic control networks from external systems, they add a strong layer of security, protecting sensitive operations and keeping unauthorized access at bay.

This level of protection plays a key role in ensuring secure and uninterrupted communication channels within air traffic control environments, where safety and reliability cannot be compromised.

How do Garland Technology, Profitap, and Cubro enhance security for aviation networks?

Garland Technology, Profitap, and Cubro offer specialized tools to meet the distinct security needs of aviation networks. Using technologies such as TAPs, inline bypass devices, and packet brokers, they provide full network visibility and real-time monitoring to protect critical infrastructure.

These tools are essential for spotting cyber threats early, detecting unusual operational patterns, and reinforcing the cybersecurity defenses of airports and airlines. With an emphasis on delivering accurate and dependable data, these solutions help aviation networks stay secure and prepared for emerging challenges.