SITA teams with Palo Alto Networks on airport cyber security solutions

GENEVA – Air transportation technology company SITA in Geneva, Switzerland has announced a partnership with cyber security firm Palo Alto Networks in Santa Clara, Calif. to enhance the protection of critical airport applications. The collaboration integrates Palo Alto Networks’ artificial intelligence (AI)-driven cyber security platforms into SITA’s cyber security portfolio.

Under the agreement, SITA will manage and operate the cyber security solution from its Cyber Security Operations Center (CyberSOC). The system will protect remote access points, mobile devices, and airport assets such as check-in kiosks, self-service terminals, and baggage scanners. This aims to ensure uninterrupted passenger flows and efficient operations, minimizing downtime and reducing turnaround times.

The partnership incorporates technologies like Palo Alto Networks’ Next Generation Firewalls (NGFW), Prisma SD-WAN Instant-On Network (ION) devices, and Prisma Access to deliver comprehensive network security, connectivity, and cloud-based protection. SITA will centrally manage these services as part of the newly introduced SITA Managed Security Service Edge (SSE).

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The SSE solution offers a range of network security features, including secure web gateways, intrusion detection, threat intelligence, antivirus protection, DNS security, SSL decryption, and data loss prevention. These capabilities are delivered through Palo Alto Networks’ cloud platform and form a core component of SITA’s broader Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) framework.

Patricia Murphy, Vice President of EMEA and LATAM Ecosystems at Palo Alto Networks, highlighted SITA’s legacy in the aviation industry. “SITA has provided innovative answers for communications and data exchange to the aviation industry for the past 75 years and is now expanding into other areas of transportation. This partnership will begin a transformation of cyber security in the air transport industry, helping ensure that critical systems are protected with the most advanced cyber security platforms available – fostering a safer and more efficient environment for air travel worldwide,” Murphy said.

Palo Alto Networks’ Precision AI technology will play a central role in detecting and addressing cyber threats, providing advanced cyber security to clients across various sectors. This partnership aims to enhance the security of critical aviation systems while paving the way for broader adoption in other transportation sectors.