Aero Engine Services strengthens cyber security defences

Aero Engine Services is a privately owned UK-based aviation company, headquartered in Cardiff, just 30 minutes from GE Aviation Wales. With over 40 years of experience in the aviation services industry, the company has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality aftermarket supply chain solutions and technical consultancy services to the global aerospace sector. 

As the aerospace industry continues to grow, so do the technological and regulatory demands placed on companies operating within it. Aero Engine Services recognised the need to modernise their IT infrastructure and enhance their cyber security posture to: 

Our partnership with Aero Engine Services became essential to future-proofing their operations, maintaining client trust and continuing to deliver exceptional service in a highly competitive and regulated market. 

IT and cyber security challenges in the aviation services industry 

Cloud services for Aero Engine helped align strict regulatory standards with protecting sensitive data and enabling secure global collaboration. 

“We were operating across multiple cloud-platforms for our data/emails, and I had concerns around our overall security, as well as how backups were completing, if at all. With our growth plans in mind, I tasked CSG with compiling a review of our current setup, and where they suggested we make improvements to mitigate risk, as well as introducing backups and continuity measures to prevent business downtime.”

Email migration 

Emails were historically held within IONUS, but this lacked out-of-box features, so we provided an upgrade to give more granular control over the environment, as well as allowing for the deployment of additional services – email filtering & backups.

Email filtering 

To reduce the chances of malicious content reaching employee mailboxes, CSG heightened the configuration of advanced security measures, as well as complementing it with an advanced email security gateway; ensuring AES have the most secure defensive measures in place to protect against email-borne attacks.   

Email & data backup  

Data held within native email platforms is not natively backed up, which is why CSG provides further support for email and data back up.

To protect AES data/emails, CSG introduced a secure backup, which is a fully automated solution which completes multiple backups of both their emails and company data held, multiple times per day.  

Advanced security hardening  

With AES’ reliance on the cloud, it was imperative that their security posture was assessed and corrective action taken to improve security; CSG worked through all of the Secure Score items in line with their Business Premium licensing to heighten base-level security, as well as introducing additional policies via Conditional Access to further improve security measures and controls.  

Phase 2: Sophos synchronised security suite

A secure infrastructure is the first step to establishing the required security posture to protect against modern-day threats. The CSG team worked to deliver a suite of technology-driven solutions that allowed Aero Engine Services to confidently meet growing business demands and regulatory requirements, such as internet resilience and unified Wi-Fi throughout all offices and factories. 

Cyber threats like ransomware pose a serious risk to aviation data and operations. Sophos security suites provides real-time threat detection and automated response.

This synchronised security approach ensures that infected devices are instantly isolated, preventing lateral spread and protecting sensitive engine data, maintenance records and client communications. 

Internet resilience via 5G backup connection 

Reliable internet connectivity is essential for accessing cloud systems, communicating with global partners and managing real-time data. With automatic failover to a backup 5G connection, Aero Engine Services maintains continuous internet access, even during primary line outages, ensuring business continuity and uninterrupted service delivery. 

Cloud managed wireless network

CSG introduced a new and improved performing Wifi network, with a newly provisioned hosted cloud controller within the CSG cloud that allows for remote monitoring and management. Access Points were provided and fitted at site throughout the building, with appropriate segregation in place to isolate guest traffic.  

Why does this all matter in the aviation industry? 

Together, CSG and Aero Engine Services help make the most out of the technologies available to form a secure, and scalable IT foundation, which is essential for aviation service providers who must: 

Through the above work Aero Engine Services is not only protecting its operations but also gaining a competitive edge in a fast-moving, highly regulated industry. 

CSG’s commitment to ongoing support ensures that the team at Aero Engine Services is never left to navigate IT or cybersecurity challenges alone. With a dependable partnership in place, Aero Engine Services benefits from proactive monitoring, instant response to emerging threats and continuous optimisation of their digital environment. 

This reliable service allows the Aero Engine Services team to dedicate their attention fully to providing exceptional aviation solutions, confident that their IT infrastructure and cybersecurity are expertly managed by CSG.  

By entrusting these critical functions to CSG, Aero Engine Services can focus on what they do best, secure in the knowledge that their technology backbone is always protected.