GUTMA report says security is a priority for UTM sector

A new report from the Global UTM Association (GUTMA) says security has become a top priority for uncrewed traffic management (UTM) systems and operations.

Under the leadership of OpenSkies Aerial Technology and the Technology Innovation Institute, the GUTMA Task Force on Secure and Resilient UTM has developed a threat modelling framework for UTM technology, complementing existing UTM regulations. This framework, detailed in the report, draws on best practices implemented by Task Force members.

The report targets CEOs, CTOs, and senior management, guiding organisations in developing a security perspective on UTM technology. It begins with an overview of cybersecurity implications in the UTM context, providing use case examples, such as an activist group taking control of or at least manipulating subsystems or parts of the service. Malicious activity like this can seriously impact strategic flight planning and UTM operations.

The report then outlines current global regulatory considerations and concludes with the threat modelling template designed for all ecosystem enablers, including manufacturers, third-party service providers, drone management providers, and UTM service providers.

As a follow-up to this report, the Task Force members have identified follow-up activities within and outside of GUTMA. These include a follow-up to focus on UTM security and trust. In addition, the co-leads of the report are building tools for UTM security verification in the open source to enable interested UTM providers to run tests and demonstrate the effectiveness of their security systems.

The GUTMA Task Force on Secure and Resilient UTM includes Airwayz, ARCGine Technologies, Ericsson, the US Federal Aviation Administration, Flyvercity, High Lander, LG Electronics, OneSky, R-SYS, Unifly Aero, and Zipline. ANGOKA and HHLA Sky also provided valuable contributions to the report.