By Noel Trout | Chief Technology Officer at Avinode Group
The growing cyber threat
Across industries, cybercrime is escalating at a pace that’s hard to ignore. The FBI’s latest Internet Crime Report shows that personal data breaches rank among the top three reported crimes in 2024, alongside phishing and extortion. Microsoft reports over 600 million identity attacks every single day, with more than 99 percent of them still relying on something as basic as stolen or weak passwords. Verizon’s 2025 report echoes this, with credential abuse representing 22 percent of all attacks.
The data paints a clear picture: identity- and credential-based attacks remain the easiest, most lucrative way for cybercriminals to gain access.
Where business aviation stands
So, where does business aviation fit in? Our industry is built on discretion, trust, and high-touch service. Yet, when it comes to cyber resilience, we are lagging behind other sectors. While banks, insurers, and even retail companies have made significant strides in protecting customer identities, aviation too often treats cybersecurity as an afterthought.
The risk is bigger than just operational disruption. A single breach exposing client itineraries, financial details, or personal data could shatter the very foundation of trust that private aviation relies on. For a sector that serves some of the most security-conscious individuals in the world, this gap is unacceptable.
What needs to change
The first step is recognition: cybersecurity is not an IT problem, it’s a business-critical issue. Executives, operators, brokers, and technology providers alike must raise the bar by:
- Moving beyond password-only systems toward strong authentication methods.
- Training staff to recognize and respond to phishing attempts.
- Treating customer data with the same care as physical safety—because in today’s world, digital safety is inseparable from personal security.
- Building partnerships with vendors who prioritize security in their platforms and processes.
A call to action
Business aviation has always been about delivering confidence, discretion, and safety. Protecting customer data is now part of that promise. If we don’t act with urgency, we risk being left behind—and worse, losing the trust of the very clients we aim to serve.
The question isn’t whether cyber threats are real. The question is whether our industry is ready to wake up to them.
Discover how we protect sensitive data at Avinode Group.
About Noel
Noel Trout is a seasoned technology leader with deep experience in software architecture, systems integration, and team leadership. He combines strong technical vision with a hands-on approach to building scalable platforms and driving innovation.
As CTO, Noel defines the technology roadmap, leads development and operations teams, and ensures performance, security, and alignment with business goals.
Sources
- FBI Internet Crime Report 2024
- Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2024
- Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report