The Compliance Regulations and Security Activities Crucial for Protecting Aerospace Manufacturers
Those who have been in the aerospace manufacturing industry for a long time know well how drastic the shift has been from manual to digital information sharing. CAD models, engineering diagrams, quality documentation, and inspection reports (among many other assets) are exchanged online every day, which is great for productivity but makes cybersecurity in aerospace manufacturing a critical concern.
For all suppliers supporting aerospace and defense programs, the stakes are high. In this post, we explain why cybersecurity in aerospace manufacturing should be a top business concern and initiative, and explain the government security compliance regulations like CMMC and NIST SP 800-171 that are helping manufacturers protect their IP and production data from breaches and security threats.
Aerospace Cybersecurity is an Enterprise-Wide Concern
Organizations still incorrectly house cybersecurity and other information security initiatives under “IT”, but when it comes to operational excellence, supply chain management, and customer service, cybersecurity initiatives are enterprise-wide activities. Manufacturing operations leverage digital workflows, automation, and cloud-based collaboration that touch all areas of an organization, and a single cybersecurity incident can have widespread impact; cybersecurity company SentinelOne published a report this year outlining some of the primary impacts:
- Shut down entire production lines
- Throw delivery schedules into chaos
- Generate millions in lost revenue during downtime.
- Expose proprietary designs and trade secrets, putting years of R&D work at risk
- Threaten competitive positioning
Aerospace manufacturers should consider the protection of production data to be just as important as the quality of the parts and assemblies being produced.
Why Aerospace Manufacturers Are Cybersecurity Targets
In 2025, we published a piece about cybersecurity risks in aerospace and defense that emphasizes how the transition to digital has opened up more than just accessibility.
The aerospace and defense industries are high-value targets for several reasons:
- A&D organizations manage some of the most sensitive data in the world
- Nation-state actors, criminal enterprises, and even bad actors on the inside look to compromise proprietary information like engineering specs, advanced manufacturing processes, weapons systems, proprietary tooling, government contracts, defense-related technologies, and national security information
- Smaller organizations like machine shops and small or mid-size manufacturers are targeted as access points to the larger corporations they partner with
Global Aerospace cites a surge of 600% in digital threats targeting the sector in recent years. Bad actors pose real-world consequences and the publication urges stakeholders to treat cybersecurity as “mission-critical risk management”.
Some of the more common cybersecurity threats targeting aerospace manufacturers include:
- Ransomware: Attackers lock an organization out of its own data or systems and demand payment to release it. Ransomware attacks have evolved in the last few years to extortion, in which the data is held for the biggest payout. These attacks can halt production, delay contracts, and compromise sensitive projects.
- Phishing and social engineering campaigns: These attack vectors are a popular entry point, with emails or phone calls tricking employees into handing over login credentials or personal information, or downloading malware that grants attackers access to secure systems.
- Theft of CAD files and engineering documentation: Once they have gained access, attackers will look to steal proprietary information and data that can compromise projects and damage credibility and trust with government and defense partners.
- Unauthorized access to manufacturing systems: Again, once attackers have gained access, they can infiltrate manufacturing systems and create production disruptions or shut down operations entirely. In extreme cases, these attacks can have serious real-world consequences if parts and components are tampered with.
- Insider threats: Employees, contractors, or third-party vendors with access to internal systems can, whether intentionally or accidentally, compromise network vulnerabilities and do damage to manufacturing systems.
- Supply chain attacks: Attackers will often compromise a smaller organization or third-party vendor that has access to your network to levy an attack, rather than infiltrate your company’s network at the source.
Quality management is a big piece of protecting aerospace manufacturing systems and production, as it ensures compliance with the cybersecurity regulations that are designed to keep attackers out and hold organizations accountable.
The Aerospace Industry’s Cybersecurity Regulations
1. Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)
CMMC is the Department of Defense (DoD) mandate requiring defense contractors and their subcontractors to show specific, verified cybersecurity controls as a condition of winning the contract.
Financial advisory firm EisnerAmper acknowledges that there are technical, organizational, and compliance challenges to implementing CMMC, largely due to its complexity (there are three levels, with the third requiring compliance with 110 baseline practices plus 24 additional controls from NIST SP 800-172 Rev 3) and that it is an ongoing commitment to cybersecurity that requires consistent monitoring, and regular updates and assessments.
However, companies that work to comply with CMMC see the benefits:
- The ability to bid on and win contracts that involve Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) handling, which can create new business opportunities and revenue streams
- A competitive advantage as your company is seen as committed to protecting sensitive data and adhering to the highest standards
- Confidence in business function with the reduction of cyber threat risks, ensuring business continuity, financial stability, and a strong reputation
2. NIST SP 800-171
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-171 is the baseline standard for defense contractors and requires companies to meet 110 security controls designed to protect CUI in non-federal systems.
NIST SP 800-171 is important for aerospace manufacturers as it ensures any government contracts or work done with defense contractors and subcontractors adheres to CUI protection standards. The 110 security requirements fall under 14 different categories, which include:
- Incident Response
- Access Control
- System and Communications Protection
- Security Assessment
NIST SP 800-171 protects any sensitive information related to aerospace designs, defense projects, and intellectual property against cybersecurity threats.
3. DFARS 252.204-7012
The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement is essentially a legal clause included in defense contracts to ensure companies follow NIST 800-171 controls to protect CUI.
NRI Secure, a cybersecurity technology company, explains that compliance with DFARS is critical for aerospace manufacturers to secure defense contracts, and failure to comply can result in disqualification from defense projects.
Some components of DFARS include:
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Reporting any cybersecurity incidents to the DoD within 72 hours
- Assessments and audits
- CMMC compliance
4. ITAR
The International Traffic in Arms Regulation employs strict data controls to prevent unauthorized entities like foreign nationals from accessing sensitive military technology and defense data.
ITAR provisions include:
- Mandatory registration with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls by any manufacturers handling items on the U.S. Munitions List
- Only U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents can view or access ITAR-controlled blueprints, hardware, or technical data
- Digital files like CAD drawings must be secured by storing data in encrypted systems and restricting network access
- Restricted information sharing with a non-U.S. individual, even inside the U.S., is considered and treated as an export and requires a special license
- Violations can incur penalties of more than $1 million per infraction and possible prison time
The Role of Secure File Sharing in Protecting IP and Production Data
Compliance with the industry cybersecurity requirements does far more than protect engineering drawings or other technical documentation. Every piece of proprietary information that moves through a digital process is considered at risk without proper security protocols in place.
Outside of compliance, aerospace manufacturers should always prioritize secure file sharing practices to protect IP and production data:
- Encrypted file transmissions: Sensitive files should remain encrypted while stored and during transmission between customers, suppliers, and manufacturing partners
- Controlled user permissions: Only authorized employees should have access to sensitive information, and all employees should only have access to the information necessary to do their job. Role-based permissions help reduce the likelihood of accidental compromise of sensitive data.
- Multi-factor authentication: Attacks can be stopped in their tracks if there are MFA policies in place – and your team will quickly be alerted to any attempt to gain unauthorized access to anything on the network.
- Secure cloud storage environments: Anywhere data is stored should be considered at-risk to attack. Securing these environments, especially with connectivity between cloud environments, prevents unauthorized access.
- Detailed access logs and audit trails: Consistent monitoring identifies suspicious activities before it develops into a larger security incident, and tracking logs and performing audits creates a baseline for usual activity that makes unusual activity easier to identify.
- Defined retention and deletion policies: Even with strong security measures, organizations should have rules in place for how data and documentation is handled to avoid anything falling into the wrong hands or being stored and forgotten, only to be compromised later.
While compliance regulations go a long way in enforcing many of these basic cybersecurity provisions, consistent security management means everyone throughout an organization understands and follows best practices for all data-sharing.
Cybersecurity Extends to the Manufacturing Floor
The interconnectivity between modern aerospace manufacturing environments lends itself to greater security risks.
The convergence of OT and IT significantly increases productivity, but CNC machines, CMMs, industrial automation equipment, robotics, and production monitoring systems all communicating through networked environments can be compromised by a bad actor.
Manufacturers should consider:
- Segmenting production network from corporate networks
- Regularly updating and patching machine software and firmware
- Restricting connections by external devices (BYOD)
- Implementing industrial control system monitoring
- Maintaining secure remote access procedures
- Conducting regular security assessments and vulnerability testing
Cybersecurity today is intrinsic to aerospace manufacturing excellence. In order for aerospace manufacturers to deliver the quality, reliability, and trust their customers expect, operating securely is a mandate.
Aerospace manufacturers that invest in secure infrastructure, protect their intellectual property, adopt secure collaboration practices, and prepare for evolving security threats will be ready with safeguarded information and capable of supporting reliable, uninterrupted, high-quality production.
