Unisys Highlights Need for Better Security in Air Cargo Industry

Unisys will be advocating for change in the air cargo industry at the upcoming Air Cargo India conference in Mumbai. To that end, Unisys Cargo Industry Director Niranjan Navaratnarajah will be giving a talk that details some of the changes that the air cargo industry will need to make to counter digital security threats and remain economically solvent in the coming years. 

Navaratnarajah’s talk will focus on three main areas. The most noteworthy (at least as it relates to the biometrics industry) is digital and physical security. Navaratnarajah will specifically call attention to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) ONE Record initiative, which seeks to establish a uniform standard for data sharing. He will argue that air cargo companies will need to adopt a Zero Trust approach to digital security to reduce the threat of data breaches and ensure that only approved individuals have access to sensitive information.

He will also advocate for the use of mobile biometric applications for physical access control. Doing so will enable strong multifactor authentication at warehouses and other locations. 

“In the increasingly competitive air cargo industry, the whole ecosystem must accelerate its digital transformation to better secure the data and goods that are in its care,” said Navaratnarajah. “A fundamental cultural change is required to evolve and create a truly connected supply chain.”

In addition to the security upgrade, Navaratnarajah will encourage listeners to explore new sales channels and new business models. He will also stress the importance of smart technologies that will make it easier to ship specialized cargo. For instance, connected sensors could notify operators about a temperature change in a crate, giving them time to respond and prevent a perishable item from spoiling.

The ONE Record initiative is in keeping with IATA’s calls for biometric passenger processing technology. The organization has previously partnered with the World Travel & Tourism Council to promote biometric air travel solutions.

Unisys, meanwhile, recently launched a Software-as-a-Service cloud version of its biometric Stealth(identity) platform.

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February 19, 2020 – by Eric Weiss