Quick-Start Guide: Building Your Minimum Viable Airports

The modern airport is a symphony of interconnected technology. From the moment a passenger books a ticket to the second their bag arrives at their destination, a complex web of digital systems ensures a safe and efficient journey. Baggage handling, passenger check-in, flight information displays, security screening, and air traffic coordination are no longer just physical operations—they are data-driven ecosystems.

But this reliance on technology creates a critical vulnerability. A single IT failure, whether from a malicious cyberattack or simple operational error, can trigger a cascade of disruptions, costing millions in lost revenue, causing reputational damage, and bringing the entire airport to a standstill.

The Core Challenges Facing Airport IT:

• Ransomware: A successful attack can halt all operations, from ticketing to takeoffs.

• Identity System Vulnerability: A compromised Active Directory or Entra ID can lock out every employee and system, leading to widespread chaos.

• Hybrid Complexity: Managing and protecting data across on-premises data centers, multiple clouds, and SaaS applications is a monumental task that often creates dangerous security gaps.

• Regulatory Pressure: TSA mandates for cybersecurity require continuous threat monitoring and robust proof of compliance, adding another layer of complexity to already-stretched IT teams.

In this eBook, we'll explore the evolving cybersecurity landscape facing airports and the limitations of legacy backup tools in addressing these challenges. We'll dive into the key capabilities needed to achieve true cyber resilience, examine how a robust cybersecurity strategy aligns with your core priorities as an airport IT professional, and how to achieve a “Minimum Viable Airport.” Finally, we’ll share how Rubrik provides a unified platform to achieve unshakeable cyber resilience.