Rethinking Aviation Security Beyond the Age

Every year, aviation organizations with certified operational capabilities that meet the end-to-end needs of millions of passengers place security at the core of their operations. From access to the airport to the uninterrupted continuation of services within terminal buildings and the completion of flights, every step requires a high level of dedication and operational discipline. Carefully reviewing potential scenarios that may arise at each location and developing creative solutions aimed at preventing issues are of critical importance.

Among these organizations, İGA, which is globally recognized for its innovative approaches, has been selected as the world’s best airport in the Travel and Leisure magazine’s “World’s Top 10 Airports” evaluation, in addition to receiving numerous other awards. During the evaluation process, security was examined with the same level of scrutiny as access, check-in processes, food and beverage areas, shopping, and architectural design, and İGA succeeded in achieving top scores in all categories. Aware that high human mobility in densely populated areas inevitably brings security risks, airport management conducts preventive and comprehensive initiatives to eliminate all potential threats.

As one of Türkiye’s and international aviation’s major hubs, the airport operates with the awareness that managing large-scale human and data traffic requires addressing both physical and digital security measures at the highest level.

Ensuring Excellence in Security

While ensuring personnel attendance tracking and entry–exit security for critical facilities, airport management operates with the principle of aligning data protection processes with GDPR standards. The security of data centers must also be addressed through multilayered configurations. In particular, integrating strong encryption techniques and threat detection systems against cyber threats is essential. However, foreseeing that such an infrastructure could not be sufficiently protected solely through traditional methods such as conventional encryption and card-based access systems, airport management focused on innovative solutions.

While acting with the awareness that securing the personal data of tens of thousands of employees working across this vast campus is a critical necessity, the presence of foreign nationals among the workforce was also taken into consideration. The international structure of airport personnel made it imperative to address data security in line with global standards. The approach, which is based on ensuring that card-based and biometric access control infrastructures used in security and auditing processes comply with laws and regulations, introduced a significant innovation that added a new dimension to global aviation norms.

While enhancing digital security, the necessity of establishing an active defense line against potential attacks led to the development of an access control and security infrastructure that has been recognized worldwide by addressing physical security beyond the age.

Security Beyond the Age with Biometrics on the Card

When designing the infrastructure, particular sensitivity must be shown regarding the protection of personal data. To enhance security, a fully isolated structure must be established between public networks and the data center. Due to the dynamics brought about by high human circulation, this isolation constitutes a critical security layer. While İGA Istanbul Airport was still in the construction phase, it approached its security and access control infrastructure using a method that had no equivalent worldwide at the time.

A fundamental approach was adopted to ensure the secure execution of critical processes such as personnel mobility, data centers, flight operations, passenger services, and cargo transportation. Innovative initiatives specific to the aviation sector are expected to bring to life a multilayered security mechanism that will pioneer technological innovations and set international standards.

Securing Biometric Data

To meet the defined technological requirements, an innovative method in which biometric data is not stored on devices or centralized servers was introduced. Ones Technology®, with its visionary approach and R&D discipline, addressed the matter with meticulous care. The solution was implemented through corporate cards in which biometric data is encrypted and stored using advanced protocols. During personnel onboarding procedures carried out by the human resources department, biometric data is written directly onto the cards and delivered to employees.

Corporate cards are used exclusively on devices located in designated areas. These cards, which can be decrypted during verification by devices supported by authorization and auditing software such as BioAffix® Management and BioAffix® OneServer, are smart cards equipped with advanced communication and security technologies. Since biometric data is not stored on devices or within the data center, the risk of data breaches in centralized systems is reduced to zero. This infrastructure was implemented for the first time at an airport worldwide, offering a GDPR-compliant security architecture—and even exceeding these standards—within such a large-scale aviation environment.

Foreseeing the Future of Global Aviation Security

In today’s world, addressing security without overlooking any possibility is a necessity. In approaches such as Zero Trust, which aim to minimize human error and human-related risks, physical security is addressed together with cybersecurity. When adopting this approach, software, hardware, infrastructure setup, and post-installation maintenance services—where authorization, auditing, and risk prevention processes are managed in coordination—must be considered collectively. When formulating a security strategy, it is essential to place the human factor at the center. At every stage of security, teams must not only possess technical expertise but also demonstrate a high level of sensitivity toward human-oriented threats. Providing employees with regular cybersecurity training and supporting them with crisis management drills ensures preparedness against potential risks. Working with reliable solution partners capable of meeting all these requirements should be a top priority.

The airport’s comprehensive security infrastructure has been equipped in line with these considerations, successfully delivering high-level security services across all locations. The system stands out as one of the core structures ensuring the uninterrupted and secure operation of critical processes such as monitoring restricted areas, data centers, flight operations, passenger services, and cargo transportation. It offers a multilayered security mechanism designed with foresight beyond its time to guide international standards.

At this point, Ones Technology® attracted attention with its end-to-end infrastructure implementation capabilities, its security and access control products gathered under the BioAffix® brand, and its position as a domestic supplier. Its product ecosystem—comprising security and access control hardware along with integrated management and auditing software—meets the requirements set forth by legal regulations such as GDPR and can be applied to all scenarios. With these qualities, Ones Technology® fulfills all the criteria expected from a solution partner in the airport sector.

Based on the world’s first biometric authentication technology to receive the Common Criteria EAL 2 certification, the palm vein–based biometric authenticator BioAffix Gate Extreme, BioAffix Gate Vision and the BioAffix Gate Force Mini device, which supports all card types, became the key components of the solutions developed through this R&D process. These devices offer fast, high-security, error-minimized, and user-friendly card-based and biometric authentication technologies. By supporting all card types, they provide multilayered and reliable identity verification. The access control and personnel attendance tracking system infrastructure—designed to ensure the uninterrupted and secure continuation of time-critical airport services—was established and deployed from this perspective.

Challenges and Opportunities in Aviation Security

With increasing digitalization, the aviation sector demands more complex and sophisticated security and access control technologies. However, these innovations also bring risks such as high costs and integration challenges. In particular, large-scale passenger volumes and high human circulation require effective response mechanisms against real-time security threats. At the same time, airports must strike a balance between delivering a user-friendly experience and ensuring maximum security.

If existing systems are not improved, data breaches, physical security vulnerabilities, and compliance issues may pose serious risks. However, with the right technology, these threats can be transformed into opportunities. Modernizing access control systems not only enhances security levels but also increases operational efficiency and user satisfaction.

Through the use of BioAffix® products, it is possible to elevate both physical and digital security standards at designated locations. The solutions developed by Ones Technology in close collaboration with its partners have gained a distinct position within the global aviation sector based on personnel attendance systems, access control, and data security. These collaborations have helped establish organizations as reference points not only in Türkiye but also internationally, supported by various awards received on a global scale.

By contacting Ones Technology®, you can become acquainted with the BioAffix product ecosystem and request detailed information about solutions that can be designed according to your specific needs.