With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated every day, protecting sensitive information and ensuring smooth business continuity have become more critical than ever. Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has taken a major step forward by setting up its own on-premises Cyber Defense Operations Center (CDOC)– a first among Indian airports.
What sets this apart is that the CDOC is hosted entirely within CIAL’s own IT infrastructure, which means all critical data assets remain in-house, offering better access control, enhanced network security and greater independence. It also aligns with India’s growing focus on data sovereignty and indigenous digital infrastructure.
The CDOC is designed to continuously monitor and analyze cybersecurity events using advanced threat detection tools. It detects external threats like intrusion attempts and ransomware attacks, while also regularly scanning CIAL’s internal servers and systems to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they escalate. This proactive security posture helps ensure the airport’s digital ecosystem remains secure and fully operational.
To support this important initiative, CIAL has partnered with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), the leading R&D organization under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). C-DAC brings its cybersecurity expertise to help orchestrate and manage the CDOC, adding an extra layer of resilience to CIAL’s cyber defenses.
This development is part of the larger ‘CIAL 2.0′ digital transformation programme – a ₹200-crore plan to modernize airport operations through smart technologies, automation frameworks, and enhanced cybersecurity infrastructure. The CDOC is expected to be operational from May 2025.
By building and running its own cybersecurity centre onsite, CIAL is securing its own operations and setting a new benchmark for Indian airports. This move reflects the need for the ever-evolving digital risk management and technological self-reliance – a step that others in the aviation sector may soon look to emulate.
