GIFAS Launches 'Cyber Boost' to Strengthen the Cybersecurity of the Aeronautics ... - Aérocontact

On July 27th, the Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales (GIFAS) announced the deployment of « GIFAS Cyber Boost », an operational program aimed at accelerating the cyber maturity of SMEs and mid-sized companies in the aerospace, space, and defense supply chain. Equipped with several million euros, this initiative aims to support up to 200 companies by the end of 2027.

In the face of intensifying digital threats and the digital transformation of industrial chains, cybersecurity now establishes itself as a performance standard alongside quality, deadlines, or production capacity. ?Enhancing the cyber maturity of our industrial value chain is an absolute priority,? emphasized Olivier Andries, president of GIFAS and General Director of Safran.

An industrial and strategic requirement

In a dual industry, both civilian and military, performance relies on highly interconnected ecosystems. The multiplication of data flows, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the geopolitical context increase the need to protect systems and exchanges.

Cyber-resilience thus becomes a key lever for competitiveness and industrial sovereignty. Each actor in the value chain is called to strengthen their ?cyber responsibility,? placing humans at the heart of vigilance systems. The scale of the challenge is illustrated by the figures: 70% of cyberattacks exploit human vulnerabilities, 43% of French SMEs are expected to have already been targeted in 2024, and the average cost of an incident can reach ?1.14 million.

A structured support for 200 companies

The GIFAS Cyber Boost program relies on the AirCyber reference framework, operated by BoostAeroSpace, which enables companies to evaluate and structure their progression according to three levels of maturity: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

The initiative foresees a comprehensive course combining several steps. It begins with awareness and training actions, with a particular focus on the human factor. The program also includes vulnerability testing and phishing campaigns to identify main risks. An initial diagnosis is then carried out, followed by the development of a personalized road map and expert support over ten days. Finally, companies benefit from connections with banking partners to facilitate the financing of the solutions to be implemented.

Approximately 150 GIFAS member companies and 50 from aerospace and space clusters or poles will be involved. The average cost of the course, estimated at ?21,000 per company, can be covered up to 100%, subject to effective progress within the AirCyber framework.

A driver of competitiveness for the supply chain

Beyond operational support, GIFAS asserts its structural role in a context of increasing regulatory requirements, notably with the NIS2 directive, and higher expectations from contractors.

?Cybersecurity has become a condition of industrial performance. With GIFAS Cyber Boost, the sector concretely invests in supporting SMEs and mid-sized companies in its value chain in their cyber maturity development. This effort is essential to strengthen our competitiveness, resilience, and industrial sovereignty. It must be recognized and supported, so companies can continue investing in their production, skills, and transformation,? declared Frédéric Parisot, GIFAS Deputy General Manager. Sabine Ortega Journalist employment, training, and new technologies