The principle of technical redundancy
Modern commercial aircraft such as the Airbus A320 use digital fly-by-wire systems. Control signals are validated by multiple computers and are often designed with triple or quadruple redundancy. Why? So that no single point of failure can compromise control of the aircraft. In cyber security, we urgently need to adopt this mindset in our architecture. Proactive action means investing in redundancy before an emergency occurs.
Redundancy as a shield against ransomware
Data redundancy today is much more than just a backup. It is the only barrier between an attack and business collapse.
- Immutable Backups: Unchangeable backups are essential.
- Geographic Separation: Disaster recovery infrastructures must be physically separated to survive a total system outage.
Without these preactions, attacks often lead to a complete shutdown. A look at recent events shows the stakes: in 2025, the napkin manufacturer Fasana had to file for bankruptcy after a ransomware attack and a failure in its logistics systems.
The Power of Playbooks: Procedural Discipline Instead of Panic
In aviation, there is a checklist for almost every scenario. In an emergency, pilots don’t rely on memory – they follow validated procedures. This discipline prevents chaos. A CISO must ensure that the company has incident response playbooks that are equally precise. An effective playbook is characterized by:
Compliance as a Synergy: DORA, NIS2, and ISO 27001
These proactive measures are not a “nice-to-have.” Regulatory requirements under DORA and NIS2 demand exactly this kind of systematic risk analysis and response capability. A CISO should therefore not view ISO 27001 certification as a bureaucratic hurdle, but as an “operating license” for the digital world.
Have you secured your critical systems according to the “fly-by-wire” principle? Where is your most dangerous single point of failure?
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