UAV data is valuable and sensitive, especially for commercial, military, or research purposes. If you use drones for any of these applications, you need to protect your data from unauthorized access, theft, or tampering. In this article, you will learn how to secure UAV data with some best practices and tips.
Encryption is the process of converting your data into a code that only authorized parties can decipher. Encryption can protect your data both in transit and at rest, meaning when it is transmitted from the drone to the ground station or stored on the drone or the computer. You can use encryption software or hardware to encrypt your data, depending on your needs and preferences. Some drones have built-in encryption features, while others require external devices or applications. Make sure you use strong encryption algorithms and keys, and keep them safe and updated.
Les clés de chiffrements de données doivent être variables dans le temps. Les clés peuvent être créées uniquement au debut de chaque periode de communication. La validité des clés est limitée dans le temps ou en volume de communication. L'algorythme sophistiqué de generation des clés de chiffrement doivent prendre en compte les ID unique des appareillages utilisés mais pas seulement.
Communication channels are the means by which your data is transferred from the drone to the ground station or vice versa. Communication channels can be vulnerable to interception, jamming, or spoofing by malicious actors who want to access or disrupt your data. To prevent this, you should use secure communication channels that have encryption, authentication, and integrity mechanisms. For example, you can use Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols for wireless communication, or Secure Shell (SSH) or Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) for wired communication.
RF communications are inherently risky and if the drone is collecting sensitive data, added precautions would be wise. As mentioned don't use unencrypted common frequencies and opt for AES256 encrypted licensed spectrum. If you can simply data store on aircraft and retrieve when landed, that reduces risk of data interception mid-air. Store on aircraft on an encrypted storage device. The aircraft RF signals themselves are also at risk of being affected by bad-actors and thus should be protected accordingly as already listed and reducing output power beyond what the mission requires so that you're not emitting unnecessarily. Simply apply standard IT cyber security protocols. The Drone is a simply a network node.
Je proposerais, d'utiliser des fréquences sortant des habituelles mais respectent les exigences techniques de l'exploitation des drones. Ceci dit éviter les 433 Mhz, les 866 Mhz, le 2,4 Ghz, le 3Ghz ou le 5 Ghz. Utiliser des fréquences élevées entre 60 ou 80 Ghz qui permettraient des bandes passantes plus élevés malgrés leur sensibilité par rapport aux intempéries comme les pluies. Les SSID ne doivent être visible que par des appareillages bien identifiés.
Access control policies are the rules that determine who can access your data and what they can do with it. Access control policies can help you limit the exposure of your data to unauthorized or unnecessary users, and prevent data leakage or misuse. You can implement access control policies on different levels, such as the drone, the ground station, the computer, the network, or the cloud. You can use passwords, biometrics, tokens, certificates, or roles to authenticate and authorize users, and logs, audits, or alerts to monitor and track data access.
Une partie des clés de chiffrement des données de communication doit être rattaché ou généré à partir des données d'identités des utilisateurs ayant droit. Cela peut être le chiffrement d'un ID Biométrique à partir d'un algorithm securisé.
Backing up your data is the process of creating copies of your data and storing them in a different location or device. Backing up your data can help you recover your data in case of loss, damage, or corruption due to hardware failure, human error, or cyberattack. You should backup your data regularly, depending on how often you update or modify your data, and how critical your data is for your operations or objectives. You can use external hard drives, flash drives, cloud services, or other media to backup your data, and make sure you encrypt and secure your backups as well.
Software and firmware are the programs that control the functions and features of your drone and its components. Software and firmware can have bugs, vulnerabilities, or compatibility issues that can compromise your data security or performance. To avoid this, you should update your software and firmware regularly, or whenever there are new releases or patches available from the manufacturer or developer. Updating your software and firmware can help you fix bugs, improve security, enhance functionality, or add new features to your drone and its data.
Staff and users are the people who operate, manage, or access your drone and its data. Staff and users can be the weakest link in your data security chain, if they are not aware, trained, or skilled in data security practices and procedures. To prevent this, you should train your staff and users on how to secure UAV data, and provide them with the necessary tools and resources. You should also establish and enforce data security policies and guidelines, and educate your staff and users on the risks and consequences of data breaches or incidents.