Complex platforms don’t just need to be safe. They need to be cyber-secure from day one. Certification is not only about surviving mechanical failure. It is also about withstanding cyber threats across the systems, networks and data flows that now sit inside airworthiness.
Treat cyber as an afterthought and certification becomes costly and complex, with redesigns, delays and weak assurance arguments that regulators won’t accept.
We asked John Martin, Head of Cyber Security & Information Assurance at SQEP, why cyber integration is non-negotiable:
“Cyber engineers must work closely with safety teams from the start. Security should be seen as part of the design. In safety-critical systems, failures identified through testing and analysis reveal the assets that matter most. These then drive our mitigation strategies. When done right, certification can proceed proactively and costly redesigns can be avoided.”
At SQEP, this approach is standard practice. Our specialists work with design teams from concept through development, understanding architecture, technical diagrams and software lifecycles to anticipate vulnerabilities and implement security safeguards.
We also use frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK to reference real-world evidence, challenging the “it won’t happen to me” mindset and strengthening assurance arguments.
Across safety-critical domains, SQEP turns cyber risk into assured airworthiness, giving operators confidence that platforms are secure, compliant and ready for deployment.
👉 Where does cyber sit in your design teams today?
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