Cybersecurity and Data Integrity: The Missing Pillars in Professional Drone Pilot Training

By: Bronwyn Morgan, AG Training and Education Ambassador

For commercial and industrial drone operations, pilot training programs often emphasize flight skills, regulatory compliance, sensor operation and mission planning. These programs frequently overlook cybersecurity and data integrity. For organizations operating drones in critical infrastructure, public safety, mapping, inspection, delivery, or in regulated environments, these two elements remain essential. Pilots must be trained not only to fly, but to secure their systems, data and communications. 

Training programs that integrate these priorities will build trust, meet regulatory expectations and strengthen the future of the drone industry. This article explains why cybersecurity and data integrity must be prioritized in professional drone training. It outlines the threats operators face, the regulatory push underway and the measures training providers can adopt now to get ahead of the power curve. 

Modern drone systems are highly networked. Command-and-control (C2) links, telemetry, video feeds, payload data, ground control stations and cloud storage all create potential attack surfaces.

Research from MITRE Engenuity validates that drones face the same vulnerabilities as other connected devices: software, hardware and supply chain weaknesses. Data breaches or manipulated imagery can cause safety incidents, erode trust and create liability for operators. Key threats include:

• Default or weak credentials and misconfiguration. Many drones ship with insecure defaults that attackers can exploit.
• C2 interception, spoofing and jamming. These attacks can hijack or crash drones or manipulate GPS feeds.
• Data theft and privacy violations. Sensitive imagery or telemetry may be intercepted, misused or stolen.
• Firmware and hardware vulnerabilities. Outdated or compromised components leave systems exposed.
• Integrity of mission and mapping data. Manipulated imagery or GPS can corrupt inspections, surveys, or safety-critical missions.

A U.S. government study, “Securing UAS Fleets from Cyber Attacks,” discovered widespread use of insecure defaults across drone systems. Many drones come with factory default wireless network names (SSIDs) and login credentials like “admin/password,” which are publicly documented and easily guessed by attackers. If not changed, attacks exploiting default SSIDs and passwords allow malicious actors to access drone control systems, intercept command signals, or even embed malware. This vulnerability risks compromise of entire fleets. 

To counter this, a tool called the Brute Force Default Identification-Automated Prevention (BFDI-AP) was developed. It scans for drones operating with factory default configurations and auto-disables access, prompting owners to update credentials. This process significantly reduces attack risk and is a vital operational security routine.

This scenario illustrates the importance of training pilots and operators to understand and mitigate common cyber vulnerabilities, especially shifting default factory settings to secure configurations before every flight. Teaching these practices equips operators with essential cybersecurity habits.

Despite the cyber threats to drone systems, training about cybersecurity and data integrity remains sparse, at best. While some large organizations mandate internal cybersecurity training for their drone teams, many small operators and independent contractors enter the market without exposure to cyber risk management. 

Why is that? Generally speaking, drone professionals often view cybersecurity as a technical discipline outside the scope of aviation. Pilots may assume that encryption, firewalls and software updates are handled by IT departments or drone manufacturers. However, real-world incidents demonstrate that pilots themselves must recognize signs of compromised links, spoofed GPS or unusual telemetry. Teaching situational awareness from a cyber perspective is as important as teaching pilots to identify airspace hazards or weather risks. 

The fragmented nature of the industry contributes to the underrepresentation of cybersecurity and data integrity underrepresented in drone pilot training. Training providers often focus on passing FAA Part 107 knowledge tests or delivering flight skills. This leaves advanced topics such as data protection to manufacturers or enterprise clients. It also creates an uneven baseline of operator readiness. 

Finally, the cost of cybersecurity training remains a factor. Smaller training academies may avoid adding cybersecurity modules due to the expense of hiring qualified instructors or developing lab environments. Yet the cost of neglect is higher. Data breaches, compromised missions or failed client contracts can permanently damage reputations. Integrating affordable, scenario-based cyber exercises into existing curricula can close this gap without overwhelming budgets.

Governments, standards bodies and think tanks have increasingly recognized the need for cybersecurity policies, formal risk management and data protection. 

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford has said, “Normalizing BVLOS flights is key to realizing drones’ societal and economic benefits,” while noting that security must advance alongside expanded operations. In fact, in the Part 108 beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) Notice of Public Rulemaking (NPRM) FAA and TSA would require comprehensive cybersecurity policies for operators, excluding recreational users. An FAA statement about the NPRM emphasized, “Electronic systems must be designed and installed to perform under any foreseeable operating condition, including cyberattacks.”

In line with this, the FAA and TSA have already proposed rules aligned with NIST standards. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issues its cybersecurity framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) publicly. Key NIST requirements for drone security include:

• Risk-based controls for drone data, including routine system audits and vulnerability testing.
• Mandatory encryption for all C2 and telemetry data.
• Formal plans for incident response.
• Strict access management and authentication measures.
• Regular updates of firmware and software.
• Clear documentation of all cybersecurity policies and procedures.

This framework guides operators and manufacturers to embed cybersecurity best practices at every phase of drone operation to ensure operational resilience against threats.

FAA certification processes will also now demand manufacturers address cyber risks in design approvals. Electronic systems must withstand foreseeable operating conditions, including cyberattacks. Manufacturers will be required to: 

• Provide evidence of resistance against GPS spoofing, link hijacking, and cyber intrusions. 
• Demonstrate that firmware and hardware are secure and updated. 
• Establish system resilience, so that even if a cyberattack occurs, the drone maintains operational safety.​

MITRE Engenuity has also published detailed surveys, threat taxonomies and policy recommendations to guide the industry. Aaron Pierce, CEO of Pierce Aerospace, noted, “MITRE has always been at the forefront of supporting the public safety sector and the United States through their research and development.”

Beyond documenting threats, MITRE advocates for “security by design,” recommending that organizations adopt strong authentication, use encrypted communication channels and deploy advanced system anomaly detection. Their approach emphasizes:

• Interoperability standards for safer UAS integration.
• Resilience and redundancy in system design.
• Continuous vulnerability assessment and monitoring across all operator and system activity.​

In addition, MITRE has developed practical counter-UAS detection and awareness technologies tailored for military and public safety uses, such as CARPE Dronvm, which merges digital surveillance with early warning systems, which it licensed to AeroParagon in 2024. AeroParagon integrates the technology in its own advanced drone detection and response systems with the U.S. Army and commercial critical infrastructure such as airports, stadiums and power plants.

BVLOS, UTM and Remote ID will increase reliance on interconnected systems and expand attack surfaces. Global supply chain vulnerabilities will remain a concern. Striking a balance between security, usability and cost will require informed choices. But trainers can take action now.  Professional drone trainers can take these steps today:

• Adopt frameworks such as NIST and ISO. Risk management fundamentals should cover these frameworks.
• Develop pre-flight and post-flight cyber checklists. These should include communication and control link security, including encryption and authentication.
• Leverage encryption, monitoring and secure firmware update tools. Develop and share firmware, software and hardware integrity, data integrity, secure storage, and access control best practices.
• Incorporate operational security and incident response policies. Training should simulate incidents to prepare operators for real-world breaches.
• Include cybersecurity in certification requirements. Legal and regulatory requirements tied to cybersecurity as well as ethical and privacy considerations for data use and Remote ID should also be included.

So how do trainers embed cybersecurity without overload? Start by adopting a modular approach, with basic cyber hygiene in all programs and advanced modules for specialized sectors.  As part of that, use real-world examples and recent incidents to highlight impact. The best training involves doing. Provide hands-on labs and scenario-based learning. Partner with cybersecurity experts to ensure accuracy and relevance and engage with regulators early to ensure compliance. Of course, update training continuously as threats evolve.

Industry leaders, not just regulators, must continue to send clear signals that cybersecurity is integral to aviation safety, not optional. As FAA proposals evolve, and as international standards emerge, training programs that get ahead of the curve will position their graduates for leadership roles. By embedding cybersecurity and data integrity at the core of training, the industry can move toward a safer, more resilient and more trusted future.