Challenges to national defence in contemporary geopolitical situation

Hybrid threats are a complex and multidimensional threat caused by the convergence and interconnection of various elements of social life [2]. The hybrid threat aim is to weaken mutual ties and conduct different types of espionage.

Espionage can be part of the attack preparation, mostly in a latent form, or to get information security technological progress. Determining the level of cyber security requires investigating phenomena and activities that could pose real or potential threats to the internal and external communications of critical infrastructure [3, 4].

Security of critical infrastructure is important not only in aviation but also in other industries such as metallurgy. This is mainly due to environmental protection and the possibility of an ecological disaster [5]. Modern society is not only connected by computer networks, but we are increasingly dependent on technical infrastructure.

The interconnectedness of the infrastructure systems creates a dependency where the failure of one infrastructure subject affects the functionality of other infrastructure elements [6]. Mutual multilevel infrastructure systems interconnection is a modern society development basic prerequisite. Assessing the level of infrastructure vulnerability is directed in two ways, technical and human failure.

The authors analyzed aerospace technical infrastructure inter-connectivity and an internal communication vulnerability. The authors analyzed the elements of an inter-connectivity level protection of aerospace technical infrastructure and internal communication vulnerability.

The authors concluded that by reducing the disconnection point’s number and splitting internal ways, they are a possible solution to cut the penetration possibility into the internal network of air transport entities.

The results of the research show that interdependent systems should have internal systems divided into open systems for outdoor and indoor access, with no external access. Protection against intrusion is the first phase and requires the firewalls and antivirus programs implementation in the critical infrastructure network.

The monitoring systems implementation is the most suitable solution to protect against data leaks, which is the most risky area, by employees and visitors. An aircraft monitoring system gains, monitors, process, and records aircraft system condition (characteristics) and failures [7].

The authors believe that the ongoing use of penetration tests [8] based on a simulated hacker attack is a proper method of verifying the level of cyber security.