GMR Aviation Academy launches Phygital Lab in collaboration with Gramax

HYDERABAD: GMR Aviation Academy, in collaboration with Gramax Cybersec, has established a first-of-its-kind Phygital Lab at GMR Hyderabad International Airport, in partnership with the Information Sharing & Analysis Center(ISAC).

GMRAA has allocated 10,000 sft for the Aviation Cyber Security Phygital Lab's development at its new Hyderabad Campus, with Cyberange as the tech partner and solution provider. ISAC has partnered with GMR Aviation Academy to develop a comprehensive training program for both freshers and experienced professionals in cybersecurity.

The Phygital lab is a pioneering innovation that aims to tackle the ever-changing challenges posed by global threats. The training program would be available for cybersecurity teams to learn about protecting Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) from cyber-attacks.

Speaking on this occasion Patimeedi Jagan Mohan Rao, TSTS Chairman, Govt. of Telangana said, "Hyderabad is undergoing a transformation, emerging as a major technology hub. This growth has been bolstered by the establishment of the world's largest innovation campus and various initiatives spearheaded by the Telangana Govt. under the able leadership of Honourable CM KCR. Along with the development, we need to emphasise the Cyber Security domain and offer training programs to combat cyber threats and attacks. The Aviation Cyber Security Phygital Lab and CXO Cyber War Gaming leadership workshops along with Cyber Security Training initiatives will be instrumental in shaping a secure environment. I would like to extend my best wishes to all partners and industries participating in these events and training programs.”

Speaking about the initiative SGK Kishore-Executive Director-South-Airports and Chief Innovation Officer, GMR Airports said, “The Aviation Cyber Security Phygital Lab, an amalgamation of the virtual and physical realms will act as a centralized hub for cultivating cybersecurity expertise across the aviation ecosystem. It will address the critical need for an immersive training that arms aviation professionals with the skills, insights, and practical experience needed to counter emerging cyber threats effectively. This lab underscores GMR Group’s commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation in the aviation industry and the evolving cybersecurity landscape.”

The Phygital Lab has all the latest IT, IOT & SCADA devices installed which form part of any Aero-city development. It would simulate around 30 Aero-city related cyber-attack scenarios as part of its training modules related to Cyber Security.

The lab features an extensive range of simulated scenarios few of which are

• Unauthorized access to air traffic control systems
• Malware infection in baggage handling systems
• Ransomware affecting flight scheduling and operations
• IOT device manipulation leading to malfunction of communication systems, flight information displays, Boarding pass kiosks etc.
• Social engineering attacks compromising security personnel

The Phygital lab is a proactive initiative designed for airport management, cybersecurity professionals, air traffic control personnel, aviation regulators, and law enforcement agencies. The lab utilizes advanced technologies such as IoT devices, OT systems, physical cyber range setups, and advanced cybersecurity tools.