Drones as a Cybersecurity Threat and Solutions

The use of drones has rapidly expanded beyond their initial applications in both military and recreational settings alike. Today, drones are widely employed in various industries like agriculture, logistics, surveillance, and even entertainment. Drones have also gotten much more affordable and easier to manufacture and produce. This significant increase in accessibility has given rise to new security concerns. We have also seen drones being used for malicious purposes. This is anything from data theft, unauthorized surveillance, and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. Not only this we have seen drones in the war in Ukraine being used as weapons which also raises concerns for critical infrastructure. As drones become more sophisticated and easier to operate, they represent a growing cybersecurity risk that requires immediate attention (Buchanan & Gannon, 2020).

A Cyberattack carried out by a drone could significantly disrupt network operations. Drones can also be employed to steal sensitive data or cause physical harm to infrastructure. This threat is very concerning given how critical systems like power grids, data centers, and communication networks are increasingly becoming targets by threat actors. It’s crucial for both public and private sector leaders to recognize these threats and develop proactive strategies to defend against them (Foley, 2019).