The concept of data, its sources, applications, and reliability, is constantly transforming and being redefined.
From a trickle of manageable facts and relevant figures, it has become a flood of information that needs to be validated, analysed, controlled, and protected, if it is to drive, not drown, a business.
Accurate data is essential for effective management of business aviation operations throughout the charter trip lifecycle. It is also an invaluable tool that can predict and augment wider commercial activity.
The corollary to this is that a deluge of data can overwhelm and, more importantly, when inappropriately managed, enable cyber vulnerabilities. With the tsunami of data inundating today’s commercial landscape, cyber vigilance is essential, risk management is vital, and implementing cyber protocols is crucial. Data optimization is a given, but securing data is the most valuable strategy a company can employ to reduce the risk of financial, commercial, and reputational damage.
While data originates from diverse sources, people provide some of the most significant and unique data. Records of conversations with customers, feedback from suppliers, and internal observations are all crucial data points specific to a business. This uniquely rich source of information is what distinguishes a relationship between a broker and a passenger; yet, it is also the human factor that can introduce a data management risk.
As STACK.aero customers own the data they input, we consider it one of our responsibilities to ensure that the information is handled as safely as possible. We take data security seriously. It is central to the success of our business and to our clients’ commercial activity. No system is impenetrable, but one of the reasons we developed the STACK.aero BOS (Business Operating System), on the Salesforce platform, was to optimize its proactive approach to keeping data secure. Most people recognise Salesforce as a CRM platform, but what is less known is that, in addition to containing countless automation and workflow tools, as well as system integration capabilities, it is built on leading, cybersecure technology.
Additionally, all data entered into BOS is encrypted during input and when stored. No payment method information or data that could be used to identify a specific individual is stored in the system, including any financial information. This data is considered highly sensitive and needs to be protected to prevent identity theft and fraud. This type of protection reflects industry standards and is non-negotiable; all brokers seeking to implement a similar workflow system should review these security points.
Digital integrity is also supported through encryption, secure technology architectures, modern authentication schemes, virtual private networks, and secure private data centers. However, experience shows that most data breaches are caused by human behaviour, whether innocent or malicious. For this reason, STACK considers workforce education essential in establishing routines that can prevent cyber breaches. Simple actions can have huge consequences. At a minimum, for those handling personal data, passwords should be changed regularly; employees need to recognize phishing emails, texts, and calls; and for those on the road, questioning the security of Wi-Fi access is a necessary step. If there’s no password, it is not secure.
One of the key benefits of BOS is the ability to integrate with external third-party systems. When data is shared, it should leverage OAuth 2.0 standards, as a minimum. The industry-standard protocol provides a secure way for users to grant limited access to data on one service from another. These are globally defined standards available to all modern web applications, ensuring secure storage and rotation of authentication credentials.
STACK is based on the intelligent use of data, providing an armoury of cybersecurity tools across its applications and customised workforce education to support its customers. We help control the flood of data, and turn it into a secure, valuable, and commercially effective information. Data management from initial trip request through to invoicing delivers a 360 view of business activity, generates reports, supports business decisions, and importantly provides high levels of data security to protect you and your clients.
BlueSky Business Aviation News | 27th November 2025 | Issue #821
