Introduction

Modern transport systems are no longer run by a single operator or technology stack. Rail services depend on signalling and infrastructure partners. Airports rely on ground handling, security, and airline systems. Highways and smart motorway networks involve engineering firms, roadside technology vendors, and cloud service providers. Public transport platforms operate through mobility partners and payment providers.

This multi-vendor reality is essential for delivering nationwide mobility, but it also introduces more complexity and cyber risk. Certificates are often issued by different teams, stored across multiple platforms, or embedded deep within operational technology.

Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) provides a way to ensure trust is maintained across this fragmented environment.

‍

Why Multi-Vendor Environments Increase Certificate Risk

Without structured certificate governance, multi-vendor environments can lead to:

• Limited visibility of certificates issued by partners or subcontractors
• Difficulty revoking access when a supplier relationship ends
• Overlapping or conflicting trust policies across different systems
• Outdated certificates embedded in legacy or proprietary platforms
• Weak or inconsistent onboarding and offboarding processes for devices and users

In a transport context, this can affect safety, availability, and regulatory compliance.

‍

Where Certificate Security Matters in Transport Supply Chains

Certificates are commonly used to secure trust across shared environments, including:

• Maintenance access to signalling or on-track systems
• Airside access systems for contractors and operational teams
• Roadside and motorway infrastructure managed by external suppliers
• Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and ticketing ecosystem integrations
• Shared data platforms for passenger analytics or operational coordination

As more systems interconnect, the importance of reliable, verifiable identity increases.

‍

How CLM Supports Secure Supplier and Partner Integration

CLM strengthens operational trust by:

• Establishing central visibility into certificates issued across vendors and environments
• Applying policy enforcement to ensure consistent cryptographic standards
• Enabling rapid certificate revocation for offboarding and incident response
• Providing audit evidence for regulatory and safety assurance
• Supporting automated provisioning for contractor devices and applications

This ensures that all parties operate under a shared trust model.

‍

Recommended Practices for Transport Operators

Transport organisations can improve supply chain PKI security by:

• Creating a certificate ownership and governance framework across internal and external teams
• Requiring cryptographic and CLM standards in supplier and technology contracts
• Integrating certificate processes with identity, access, and device management systems
• Conducting regular discovery and inventory checks, including third-party certificates
• Using automation to avoid reliance on manual tracking and expiration reminders

Clear governance reduces operational uncertainty.

‍

Strategic Benefits for Multi-Vendor Transport Operations

Effective CLM delivers measurable advantages:

• Lower risk of outages caused by certificates outside central control
• Faster onboarding of contractors, suppliers, and new digital services
• Stronger compliance posture across safety and cyber assurance frameworks
• Improved cross-organisation incident response capabilities
• Greater resilience against supply chain-targeted cyber threats

A consistent trust model improves reliability for passengers, operators, and industry partners.

‍

The Role of Unsung Ltd

Unsung Ltd supports multi-vendor trust enablement for transport organisations through:

• Certificate discovery across internal estates and supplier integrations
• Design of PKI and CLM architectures for distributed operational environments
• Development of governance and trust policies for multi-party assurance
• Integration with identity, access, and operational technology platforms
• Support for crypto-agility and long-term digital trust planning

This helps operators maintain secure and scalable collaboration across complex ecosystems.

‍

Conclusion

Transport services depend on a wide network of suppliers and technology partners. As digital integration expands, ensuring secure identity and communication across that network becomes critical. Certificate Lifecycle Management provides a foundation for trust, enabling transport organisations to operate confidently, onboard suppliers safely, and remove access when needed.

A strong CLM capability helps maintain safety, resilience, and public confidence across the UK's transport systems.

‍