Transport infrastructure underpins economic prosperity, connecting people, goods, and services across road, rail, air, and maritime networks. As the sector embraces digitalisation, connected vehicles, and intelligent transport systems, Public Key Infrastructure provides the cryptographic foundation for secure operations, passenger safety, and protection of critical national infrastructure.

At Unsung, we deliver PKI solutions that enable transport organisations to secure operational technology, protect passenger data, and maintain the trust and safety that are fundamental to modern mobility systems.

Securing Transport Through PKI

Modern transport depends on interconnected digital systems spanning traffic management, rail signalling, airport operations, and connected vehicle networks. PKI enables:

Operational Technology (OT) Security – Certificate-based authentication and encryption secure industrial control systems, SCADA networks, and distributed control systems that manage rail signalling, traffic lights, airport baggage handling, and port logistics. PKI protects critical infrastructure from cyber threats while ensuring operational continuity.

Connected & Autonomous Vehicles – Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications require certificate-based authentication to prevent spoofing, message injection, and man-in-the-middle attacks. PKI enables secure C-ITS deployments, protecting road users and ensuring the integrity of safety-critical communications.

Rail Signalling & Train Control – Modern rail networks including ETCS (European Train Control System) and digital signalling platforms depend on PKI for secure communications between trains, trackside equipment, and control centres. Certificate-based authentication ensures the integrity of safety-critical signalling data.

Airport & Aviation Systems – From air traffic management and baggage handling to passenger processing and ground operations, airports operate complex digital ecosystems. PKI secures communications, authenticates systems, and protects aviation data across operational and passenger-facing platforms.

Passenger Data Protection – Ticketing systems, contactless payments, journey planning apps, and passenger Wi-Fi services process sensitive personal and financial data. PKI enables encrypted communications and secure transactions, supporting GDPR compliance and passenger trust.

Supply Chain & Third-Party Access – Transport operations involve complex ecosystems of contractors, maintenance providers, and technology vendors requiring secure remote access. PKI provides certificate-based authentication for VPN access, API integrations, and secure file transfer, protecting operational networks while enabling collaboration.

Smart Infrastructure & IoT – From intelligent traffic systems and smart parking to environmental sensors and asset monitoring, transport IoT deployments require scalable certificate lifecycle management. PKI secures device identity and encrypted communications across distributed infrastructure estates.

Addressing Transport Sector Challenges

Transport organisations operate safety-critical systems under stringent regulatory oversight, often with legacy infrastructure and constrained operational windows. Unsung understands the challenges of:

• Safety-critical environments where system availability and integrity directly impact public safety and operational continuity
• Regulatory compliance including CAA requirements, ORR standards, Network Rail specifications, and international transport regulations
• Legacy OT systems where decades-old signalling, traffic management, and control systems have limited support for modern authentication
• 24/7 operational requirements with minimal maintenance windows and zero tolerance for certificate outages that could disrupt passenger services
• Multi-stakeholder complexity spanning transport authorities, operating companies, infrastructure managers, and technology suppliers

Our approach combines deep PKI technical capability with practical understanding of transport operations, safety frameworks, and the operational realities of managing critical infrastructure.

Our Transport PKI Capabilities

Operational Technology PKI – We design certificate infrastructures specifically for transport control environments, accounting for legacy system constraints, network segmentation, vendor interoperability, and the unique safety and availability requirements of rail, road, aviation, and maritime systems.

Connected Vehicle PKI – Specialist expertise in deploying PKI for C-ITS and connected vehicle ecosystems, including certificate provisioning for vehicle onboard units, roadside infrastructure, and backend systems—aligned with ETSI and IEEE standards.

High Assurance Architecture – Our designs incorporate hardware security modules (HSMs), offline root CAs, and defence-in-depth principles aligned with critical national infrastructure frameworks and transport sector security requirements.

Certificate Lifecycle Automation – Transport environments often involve thousands of certificates across diverse systems, vehicles, and infrastructure. We implement automated discovery, monitoring, and renewal platforms that reduce operational overhead while maintaining strict governance and availability requirements.

Safety System Integration – We integrate PKI with safety-critical systems including rail signalling platforms, traffic management centres, and aviation control systems—ensuring cryptographic security complements, rather than compromises, safety assurance processes.

PKI Health Checks & Risk Assessment – Our comprehensive assessments evaluate existing certificate environments against safety requirements, regulatory standards, and operational risk. We identify vulnerabilities, end-of-life platforms, and governance gaps—delivering prioritised remediation roadmaps.

Regulatory Compliance Support – We develop Certificate Policies, Certificate Practice Statements, and compliance documentation that demonstrate how PKI controls meet transport sector regulations, safety standards, and information security requirements.

Managed PKI Services – From 24/7 monitoring and incident response to certificate operations and governance support, we provide comprehensive managed services that allow transport organisations to focus on operational delivery while maintaining robust cryptographic security.

Why Unsung for Transport PKI?

Unsung brings vendor-neutral expertise and a proven track record of delivering PKI solutions in operationally complex, safety-critical environments. We understand that transport organisations require partners who combine technical depth with practical awareness of operational constraints, safety culture, and the zero-tolerance approach to availability that passenger services demand.

We deliver:

• Safety-aware consulting understanding how PKI decisions impact operational safety, availability requirements, and incident response procedures
• OT-focused expertise with experience securing industrial control systems, SCADA networks, and legacy infrastructure that underpins transport operations
• Regulatory knowledge supporting compliance with sector-specific standards including CAA, ORR, DfT, and international transport regulations
• Risk-based implementation ensuring PKI deployments are proportionate, achievable, and aligned with operational risk appetite and maintenance windows
• Flexible engagement models from strategic advisory and design authority through to full-service PKI operations and incident support

Whether implementing PKI for connected vehicle deployments, securing rail signalling networks, protecting airport operational systems, or modernising legacy authentication infrastructure across transport networks, Unsung provides the specialist knowledge and delivery capability that the transport sector requires.

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