Complete data security and compliance are top priorities for GSSAs (General Sales and Service Agents) investing in digital platforms, according to a recent poll conducted by Awery Aviation Software (Awery).

"It is absolutely imperative that companies' data is stringently protected," Tristan Koch, chief commercial officer, Awery, said.

"Industry data regulations and certifications have always been essential to our work, and we've made long-term investments to ensure our systems meet the highest standards."

Awery is certified under SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and ISO 9001 frameworks, each a recognised benchmark for secure data handling and information management, and frequently undergoes penetration testing.

"With the issues we're seeing across the industry – cyber attacks and data breaches exposing vulnerabilities in major supply chain organisations – it's more important than ever to ensure your data is protected," Koch added.

"Not only have we worked hard to meet the required levels of security to achieve these accreditations, but we have exceeded these by some margin, and the independent penetration testing of our platforms has proven this."

FEDAGSA, established in 1991, represents airline GSSAs globally, with members across over 70 countries.

"As Secretary General of FEDAGSA, it is essential that we help protect our members against operational threats, especially data security risks," Glenn Shires, said. "IT systems and providers play a key role in improving efficiency, visibility, and service delivery, but this should never come at the expense of security."

The poll also revealed that increased efficiency, cost savings, better customer service, and scalability were among the top priorities for GSSAs looking to invest in digital platforms.

The poll, conducted during a session with members of the Federation of Airline General Sales and Service Agents (FEDAGSA), received over 200 responses.