During an industrial inspection, a drone captures high-definition images of a sensitive site. This data is then automatically transferred, stored, and sometimes analyzed using third-party tools.
Everything seems to be working perfectly normally, and yet one question is rarely asked:
Who really controls this data?
A Blind Spot in the Drone Ecosystem
The professional drone market has evolved around performance: sensor quality, flight time, and measurement accuracy.
But for a long time, this approach has focused more on producing reliable data than on how that data is protected, stored, and shared once it has been collected. And it is precisely this second point that is currently the blind spot.
According to theEuropean Union Agency for Cybersecurity, connected systems and mobile sensors are now among the primary attack surfaces in critical environments.
Drones, as connected embedded systems, are fully in line with this trend.
A market that is anxious… but not yet sufficiently prepared
Yet the signs are already there. According to the annual survey by FLIR, which surveyed 629 U.S. drone professionals (in the public safety and critical infrastructure sectors).
- 85% of professionals consider data security a key factor when choosing a drone.
- 68% fear that foreign or hostile actors could gain access to their data.
- 89% want to be able to choose whether their data is sent to the cloud.
Far beyond these figures from the U.S. market, the issue of data security is now a global concern, including in Europe and France, where regulatory and industry standards are particularly high.
And in reality, these concerns echo questions that many operators are already asking themselves, often without fully articulating them.
The market is aware of the risk, and one question remains unanswered:
To what extent do current solutions actually allow operators to maintain control over their data?
Drones: A Digital—and Physical—Entry Point
A drone is more than just a flying device. Behind its operational use lies a complex system capable of capturing sensitive data, transmitting real-time data streams, and integrating with existing software, networks, and infrastructure.
As such, it should no longer be viewed as a standalone tool, but rather as an extension of the information system.
This reality profoundly changes the way we must approach its use. Because once a drone is connected, exchanges data, or interacts with other digital components, it faces the same challenges as any other component in the system: security, data flow control, and access management.
In other words, what’s happening in the cloud is already fully integrated into your digital infrastructure—with all the opportunities, but also the vulnerabilities, that this entails.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology in fact considers drones to be systems in their own right when it comes to cyber risk management.
The 3 Major Risks That Are Often Overlooked.
1. Sensitive Data Leak
Inspection of wind turbines, power grids, industrial sites, and more…
These projects generate large volumes of high-value data: images of strategic infrastructure, facility layouts, and sensitive agricultural surveys.
However, this information is not always protected to a level commensurate with its criticality. Some studies show that commercial drones are still being deployed without robust communication encryption, potentially exposing this data to unauthorized access.
The risk, therefore, is not merely theoretical. It is structural.
2. Interception of video streams
Much of the operational value of drones depends on real-time data transmission. But this dependence also creates a significant vulnerability.
In practice, not all data streams are systematically encrypted, and some communications may be intercepted or even tampered with, particularly in complex urban or industrial environments.
TheEuropean Data Protection Board points out that the collection and transmission of images must comply with strict requirements under the GDPR.
Nevertheless, these requirements are still far from being consistently met in practice.
3. Loss of control over data
The growing use of cloud platforms, third-party analytics software, and integrated “turnkey” solutions simplifies operations but makes data management more complex.
In many cases, operators have only partial visibility into:
- The location of the data,
- The applicable law, and,
- Terms of Access.
The General Data Protection Regulation requires a clear understanding of these elements. In reality, however, this understanding is often vague or even implicit.
A risk that becomes… a business challenge
Today, a data breach costs an average of $4.4 million worldwide, according to a study by IBM , which represents a considerable financial risk. Industrial customers are increasingly demanding security guarantees, and certain markets (energy, infrastructure, defense) already impose strict standards.
Cybersecurity is becoming a selection criterion.
A Market Undergoing Rapid Transformation
The cybersecurity market for drones is experiencing significant growth. According to a study by SNS Insider, it is expected to grow from $1.6 billion in 2023 to more than $5.8 billion by 2032, with an annual growth rate exceeding 15%.
This trend is significant. It reflects a more profound shift in the sector: as practices become more professional, the associated requirements are becoming more stringent.
For a long time, technical performance was the primary differentiating factor. But this approach is now showing its limitations in the face of increasingly sensitive, regulated, and interconnected environments.
New standards are gradually emerging. The ability to secure data flows, ensure the traceability of operations, and control the location of data is becoming a key issue. In this context, drones are no longer defined solely by what they are capable of doing, but also by how they manage the information they generate.
In other words, data is no longer merely a byproduct of the operation:
it has become a strategic asset.
So, where exactly should we start?
Awareness alone isn't enough. Three simple habits can help you regain control.
Require formal assurances. The ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standard is now the benchmark for information security. In some requests for proposals, certification has even become mandatory. For cloud platforms used to store or analyze your flight data, a SOC 2 Type II report certifies that security controls are actually implemented, not just claimed.
Ask the right questions. Where is my data stored? Are the data streams encrypted? Who has access to it besides the service provider? A reputable provider will answer without hesitation. The lack of a clear answer is already a red flag.
Establish a contractual framework. Entering into contracts with all parties involved helps define each party’s obligations and responsibilities. Data location, access conditions, prohibition on resale, procedures in the event of a breach: if it’s not in writing, it doesn’t exist.
Conclusion
Drones open up immense possibilities. But as their uses expand, the responsibilities that come with them are also evolving.
For many operators, the issue of data management remains an implicit concern—until it becomes critical. In an environment where data has emerged as a strategic asset, it is no longer enough simply to collect or analyze information; one must also be able to ensure control over it.
Gradually, this topic is moving beyond the technical realm to become an operational—and then a commercial—issue. For beyond the drone’s performance, it is the ability to control its traffic, access, and sovereignty that determines customer trust.
And in this context, one reality stands out: if you don’t have control over your data, you’re already losing some of its value.
Source
Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025 – IBM
Drone Cybersecurity Market – S&S Insider
Drone Survey – FLIR
Drones equipped with cameras for public safety – CNIL
Threathunt 2030: How to Hunt Down Emerging & Future Cyber Threats – ENISA
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