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We connected with the team at Bavak Security and Johan Cruijff Arena to discuss the level of industry awareness regarding drones. Read on for more information on our discussion. New regulation Europe has recently introduced new 'risk- based regulations' (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 & Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947) to ensure that drone traffic in Europe is safe for people on the ground and in the air. But does it provide enough clarity for the business sector? Willem Hegen, Manager of Crowd Services at Johan Cruijff Arena, believes that the regulation is a step in the right direction. "Its good that there are clearer regulations in place, as it gives us the opportunity to better manage our facility and deter criminal drone activities. Working more closely with regulators and public authorities enables us to develop a stronger perimeter security strategy and better understand who's responsible for which air space. This is vital considering the sky is a largely unidentifiable area." The commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), more commonly known as drones, has surged in popularity in recent years. The global commercial drone market size was valued at USD $13.44 billion in 2020 1 and is anticipated to reach USD $501.4 billion by 2028 2 . But what does this mean for existing approaches to perimeter security? While drones can offer tremendous operational value, they can also introduce significant aerial perimeter threats. Hobbyist drones are fast, hard to detect, and equipped with high-resolution cameras, making them an attractive option for criminal organisations. Recently, we've seen drones being used to invade privacy, obtain illegal footage of sporting events, and transport weapons and drugs into prisons. There have even been reports of drones being used to drop rogue Wi-Fi access point devices onto buildings, as part of sophisticated cyber attacks. The European Union has since tightened regulations and strengthened security. But it has also made it clear that businesses and those in charge of critical national infrastructure must take similar steps to keep their skies safe. With the new regulation in force, all European states will be able to define "no-fly zones" that drones are forbidden to enter. This will likely impact densely populated spaces such as airports, airfields, and city centres. The main security challenge is identifying drones that pose a real security threat. Network and broadcast-based remote ID can help overcome these challenges and remove the anonymity of operators. Remote ID creates an efficient way for organisations and security agencies to monitor drones and identify who's f lying them. This method of aerial accountability, which is similar to the concept of a car license plate, will improve safety in the sky and lay the foundation for more complex drone operations – such as drone food deliveries 3 . Remote ID rulings from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US came into effect in April 2021, with similar requirements soon to be implemented across Europe. Jasper Weijman of Bavak Security comments, "There is currently a two- year grace period in Europe until every Technology Article Drones: Dealing with perimeter security and aerial threats 1. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/global-commercial-drones-market 2. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/commercial-drone-market

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