Aerospace
Cybersecurity Grants for Aerospace Assemblers
Professional-grade cybersecurity assessments, training, and certification, delivered as in-kind grants to qualifying Aerospace Assemblers organizations. Apply today to secure your place for pen testing, CMMC or GSA gap assessments, employee training, and CyberCert certification.
Why Aerospace Assemblers Need Cybersecurity Grants
Aerospace suppliers at any tier operate in one of the most tightly regulated supply chains in the world, handling export-controlled drawings, flight-critical component specs, and sensitive program data.
A breach at a tier-2 or tier-3 supplier can ripple up to prime contractors and the DoD, exposing proprietary designs, compromising flight-safety data, and eliminating eligibility for future programs. Aerospace companies must meet CMMC, ITAR/EAR, and AS9100 cybersecurity expectations.
The aerospace supply chain is layered, globalized, and extraordinarily sensitive to information leakage. Advanced persistent threat (APT) groups specifically target aerospace suppliers to extract design data, flight-control software, and composite-material research. Failures in cybersecurity don't just create compliance problems, they can threaten national security and disqualify suppliers from future Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop, and DoD contracts.
Cyber Grants Alliance partners with industry sponsors to make professional cybersecurity services accessible to Aerospace Assemblers through five in-kind grant programs, covering penetration testing, compliance assessments, employee training, and official certification. Learn more about our mission, browse grant programs, or see the state-level support available in your area.
Cybersecurity Challenges Facing Aerospace Assemblers
The Aerospace sector faces layered cybersecurity risks that cut across operations, compliance, and workforce security. Cyber Grants Alliance grants are designed to address each of these challenges head-on.
Export Control & ITAR/EAR Compliance
- Unauthorized foreign access to controlled technical data
- Cloud services without ITAR-compliant regions
- Email forwarding of controlled drawings
- Missing training on export-control handling
Prime-Contractor Portal & Supply-Chain Integration
- Credential sharing on Boeing/Lockheed/Northrop portals
- Unmanaged third-party API integrations with PLM systems
- Audit logs that don't meet prime flow-down requirements
- Vendors with broad access to controlled engineering data
Engineering IP Protection
- Theft of CAD models, flight-control firmware, and composite formulas
- Exfiltration via USB drives, personal cloud storage, or webmail
- Inadequate DLP coverage on engineering workstations
- Weak encryption on backups of PLM systems
Insider & Supply-Chain Risk
- Disgruntled or recruited insiders with access to program data
- Foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI) concerns
- Third-party vendors failing cyber due-diligence reviews
- Shadow IT on the engineering floor
AS9100 & NIST 800-171 Compliance
- Documented cybersecurity policies aligned with AS9100
- CMMC Level 2 readiness for DoD contracts
- Configuration management of engineering systems
- Evidence retention for audits and customer reviews
Incident Detection & Response
- 24/7 monitoring on engineering and program networks
- Clear incident reporting to primes within required windows
- Tabletop exercises covering IP-theft and extortion scenarios
- Integration with DIBNet for reportable incidents
Aerospace Assemblers: By the Numbers
- $4.8Maverage cost of an aerospace & defense data breach (IBM 2024)
- 72hDFARS cyber incident reporting window to DIBNet
- ITARviolation penalties up to $1M per occurrence plus criminal exposure
Common Cybersecurity Risks in the Aerospace Sector
Every Aerospace Assemblers organization we work with faces some combination of these threats. Our grants give you the resources to find, fix, and defend against them.
- Theft of export-controlled CAD and engineering drawings (ITAR/EAR violations)
- Business email compromise on program managers coordinating with primes
- Ransomware targeting engineering workstations and PLM systems
- Unsecured connections to prime-contractor portals
- Insider risk around sensitive avionics and composite IP
- Gaps in vendor risk management across the multi-tier supply chain
Compliance Frameworks That Apply to Aerospace Assemblers
The regulatory and compliance landscape for Aerospace Assemblers is complex and evolving. Here are the frameworks most commonly referenced in our engagements, click through for official documentation from the relevant authorities.
- NIST SP 800-171 Rev 3↗
- CMMC Program (DoD CIO)↗
- DFARS 252.204-7012↗
- ITAR (22 CFR 120-130)↗
- Export Administration Regulations (EAR)↗
- DIB Cybersecurity Program (DIBNet)↗
Additional resources: CISA Small Business Cybersecurity, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Grants Available for Aerospace Assemblers
Every grant below is open to qualifying Aerospace Assemblers organizations. Each is delivered in-kind by a partner, with Cyber Grants Alliance coordinating eligibility and matching.
In-Kind (one-time)
CMMC Level 1 Gap Assessment Grant
An in-kind Level 1 gap assessment that evaluates all 15 basic safeguarding requirements of FAR 52.204-21, covering the 6 Level 1 control families, for organizations handling Federal Contract Information (FCI).
- Full evaluation of all 15 CMMC Level 1 requirements
- Gap identification across all 6 Level 1 control families
- Prioritized list of compliance gaps by severity
- A clear picture of your self assessment readiness
Sponsored by Capital Cyber Compliance
In-Kind (one-time)
CMMC Level 2 Gap Assessment Grant
A comprehensive CMMC / NIST SP 800-171 gap assessment. Evaluates your organization against all 110 controls, identifies compliance gaps, and gives you a clear picture of where you stand.
- All 110 NIST 800-171 controls
- 14 control families assessed
- Gap identification & severity
- Prioritized findings
Sponsored by Capital Cyber Compliance
In-Kind (one-time)
GSA Gap Assessment Grant
NIST SP 800-171 Rev 3 readiness for GSA schedule contractors. All 97 controls evaluated across 17 control families, with focus on the 9 GSA showstopper controls. Applications are open.
- 97 NIST 800-171 Rev 3 controls
- 17 control families
- 9 GSA showstopper focus
- Prioritized gap analysis by severity
Sponsored by GSA Ready Now
In-Kind (yearly)
Employees Cyber Training Grant
Annual security awareness and phishing-simulation program for your team, the single highest-ROI control for most small and mid-sized organizations.
- Security training modules
- Phishing simulations
- Incident response training
- Performance metrics tracking
Sponsored by Telco United
In-Kind
CyberCert Grant (Silver / Gold)
An affordable, structured certification pathway, demonstrate your cybersecurity maturity with a recognized credential valued by customers, insurers, and regulators.
- Guided self-assessment
- Full CyberCert Platform access
- Official certification
- Certification resources
Sponsored by CyberCert
How the Grant Process Works
From application to delivery, we've designed the grant process to fit the way Aerospace Assemblers actually operate, minimal paperwork, fast decisions, and real work by real sponsors.
- Apply Online. Complete a short grant application. Eligibility is based on organization size, industry, and cybersecurity needs.
- Eligibility Review. Our team reviews your application, verifies eligibility, and matches you with the appropriate sponsor partner.
- Sponsor Engagement. The sponsoring firm reaches out directly to schedule the assessment, training, or certification engagement.
- Delivery & Results. You receive the in-kind service, a clear findings or completion report, and guidance on next steps, all at no cost to your organization.
Have questions? See our FAQ or contact us directly.
Related Aerospace Industries
Other Aerospace organizations we also serve. Cybersecurity risks and grant eligibility tend to be similar across the sector.
Ready to protect your Aerospace Assemblers business?
Apply today for in-kind cybersecurity grants designed for organizations like yours. Most applications take less than 5 minutes to complete.
Or email info@cybergrantsalliance.org or call +1 (888) 323-9991