Program for Sharing Commercial Information, or CISP, is a system aiming to safeguard businesses against cyber threats and frauds by encouraging data sharing among participating companies.
In the rapidly evolving world of drone technology, a collaborative initiative known as the Commercial Information Sharing Program (CISP) is making significant strides in ensuring safer and more scalable commercial drone operations. The program, which operates as a secure, digital data-sharing platform, is gaining traction in various sectors, including drone operations, aerospace, telecommunications, and energy.
At the helm of one such company embracing this innovative approach is Jacob Stoner, CEO of Flyeye.io and a licensed commercial drone operator in Canada. Stoner, with a passion for videography and a keen interest in the potential societal impact of drone technology advancements, frequently conducts drone inspections using his fleet.
The CISP, a key component of the FAA-approved Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) system developed by the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, creates an industry-governed digital airspace infrastructure. This allows multiple drone operators to safely manage overlapping flights by securely exchanging operational data, thus enabling automatic collision avoidance and safer management of drone traffic, particularly for complex operations like Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights.
Participating companies stand to gain numerous benefits from joining CISP. Scalability of operations is one such advantage, as companies can conduct BVLOS flights under standardized regulations, making long-range inspections, large-area surveying, and delivery services more routine and economically viable. Enhanced safety and efficiency are also key benefits, as sharing operational data in real time supports automated collision avoidance, reducing the risk of accidents in congested airspace.
Moreover, the program fosters technical readiness by requiring operators to equip their fleets with compatible hardware and software to connect securely with the UTM system. This, in turn, promotes innovation and industry-wide standards. Additionally, the program provides regulatory predictability, shifting operations from discretionary FAA approvals to "operating by rule," offering clearer compliance pathways and business certainty.
The CISP functions through a secure, two-way data-sharing system, where submissions can include telemetry anomalies, unauthorized drone behaviour, cybersecurity breaches, or sensor interference patterns. In the United States, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), often oversees CISP efforts.
Notably, CISP serves as a secure framework for manufacturers, software developers, and service providers in the drone industry to report cybersecurity incidents, flight anomalies, or suspicious behaviour. This collaborative initiative between commercial entities and public sector intelligence or security organizations aims to improve situational awareness, detect threats early, and facilitate coordinated responses.
Companies participating in CISP often receive access to classified threat intelligence, helping them strengthen their operational defences. A prime example of such a company is Flyeye.io, led by Jacob Stoner, who is highly respected within his local drone community.
In the drone industry, CISP is also playing a crucial role in the development of technologies such as Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), ANSI (American National Standards Institute), DAFI (Drone as a First Responder Interface), TSO (Technical Standard Order), and Remote Operating Certificate (ROC). Furthermore, it is at the forefront of discussions on topics like Remote ID and the future of top industries using thermal drone technology (2025).
As the drone industry continues to grow and evolve, the Commercial Information Sharing Program stands as a beacon of collaboration and innovation, driving safer, more scalable, and more efficient drone operations.
- In response to the growing concerns about cybersecurity, Jacob Stoner, CEO of Flyeye.io, firmly believes that the incorporation of enhanced cybersecurity measures into their drone operations is crucial to thrive in the evolving data-and-cloud-computing environment.
- As the Commercial Information Sharing Program (CISP) continues to develop and refine its secure, digital data-sharing platform, it underscores the importance of collaborative efforts between technology, aerospace, and energy sectors to upgrade cybersecurity practices in the evolving drone industry.
