Customer Success Story: Mont Blanc Tunnel’s Cyber Resilience
Public sector organisations responsible for transnational critical infrastructure, particularly within industrial operations and transport, operate in a uniquely sensitive environment. These sectors often rely on complex Operational Technology (OT) systems that are deeply integrated into physical processes, making them especially vulnerable to cyber disruptions. As the complexity and frequency of cyber threats continue to escalate, maintaining robust cybersecurity is not just a technical requirement but a strategic necessity.
Protecting the integrity of operational systems and ensuring the continuity of service across borders demand constant vigilance. For these organisations, timely access to expert monitoring, deep OT-specific expertise, and rapid incident response is essential to mitigate emerging risks and uphold both national and international trust in critical services.
The client: Tunnel du Mont Blanc
The Mont Blanc Tunnel is a vital transalpine link between France and Italy, supporting in 2024 over 1.4 million vehicles annually, including around 360,000 heavy goods vehicles. It plays a strategic role in European freight transit, facilitating major economic flows between northern and southern Europe. At 11.6 km long, the tunnel is not only a critical physical connector but also a high-value infrastructure where safety and continuity are non-negotiable. Given its enclosed structure and international significance, any disruption, be it technical, environmental, or cyber, can have immediate cross-border repercussions. Ensuring its resilience is therefore essential to maintaining regional and European mobility.
Customer need: A trusted partner to meet critical requirements
In a high-stakes environment where cybersecurity plays a critical role, The Mont Blanc Tunnel was looking for a trusted partner capable of understanding their operational constraints, including those specific to industrial and OT systems, adapting to a complex, hybrid IT/OT landscape, and responding swiftly to evolving strategic priorities. The critical nature of their operations required a partner with not only strong technical expertise, but also a deep understanding of the unique risks and dependencies inherent in industrial environments.
Our solution: A personalised approach
Airbus Protect delivered a tailored approach built on close collaboration, transparent communication, and deep sector-specific expertise, including a strong understanding of industrial and OT environments as part of our Airbus DNA. Our teams are fully integrated with The Mont Blanc Tunnel’s own, enabling seamless coordination and ensuring high responsiveness. This proximity allows us to anticipate challenges and provide both proactive and reactive support, aligned with The Mont Blanc Tunnel’s needs and context.
Customer Benefits: Building Cyber Resilience and Strengthening Continuity
This collaboration has significantly strengthened The Mont Blanc Tunnel’s cybersecurity posture across both IT and OT environments, underpinned by a long-term, trust-based partnership. The consistently high satisfaction scores, particularly in responsiveness and understanding of strategic issues, reflect the strength of this relationship. By joining our reference programme, The Mont Blanc Tunnel has recognised the strategic value of this partnership and expressed their intent to continue building on this trusted collaboration.
A trusting partnership
The Mont Blanc Tunnel is very satisfied with the service provided by Airbus Protect, both in terms of effectiveness and punctuality. Airbus Protect is considered a true partner, as the proposals shared with The Mont Blanc Tunnel have enabled it to continuously strengthen its cybersecurity posture, in a perspective of genuine and ongoing improvement
Andrea Colombo, Chief Information Security Officer, Tunnel du Mont Blanc GEIE