GUEST COLUMN ALLEN ALLISON
Resolving data insecurity
The industry needs a new infrastructure based on blockchain
out – even if processed through tech tools and channels – by individuals who are recognised by their identities.
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Personal identification, therefore, drives every business and social interaction. But in the digital world, an identity isn’t just a name or user ID; it’s a sum of many parts working together to define an individual. In business travel, there is a considerable level of unacknowledged risk associated with airline passenger name records (PNRs), for example. Many travellers are unaware of how much data is attached to their PNR codes and how much personal information can be potentially accessed if someone gets hold of them.
For example, if a traveller leaves their boarding pass behind on an aircraft, the data printed on it could be used to determine the traveller’s itinerary and identity. Even more seriously, a hacker could log into their frequent flyer account and find passport information, addresses and other confidential material. Blockchain has the potential
to resolve a lot of the insecurity associated with traditional PNR systems because it creates an unbroken, encrypted thread of data ledgers that can only be accessed using unique codes. Travel managers can, therefore, fulfil their duty-of-care obligations with greater confidence. In addition, TMCs will be better placed to support them as they overcome unexpected issues and negotiate multiple levels of transport, payment,
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
CROSS THE BUSINESS SPECTRUM, all transactions and interactions are carried
accommodation and security infrastructure.
Allen Allison is chief
information security officer at American Express Global Business Travel. He has more than 20 years of cyber security experience. He previously worked for a global IT services company as well as being the chief security officer for a managed hosting and cloud services provider.
Any new technology that helps industries simplify their identification processes and enhance security will sooner or later become essential. Blockchain is one technology that has the potential to revolutionise the way travel managers and TMCs understand and use traveller identity.
DIGITAL LEDGERS While cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are the most high-profile examples of blockchain at work, they are by no means the limit to what the technology has to offer. Blockchain works by creating a series of digital ledgers, each storing a different piece of information. Each ledger can only be accessed using codes shared by agreed users, who can then view the data but are unable to modify it. This creates an incorruptible record of an ongoing transaction. If suppliers, travel managers and TMCs harness blockchain, they can begin to trace the identity of travellers at different points on their trip without compromising data security. Take passports as an example. Rather than travellers showing their passports at multiple stages of a journey, traveller information stored and transmitted using blockchain technology could be shared automatically and in advance to speed up the process. In subsequent stages, it could be accessed by the travel manager or TMC using secure codes and access controls to ensure consistent authentication for the whole itinerary. Similarly, if a travel manager is supported by a TMC using blockchain, then travellers can be
immediately recognised over the phone or online. Issue resolution is more efficient when TMCs have access to encrypted data confirming their authentication. This would reduce barriers between TMCs and travellers, meaning any issues could be potentially resolved more quickly than previously possible through traditional methods of identification. Additionally, a robust authentication system increases protection against fraud and decreases the risk of identity theft, meaning both travellers and their travel managers can feel more secure that the information they are sharing is being used for its intended purpose.
New technologies should never be adopted if they unjustifiably compromise the safety, privacy or confidentiality of the traveller and the buyer. If blockchain can improve efficiency and safety simultaneously, the travel industry should take the necessary steps to incorporate it.
COMING CHANGES It will only be possible to reap the full benefits of blockchain once the entire infrastructure of the travel industry has caught up. Numerous agents that help create an itinerary will have to incorporate blockchain authentication technologies into their security procedures before travellers can use it on a regular basis. Though still in its infancy, blockchain for corporate travel will surely continue to grow in parallel with its wider use in the business world. Continued progress promises a more secure and efficient identification process for travellers, travel managers and TMCs will be available in the near future.
BBT March/April 2018 117
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