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Fast, reliable maritime internet facilities are a privilege for crew members as well as guests on the cruise ship, but like every pro that has its con, maritime internet comes with the downside of the cyber security threat.
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Maritime Cyber Security: Potential Cyber Security Threats and Their Prevention Fast, reliable maritime internet facilities are a privilege for crew members as well as guests on the cruise ship, but like every pro that has its con, maritime internet comes with the downside of the cyber security threat. Most of the maritime companies are not remotely prepared enough to combat the risks associated with cyberattacks. In a survey conducted in 2017, only 43.75% of the shipping companies are prepared with preventive and contingency plans to protect themselves from cyberattacks. Today, technology is evolving at a rapid pace and the maritime sector is moving ever faster towards constant connectivity and automation. This advancement, however, has left the maritime sector even more vulnerable to cyberattacks. This means the shipping companies need to take the appropriate measures to protect their confidential information and prevent them from being compromised. Recently, the International Maritime Organization has also acknowledged the risk of cyber threats and asked the ship owners to incorporate maritime cyber security measures into the ship safety framework by 2021. What are the potential cyber threats to the maritime industry? 1. USB It has become increasingly evident that the damage done by cyberattacks has been vastly underestimated and when left unchecked, can cause considerable damage. Even worse, vessels do not need to be connected with an internet service to be a victim of a cyberattack. The malware can be transferred through USB drivers or infected build components. The malware can spread through your connection to affect shipping functions in different areas. 2. Internet connectivity Use of maritime VSAT services with help of satellite or any other wireless communication can also increase the risk of cyberattacks. Once a malware enters the system, it can attack several systems at once, compromising more than just the system that it initially entered. The navigation system is most vulnerable to the cyber threat as it does not usually have an anti-virus program to stop the attackers from gaining full control of the system. 3. Financial loss Cyberattacks can result in the shutting down of your power generation and steering systems. The attackers can also delete crucial information or overload a company’s system. Cyber terrorists can gain access to the commercially sensitive data and manipulate it for transporting illegal cargo and thefts. Any of these situations can lead to extremely compromising and dangerous situations for companies and can lead to tremendous financial loss, not to mention loss of faith in the company, perhaps an even more ruinous proposition. Counteracting Cyber Threats
The first step towards maintaining maritime cyber security comes with a thorough assessment of vulnerabilities and limitations current measures already in place have. Companies should also train their employees to be aware of potential risks and how to deal with them. Contingency response plans need to be developed for combating any attacks. A cyber security division should be started with the sole purpose of preventing attacks on the company and sussing out any vulnerabilities the company currently has that need to be shored up. They should also frame strict IT policies and firewall to protect company’s secrets and future business plans. Explore the web for more information on maritime VSAT and how to prevent cyber security threats.
