CyberHelm To Counter Attacks On Shipping & Ports

More than 90 percent of all global trade weight is transported by sea and global maritime infrastructure has never been more essential. The maritime industry is increasingly vulnerable to cyber attackers seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in their interconnected systems, as more shipowners and ports adopt digitalisation to optimise operations.

The Maritime Transportation System’s Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MTS-ISAC) has formed a global partnership with HudsonAnalytix Inc to provide cyber threat information to the maritime industry. 

They will provide cyber threat information from HudsonCyber’s CyberHelm to improve their situational awareness so they can better manage their technical vulnerabilities. CyberHelm will allow MTS-ISAC members to access cyber threat information related to their specific operational environment, protecting  maritime operators from cyber security threats by proactively avoiding attacks before they occur.

There are thousands of ports around the world receiving more than 50,000 commercial vessels, making over 5M port calls per year. More of these ships and ports are connected to the internet and online applications, leaving them vulnerable to cyber threats. “Although many maritime operators are making strides in implementing cyber security, effective and sustained cyber-risk management remains a challenge....In today’s hyper-connected environment, where cyber threats are only constrained by threat actors’ imaginations and successful attacks are measured in seconds, information sharing is critical.” according to a CyberHelm spokesman.

 With limited organisational resources, MTS-ISAC realised the best approach was to work with trusted private and public sector partners, to identify, protect against, and detect cyber threats targeting maritime networks, systems and people.

MTS-ISAC facilitates maritime cyber security information sharing, awareness, training and collaboration efforts between maritime stakeholders.

MTS-ISAC was formed as a non-profit organisation in February 2020 by a group of US-based maritime critical infrastructure stakeholders to promote cyber security information sharing throughout the maritime community, based on the following criteria:

• Driving improvement in cybersecurity programs within the global maritime industry which result from the many links in the marine transportation system and the personnel at each of these links. 

• Using enhanced technology and connectivity to improving the efficiency maritime systems, which have  multiple entry points cyber attackers.

• Looking at the system as a whole, starting with each vessel and its systems, connections within the ship and interfaces with shore management

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will b used to predict, track and record an attack in real-time, relieve problems arising form post-incident recovery procedures and enhance maritime safety, optimise business operations and processes. 

AI allows new sense-making possibilities by quickly generating insights through deep analysis of data and relaying critical information to the right people promptly so that decisions can be made for the best outcomes. The use of AI-based systems is intended to create fully automated piracy alerts can allow seafarers a few moments to react, potentially saving lives.

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