Barely on the radar in the shipping company boardroom just two years ago cyber-security is now high on the agenda. However, the understanding of the threats and how to combat them remains low when compared to sectors such as finance and banking.
Philip Roche, a partner with Norton Rose Fulbright, commented recently: “Although it might be said that the risk is currently low cyber-attacks potentially pose a serious risk to the overall operability of a ship because of the increasing use of onboard IT, even where there is no single network controlling numerous systems and where internet connectivity is low. Examples of such technologies in common use are the Automated Identification System (AIS), Electronic Chart Display & Information System (ECDIS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and E-Navigation Systems (E-Nav).”
While there have been tales of complex hacks on company systems one of the key vulnerabilities remains the humble USB stick which can introduce malicious software, or even simply a crew member using a USB port to charge his phone, which he is unaware is infected with a virus.
To find out more about the cyber-security threats that face shipping:
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