CyberOwl and HFW team up on cyber risk management

CyberOwl’s data and security experts will work alongside HFW’s lawyers to help companies in the maritime sector prevent and defend against commercial, legal, technical and operational risks. Their work will include reviews of vessel cyber security seaworthiness, cyber security monitoring, and related legal and consulting advice.

The partnership comes as shipping companies face compliance with international regulation on cyber risk management from the International Maritime organisation (IMO) known as IMO 2021, which dictations that a ship’s safety management systems must have documented evidence of of cyber risk management no later than its first annual Document of Compliance after January 1 2021.

Paul Dean, Global Head of Shipping, HFW, said: "The reality is that traditional cyber security systems are not designed to overcome the unique technical, operational and commercial challenges of shipping, such as the need to demonstrate due diligence in ensuring seaworthiness and cargoworthiness to minimise disagreements around liabilities in the unfortunate event of a cyber attack. We have therefore partnered with CyberOwl, whose security experts share the deep shipping industry expertise on which we pride ourselves at HFW.”

HFW said that the partnership will complement its existing cyber security advice to clients as part of its standalone consulting business, HFW Consulting.

Daniel Ng, CEO, CyberOwl, said: "We have engaged with around 100 vessel owners and managers to understand their challenges – they have expressed a real lack of confidence that the steps they have taken to comply with IMO 2021 actually helps them defend themselves technically, operationally, commercially and legally in the eventuality of a cyber attack, and to prove that due diligence was exercised to ensure vessel seaworthiness and cargoworthiness.

"Working with HFW... means we're able to provide clients with a broader offering combining first-rate legal and technology services. We see this as being a unique proposition – other cyber services providers are mainly focused on IMO 2021 compliance, whereas we are able to help the industry actively manage and mitigate their cyber risks."

Ng will participate on July 8 in Seatrade’s online conference session Seatrade ShipTech Virtual - Making Data Work for Shipping as part of the Maritime Online Series. Register to attend here.

Add Seatrade Maritime News to your Google News feed.