The survey by the shipping association of the ceo panel comprising 26 senior executives revealed that the majority – 69% - had been the had experienced cyber attacks last year.
Some 42% of those surveyed said they were “very worried” or “extremely worried” that their company would be attacked or data stolen in the next 12 months.
As a result cyber security has become more important on Danish shipowners’ agendas with 69% increasing their IT budgets this year.
"It is worrying that a majority of shipping companies have been subject to attacks against their IT systems and unfortunately this is a threat that is not expected to diminish in future,” said Maria Skipper Schwenn, executive director of Danish Shipping.
While nightmare scenarios of ships being taken control of by criminals is a favourite fear played up by cyber security providers, the real threat to shipping comes to their back office systems.
“At the same time, it is important to emphasize that the attacks experienced by the shipping companies are attacks that any company is at risk of being exposed to. Therefore, it is not the ships and the safety of the crew that is of the greatest concern but attacks on land-based systems and the consequences of these,” she said.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited. Add Seatrade Maritime News to your Google News feed.
