Page 25: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2025)

CYBERSECURITY steal your sensitive data, and gain backdoor access to your port facilities and shore-side are being targeted. These sys- system. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts ? les tems are particularly vulnerable to attacks as they often rely on a victim’s computer or network, rendering the entire sys- on outdated and unsecure software and network protocols, tem inaccessible and disrupting operations. and insuf? cient access controls.

While new regulations are designed to help safeguard the

Rising Tide of Cyber-threats U.S. Maritime infrastructure and supply chain, they come

In 2023 Cyber Trends and Insights in the Marine Environ- with hurdles. For transformational change, the industry will ment (CTIME) report(1), the United States Coast Guard noted require a large-scale approach to cyber security, covering key the following: areas including account security, device security, data securi- · Ransomware attacks increased 80% in 2023. These at- ty, governance, risk management, supply chain management, tacks encrypt systems with the goal of locking users out, then cyber resilience, network segmentation, reporting, and physi- extorting the victim and demanding ransom for a decryption cal security. ABS is leading industry guidance in this area to key. Perpetrators are becoming more sophisticated and re- support industry safeguards.

quested ransoms have tripled.

· Maritime shipping companies, logistics and technology The Importance of Upskilling Human Awareness service providers; liquid natural gas processors (LNGP) and According to a study by IBM(2), human error is the main distributors; and petrochemical companies are common targets. cause of 95% of cybersecurity breaches. In other words, if · Very basic cyber de? ciencies persist. However, essential human error was somehow eliminated entirely, 19 out of 20 measures like patching and updating software, limiting net- cyber breaches may not have occurred!

work access, and implementing multi-factor authentication In a security context, human error means unintentional ac- are base level cybersecurity measures that go a long way to- tions - or lack of action - by employees and users that cause, wards safeguarding systems. spread or allow a security breach. · Network-connected operational technology (OT) in This can encompass a vast range of actions - from down-

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