Is the maritime industry sailing into security vulnerabilities?

Is the maritime industry sailing into security vulnerabilities?
10 September 2018

As the shipping industry embraces digital technologies, increased vulnerabilities in data security are on the rise

The impact of digital transformation can be noticed more and more clearly in many areas of life. If some tech companies have their way, it won’t be too long before we see self-driving cars controlled by computers roaming our highways.

Likewise, digital transformation is beginning to play a key role for shipping companies.

Today, shipping organizations are facing increasing pressure to operate more efficiently due to overcapacity and global demand. Meanwhile, customers are demanding faster, more streamlined services that afford integrated and end-to-end logistics.

As a result, the maritime industry is having to take a different approach to operations with the help of digital technologies. This includes:

The development of new business models and offerings through online booking platforms and advanced cargo management systems.
Connecting systems to gain more visibility of processes and improve communication and collaboration.

Digitalizing the core business through things such as advanced analytics to optimize vessel deployment, blockchain technology to streamline and secure the documentation process, and the integration of enterprise resource planning (ERP) interfaces.

Recruiting the right digital talent to help keep the business growing and running more efficiently.

Greater vulnerability on the horizon?

However, as the shipping industry trades in its traditional stand-alone systems for a more connected network, greater vulnerability is inevitable.

One of the industry’s highest-profile cyber attacks was against container shipping company, Maersk in 2017. The company was hit by NotPetya, a ransomware attack that prevented people from accessing their data unless they paid US$300 in bitcoin.

The ransomware took advantage of certain security vulnerabilities in Windows systems, and as a consequence, the companies business volumes were negatively affected.

read more...https://techhq.com/2018/09/is-the-maritime-industry-sailing-into-securit...