Navigate maritime cyber risk effectively and efficiently
As maritime operations become increasingly digitized, vessels, ports, and shipping companies face growing exposure to cyber threats. Yet, many organizations in this sector remain underprepared, relying on legacy systems and fragmented processes that leave critical infrastructure vulnerable.
Building cyber resilience starts with understanding the risks—and responding strategically and methodologically.
NCC Group has recently examined modern day Operational Technology (OT) risk and has produced a new OT tailored incident response guide to help organizations manage their key safety and cyber risks across their entire operating environment. In this blog we’ve reflected on the maritime industry’s specific considerations and challenges in this field.
Common cyber risks to the maritime industry
Our maritime experts are finding OT systems onboard vessels, including remote access capabilities and automation platforms, that are very rarely patched or monitored. Open-source solutions like Tritium, used for HVAC and other onboard systems, are especially vulnerable due to a lack of consideration of the cyber risk they may unintentionally create whilst they were developed. These risks are compounded by the industry typically being behind the curve when it comes to basic cyber hygiene—unsanitized USBs and outdated software are common entry points for malware.
Secondly, supply chain complexity adds another layer of exposure. Ships are built and maintained using components from various original equipment manufacturers (OEM), many of which lack visibility into vulnerabilities. Without centralized monitoring, threat actors can exploit these gaps to infiltrate broader systems.
We’re often seeing maritime organizations not check or spot the potential for lateral attacks when a supplier or piece of hardware goes down. In fact, it becomes more of a race to replace/restart/reboot instead of investigating “why?” This can lead to repeated issues and outages later on.
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting maritime operations through social engineering. By spoofing port authorities via legacy communication channels like telex or long-wave radio, attackers extract crew data and forge documents to commit financial fraud. These tactics often go unnoticed, especially when fraudulent purchase orders fall below internal review thresholds.
Cargo management systems are another high-value target. Manipulating manifests can disrupt global supply chains, delay inspections, and even facilitate smuggling.
Lastly, and possibly most shockingly, we’ve seen and heard of insider threat related incidents involving the crew members onboard. Disgruntled employees have been known to act in a rogue or disruptive manner if they’re feeling disenfranchised far away from land, turning their attention to navigational systems, stealing intellectual property or the ship’s cargo to sell on the black markets after disembarking.
Maritime cyber-attack tabletop exercises: The start and end of your incident response plan
A robust OT incident response (IR) plan begins with tabletop exercises.
These cyber-attack simulations bring together internal stakeholders—engineering, HR, operations—and external partners like OEMs to identify vulnerabilities and communication gaps. This collaborative approach helps build a communication matrix and clarifies roles during a crisis.
We can take an organization through some of the common tactics we’re seeing above and educate them and their partners/suppliers on how best to respond.
We recommend conducting a “Facility or Vessel/Port Due Diligence” as it helps validate system architecture and asset inventories, while frameworks like IEC 62443 guide risk assessments and control implementation. Over time, repeated exercises reveal measurable improvements and foster buy-in for further investment.
5 key stages when creating an Incident Response plan:
- Run an initial tabletop exercise (adapt and repeat)
- Identify assets and vulnerabilities
- Build relationships with OEMs and suppliers
- Develop a communications matrix
- Create a remote audit checklist
The value of Incident Response retainers
Incident response retainers offer more than emergency support. Of course, it’s great to have someone on speed dial and ready to respond, but retainers provide consultative guidance, legal preparedness, and access to cyber experts who understand maritime-specific challenges. For lean organizations, outsourcing IR capabilities is more cost-effective than building in-house teams.
It’s worth remembering that maritime is typically a sector whereby low volume levels of disruption can still typically lead to huge time and cost implications, i.e., just one compromised vessel stranded days away from land can have untold knock-on consequences.
A centralized approach—such as partnering with NCC Group—can streamline communication with OEMs and suppliers, and we’re pioneers in sharing cyber threat intelligence (sign up for our monthly reports and webinars) across the sector too and have experience maximizing your cyber investments thanks to our 25+ years serving the sector.
We’re increasingly seeing maritime organizations with cyber incident response plans can have their cyber insurance premiums lowered. The NCSC recently shared how the UK’s cyber essentials scheme has led to 92% fewer insurance claims by organizations holding that certification.
Regulatory compliance and strategic readiness
Most maritime regulations, including US Coast Guard rules, mandate the existence of an incident response plan. Retainers help organizations meet these requirements while preparing for real-world scenarios. They also ensure that legal frameworks and NDAs are in place before a breach occurs, enabling swift and transparent action.
Conclusion
Cyber resilience in the maritime sector isn’t just about technology—it’s about people, processes, and partnerships. By starting with tabletop exercises, engaging third parties, and investing in strategic retainers, maritime organizations can navigate the evolving threat landscape with confidence.
Take action now to strengthen your organization's readiness and resilience.
Our team of transport security experts operate globally and have significant maritime expertise supporting clients based in the UK, North America, Europe and APAC.