CYTUR has successfully completed the Smart Ship Cybersecurity Demonstration Project in 2023 with funding from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the KISA (Korea Internet & Security Agency).
Shipbuilders, ship suppliers, and academic and industrial experts in the information security industry participated in the project and evaluated the results to be the best practices for the preparation of cybersecurity regulations for the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) and Unified Requirements (UR) E26 and E27. The results were also the best practices for the implementation of the Korean government’s Maritime Cyber Safety Management Guidelines, etc.
As CYTUR explains, the analysis scope of shipping cyber threats increased by 400% through the project. Additionally, resources invested in the security of ship designs were reduced by 83%, and unknown attack surfaces of smart ships were identified.
Furthermore, the project verified the security technology developed in consideration of the life cycle of ships as well as system characteristics, cyber threats, and attack surfaces unique to ships and the maritime industry during the design, commissioning, and operational stages of smart ships.
Meanwhile, cyber threats to the maritime industry (shipyards, shipping and equipment companies, maritime institutions, etc.) and operational ships have rapidly increased recently.
According to the analysis results of CYTUR Inc.’s Maritime Cyber Threat Intelligence System, marine industry cyberattacks surged by 358% while attack surfaces on operational ships surged by 1,034% compared to January 2022.
Additionally, DNV in its Marine Cyber Priority report found that less than half (40%) of maritime professionals think their organization is investing enough in cyber security at a time when vessels and other critical infrastructure are becoming increasingly networked and connected to IT systems.
Allianz in its Safety and Shipping Review 2023 highlights its vital that investment in cyber risk education and security is not neglected at this time, despite economic and decarbonization pressures, as this risk has the potential to have catastrophic consequences, given the right confluence of events.
