DNV & CyberOwl Join to Give Shipping Huge Cyber Offering
In a move that underscores the growing importance of cybersecurity in the maritime industry, risk management provider DNV has announced its acquisition of CyberOwl.
“Digital technologies must continue to scale for a safer, more efficient and greener maritime industry,” said Remi Eriksen, Group President and CEO of DNV. “. But the benefits of digitalisation and automation cannot be realised without a robust approach to cyber security.”
This strategic partnership aims to bolster the cyber defences of the shipping industry, creating one of the world's largest specialists in maritime systems cyber security.
Cybersecurity in shipping
A specialist in cyber risk monitoring and threat management onboard maritime vessels, CyberOwl’s acquisition comes amidst a sea change in the maritime sector's approach to digital technologies and cybersecurity.
As vessels become increasingly reliant on digitally connected systems for navigation, cargo management, and operational efficiency, they simultaneously open themselves up to new vulnerabilities.
The statistics are sobering: a typical fleet of 30 cargo vessels now experiences an average of 80 cyber incidents annually, highlighting the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures.
Yet shipping remains a crucial part of supply chains, as evidenced by the Red Sea crisis or the Ever Given jam in the Suez. and therefore infrastructure. Recent months have also seen a dramatic spike in spoofing incidents, triggered by electronic warfare in conflict zones, where ships' navigation data have been manipulated or interfered with near conflict zones.
New unified requirements, recognising this, are therefore incoming. Building on International Maritime Organization (IMO), The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) are set to impose stricter rules on maritime organisations' cybersecurity practices. These requirements encompass a comprehensive approach to cyber incident management, including governance, identification, protection, detection, response, and recovery.
“CyberOwl’s deep expertise in threat monitoring and incident management, provide a powerhouse for advancing cyber-physical safety, sustainability and resilience in the sector,” said Daniel Ng, CEO, CyberOwl.
Currently, a IACS survey found only 56% of maritime professionals express confidence in their ability to meet cyber security regulatory requirements.
Security onboard ships
CyberOwl's contribution to this partnership is significant. Alongside
CyberOwl teaming up with DNV’s global network of 3,500 maritime risk experts and 500 cyber security specialists, the two companies will address all aspects of a maritime organisation’s cyber security needs to safeguard demanding IT and industrial control systems.
"DNV and CyberOwl are on a mission to help the shipping industry boost its security posture by combining cyber security expertise with longstanding experience in the industry's technical, operational and commercial realities," says Daniel.
This will be augmented with the new addition of CyberOwl’s Medulla platform, which is a managed security service that provides vessel operators with essential tools for cyber threat management.
These include the ability to discover and maintain asset inventories, monitor escalating cyber risks, detect insecure crew behaviour, and evaluate the effectiveness of security controls and policies.
By joining forces with DNV, CyberOwl aims to extend its reach and impact across the maritime sector.
Securing the seas
As the maritime sector continues its digital transformation, the importance of cybersecurity will only grow. Vessels are no longer isolated entities at sea but interconnected nodes in a vast digital network.
This fusion of DNV's 160-year maritime heritage and growing cyber security portfolio represented in five global shipping hubs – Oslo, London, Singapore, Hamburg and Piraeus - means that the area their solutions can help cover is vast.
With the maritime industry increasingly digitalising, partnerships like this will be crucial in ensuring that the benefits of digitisation can be realised without compromising on security.
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