2 cybersecurity acronyms- “OT” and “IT”

IT or information technology is a critical factor to be concerned when it comes to cyber security. A breach of IT systems can have significant impact on the companies cachet and finance. Information Systems includes the personal/confidential information of the crew members, passengers and systems in offices, ports and oil rigs. Since cyber hacking is a lucrative business, breaches in any of the IT system of a company could cost them a fortune!

OT or Operational Technology, is less mature when it comes to cyber security, and an attack on on-board OT systems may jeopardize the vessel’s and crew’s safety.OT includes Vessel’s integrated navigation system, global positioning system(GPS), Communication Systems, Automatic Identification Systems, Radar and electronic charts etc.

WHAT FLOATSYS RECOMMENDS

• Identify: Measures Back-up and restore necessary operations for shipping operations impacted by a cyber event
• Protect: Implement risk controls and measures, and contingency planning to protect against a cyber –event
• Detect: Develop and implement activities necessary to detect a cyber event
• Respond: Develop and implement activities or plans to provide resilience and to restore systems necessary for shipping operations impaired due to cyber attack
• Recover : Identify measures to backup and restore cyber systems impacted by cyber security