Evaluating cyber security aspects in the maritime industry

It has been estimated that approximately 90 percent of world trade occurs via ocean. The computerized systems and automated machines that the maritime sector relies upon are not equipped enough to meet the threats of the 21st century. With increased digitalization and automation, the maritime industry has now opened doors to vulnerabilities, with potentially devastating consequences. It has been estimated that cyber risks to the maritime sector are likely to increase in 2018 due to mandatory implementation of navigational systems. So, what maritime companies can do to increase maritime cyber security?

A cyber criminal hacked the e-services section of the website of a port in Oman in 2016 and released customer data. In July 2016, a cyber activist group targeted three maritime companies and leaked confidential documents. All such incidents reveal that the maritime sector is vulnerable to cyber attacks. With cyber threats in the maritime sector expected to increase in the coming years, it is important for organizations to be prepared.

·         Port operators and shipping companies should analyze and mitigate the vulnerabilities present in newly released software and hardware, and patch security holes promptly before integrating them into their ships or facilities. Shipping companies should use only secured communication systems such as Inmarsat Fleet Broadband for transferring voice and broadband data from ship to port facilities.

·         All companies related to the maritime sector should develop good practices for the implementation of Information Communication Technology (ICT) components that have “security by design” in order to avoid any cyber threat.

·         Maritime cyber security awareness among crew is currently low. So it is highly recommended to undertake maritime sector awareness raising campaigns and cyber security training of shipping companies, staff members, and port authorities.

·         Currently, maritime security regulations and policies consider only physical aspects of security and safety. Therefore, it is essential that policy makers should now add cyber security aspects to their new regulations for minimizing future cyber attacks.

All companies in the maritime industry should start acting on these measures needed to ensure greater cyber security protections. These measures, such as maritime cyber security awareness, training, better regulations and using secured fleet broadband systems for communication, will also help them to avoid catastrophic losses and becoming another victim of cyber crime.

Vessel Monitoring: Combining Mobile Satellite Internet and Vessel Tracking

Vessel surveillance system is used to monitor the location and movement of commercial vessels at sea and remote areas. Such system help vessel operators and owners to monitor vessel position, course and speed, and to make sure vessels are doing the right thing. To use vessel surveillance system, you need to install mobile broadband satellite-based communication system on vessels. The transceiver units will then send position reports such as vessel location with time and date and the vessel can be tracked continually. Mobile satellite services combined with vessel tracking technology enable vessel operators to track and monitor their ocean-going vessels in real-time anywhere within the world. This would help you to reduce the marine communication costs and improve profitability for your company.

Importance of Vessel Monitoring

·         Vessels navigate in very close proximity to each other. Therefore, vessel management becomes a critical aspect of vessel safety operations. By using vessel tracking systems, ship operators can manage their vessels safely and efficiently.

·         Some of the marine vessels have dimensions (height, width and length) that restrict their navigation in deep-water routes, thereby making them dependent on weather and sea conditions. A comprehensive vessel monitoring solution provides weather data, and has alerting options so that ships, people, and cargo can be saved at right time during emergencies.

·         Vessel monitoring system is linked to shore system to send alerts to land-based operators so that operators can guide rescue operations in case of marine emergencies.

·         Mobile satellite internet with connected vessel monitoring system keep merchant vessels connected, enforce compliance with marine regulations, and enable cost-effective and efficient vessel operations.

• Vessel tracking system can be seamlessly integrated into existing fuel monitoring solutions, which helps in optimizing fuel consumption.
• You can collect vessel engine performance data from vessel monitoring system and ensure that your fleets are always operating at their best.

The benefits of using mobile satellite services with vessel surveillance system are better ship and traffic performance in real-time, efficient use of waterways, reduced fuel consumption, and improved safety. Lastly, broadband satellite services with integrated vessel tracking systems will have a positive impact on the efficiency of port and vessel operations due to better scheduling and quicker turnarounds.

Everything You Must Know About Managing Maritime Cyber Security Channels

Cyber threats and security management is a challenging task in the modern world as hackers and malware authors are becoming smart and are applying various techniques to enter into a particular system. Trojans, viruses, and identity frauds are scams of past, hackers are now focusing on compromising the security of entire channels or broadband networks to collect useful data that can turn out to be helpful in commencing digital frauds. If you with to know some quick tips that can help you manage maritime security with ease, then read the sections below:

1.      Stay Aware of the Threats

One of the most common precautions is to keep yourself abreast with the latest developments, threats, and viruses that may impact the security of your system or the entire channel. Always stay updated with the details related to international malware attacks, maritime cyber security cases, and other security break-outs to ensure that you stay prepared for any such challenges.

2.      Set Strong User/Network Access Controls

Ask your administrators and IT security controllers to adopt latest techniques, security patches, and other essential security layers to help you enjoy extra protection against all such threats. Begin with using smart technologies, configuring the risk-prone areas with additive security layers, and even setting up stronger access controls to ensure that only authorized professionals are allowed to access a particular set of information or details.

3.      Perform Regular Backups

If you’re using maritime broadband to complete all your processes and tasks, then it is highly possible that you may get attacked by a smart hacker or malware author. One of the safest options to overcome such situations is by creating regular backups of your data and files. In addition, training employees on how to judge the security of emails, notifications, and recognizing cyber-attacks is also very crucial to keep the entire network safe from potential threats.

Conclusion

Nothing in the digital world is 100% secured, but the best way to deal with security attacks and hacks is by staying prepared for the worst. Securing your networks and managing cyber security helps you to simplify processes in case anything bad happens or you entire loss control over communications and data shares. Explore the web to know more and practice all crucial steps to enjoy advanced security against known or unknown threats.

Run Virtual Private Network on Mobile Satellite Systems without Compromising Performance

Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an encrypted connection that enables remote clients or mobile workers to securely connect with a private network over the public Internet. VPN connection gives employees secured access to their company networks. The use of VPN connections can increase safety and security in the maritime industry. These connections can allow maritime administrators to send mission-critical information from their land-based shore locations to ships docked in other part of the world.

Use of VPN over Satellite Internet connections
Previously, satellite Internet services offered less bandwidth that was required for VPN connection. Geosynchronous satellites used to take long time to transmit data between the satellite and ground stations, which is called high latency. With the invention of mobile satellite services such as maritime VSAT systems, VPN can now function properly over broadband satellite used by ships.

• The low latency of VSAT networks makes it practical to implement VPN connections across the shipping industry.

• Satellite Internet interacts with many elements of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) such as congestion avoidance algorithms and data acknowledgment mechanism. These limitations can be overcome by using TCP Acceleration process with indoor units (IDU) or VSAT equipment designed for satellite.

• VSAT Systems offers two 3-Key Triple Data Encryption Algorithm (3DES) alternatives that encrypt the data that you want to send, leaving the Internet Protocol (IP) and TCP headers accessible. Since the headers are now available, the encrypted packets are compatible with all types of satellite modems or broadband satellite services used by ships.

VSAT mobile satellite services are friendly with many VPN solutions. No need to make a trade-off between functionality and security of your secured networks. You can use your current VPN solution with mobile broadband satellite services and VSAT equipment to increased latency of the network and VPN performance. Ship operators in remote locations require access to their business critical applications and industrial grade security while communicating over satellite Internet. Everything becomes possible when you merge VPN solutions with VSAT mobile satellite service for your maritime operations.

Smart Ways to optimize your Vessel’s Maritime Internet Connection

Maritime VSAT is a leap forward in technology that brings Internet to you at sea. Today, reliable high-speed maritime internet supports secure and reliable satellite voice and data services on marine vessels. However, there is a difference in connectivity speed at sea and land. There are some smart and unique ways that marine vessel operators can use to improve vessel Internet connection's performance.

#1 Traffic Shaping
Traffic Shaping refers to controlling various Internet activities on marine vessel, such as email, website browsing and voice calls. You can use three types of traffic shaping methods – URL Shaping, Application Shaping and Policy-based Shaping – to set priorities between Internet users and traffic types allowed on the communication network. With URL Shaping, you can limit bandwidth distribution to different websites.  Use Application Shaping method to allocate bandwidth depending upon different protocols used by users. Policy-based Shaping helps you to define your rules and regulations to specify maximum bandwidth and Internet usage rate.

#2 Use Bandwidth Monitoring System
Some maritime VSAT service providers offer bandwidth monitoring system along with high throughput satellite (HTS) technology in Ku and Ka-bands. Such monitoring systems can help in real-time monitoring of Internet usage by crew, operators and vessel systems. You can set parameters that will alert you when the Internet is down, when usage is exceeding limit and more. Bandwidth monitoring systems can also help vessel managers to couple maritime VSAT system with a shore-side high-speed Internet connection.

Maritime Internet connection helps your customers and crew to keep in touch with family, friends and businesses back home, managers to carry out vessel operations and operators to communicate with shore-side bases. With high-throughput maritime VSAT services, you get high bandwidth speeds on vessel, but you are also required to control usage to save money. These smart ways will let you use maritime Internet in a more efficient and effective way. However, care must be taken while selecting services and equipment to get the best pricing and experience. Consult with an experienced maritime satellite communications specialist today! 

3 Ways to Limit the Use of Maritime Broadband Satellite Internet on Your Fleet

Maritime broadband internet via satellite enables commercial ships, yachts and private boats to stay connected while at sea. Maritime broadband communication is pricey than land broadband services, where you can access unlimited internet for a fixed monthly payment.

Standardized fleet broadband, customized VSAT services or hybrid networks provide reliable connectivity for operations, passengers and crew on board. Unlimited access to fleet broadband is very expensive so it’s advisable to follow these cost-saving tips for fleet or ship owners:

Password Protecting Your Satellite WiFi

You can use marine broadband router with your Fleet Broadband or VSAT connection. WiFi routers manage satellite connections by providing password protection features so as to prevent unauthorized access. Marine broadband routers form the central control element for a robust maritime Internet communication system. You can generate individual "user login codes" for guests and crew so that you cancontrol per user bandwidth and limit internet usage.

Using Free Internet Optimization Application

Internet Optimization Application increases transmission speed and reduce airtime costs. Such application uses latest data-compression techniques to reduce the amount of data transferred over broadband Internet. Data compression tools offer faster, more reliable and more economical data in maritime broadband communication.

Throttle Bandwidth Usage using PIN codes

Certain maritime satellite communication devices have the facility to set a data limit on the bandwidth. Create PIN codes on your internet optimization tool torestrict bandwidth usage so that the internet goes slower when the user crosses the set data limit. You can even use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services to cut down airtime costs for voice calls.

With the increasing demand for seamless data on marine vessels for communication and operations purposes, it is important to provide high speed maritime broadband satellite services. But, it is also essential for vessel managers and operators to monitor data usage of their fleet broadband in order to reduce airtime costs.The above mentioned tips will help to save your dollars while also providing satellite broadband internet services to crew and guests.

Meeting the Faster Connectivity Demand of Cruise Passengers with Maritime VSAT

Cruise passengers may remain off the grid during their vacation, but they don’t want to remain out of touch. From laptop to smartphones, they like to bring their mobile devices on board cruise ship to stay in touch with friends, family or colleagues through cell phone, Internet, phone or mail.

They demand super-fast high-bandwidth Wi-Fi services on board while at sea. The satellite internet is the solution that is helping cruise ship management companies to meet the demand for growing demand for higher connectivity among passengers.

Maritime VSAT leading the way…

VSAT satellite connectivity delivers real-time, broadband Internet connectivity at sea with worldwide coverage. VSAT satellite communication service providers have numerous satellites strategically located across the globe, with secured network infrastructure that enables cruise businesses to meet communications requirements of their customers.

No matter what the weather condition or location of the vessel is, maritime satellite internet communication provides Ku-band services for better meeting the needs of passengers for using music & video streaming, watch news, post on social media, shop online, participate in conference calls and more.

 VSAT is evolving with HTS technology

The increase in demand for maritime Internet services has resulted in the development of high throughput satellite (HTS) technology. HTS offers high-level frequency re-use and spot beam technology to enable faster, better and cost-effective communication services on board cruise ships.

• With maritime VSAT and HTS, cruise ship companies get real-time, always-on, broadband connectivity, ranging from Ku-band to C-band.
• 24 x 7 x 365 communication network, covering most of the ports, remote areas and offshore regions.
• Both Ku and C-band maritime internet services offer high broadband speed to suit all customers’ requirements.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has released a report according to which number of cruise passengers is increasing at about 4% per year. The world’s major cruise lines will add 92 new ships to their fleets from 2016-2022.

So, the broadband requirements at sea will become more demanding than ever before. The cruise ship communication does not follow one-size-fits all strategy, that’s why, the maritime internet communication demands can only be met by maritime VSAT satellite services. So, what you are using for your cruise lines? Share your thoughts in the comments section.