Wednesday 26 December 2018

5 Important Measures Aiming at Enhancing Your Maritime Cyber Security


The instances of cyber security threats and data compromising have increased over the period of time and the underlying reason is lack of cyber security measures practiced by the shipping companies. It happens either because shipping companies are ignorant or they feel it won’t happen to them.

It is high time shipping companies take maritime cyber security as a serious matter and start practicing the required measures. Here’s a look at the guidelines that needs to be followed for an effective cyber risk management:

1. Identifying

The first step towards implementing an effective program is to identify the assets, systems, and data so that you can get an idea of the level of risk if the data gets compromised. You also need to define the roles that are responsible for the management of cyber risk.

2. Protecting

Along with planning the cyber security measures for maritime broadband, you also need to plan what actions to take in case of any cyber incident so that you can ensure the continuity of the various shipping operations.

3. Detecting

You should also develop strategies and processes that efficiently help in detecting any cyber threat in timely manner so that immediate action can be taken.

4. Responding

The shipping company needs to implement activities and develop a plan that is resilient and helps in restoring the systems that are important for shipping services but were halted because of a cyber attack.

5. Recovering

The shipping companies must be aware of the ways to back-up as well as restore the cyber systems which may get affected by the cyber attack but are essential for shipping operations.

The maritime cyber security measures and solutions can only be implemented once the shipping companies make the maritime cyber risk assessment which means measuring the extent up to which the cyber system can get threatened by a potential cyber attack. Any vulnerability in the configuration of any critical system must be acknowledged for better protection.

Explore the web for more information on how to apply the security measures when using maritime broadband services in your fleet of ships.

Thursday 13 December 2018

The Ultimate Guide to Getting Satellite Internet Services on Your Sea Vessels


It is one thing to make a ship-to-shore call during an emergency and another to access uninterrupted internet services on ship. Satellite internet services have made this possible as the satellite internet industry is maturing with several options that suit the needs of light, medium, and heavy data users.

For users who are looking for cost-effective internet options, some broadband satellite services provide flexible data packages and more affordable hardware to meet their diverse requirements. However, the trade-off comes with slower download and upload speeds. At the upper end of the spectrum, there are several manufacturers that offer amazing long-range products and service packages that might be expensive for some.

Challenges

For most shipping companies, the challenge in getting maritime VSAT services for a boat is the cost along with the fact that a ship is always on the move at sea which makes offshore internet connectivity challenging unlike internet services on land. You need a satellite which can maintain a stable connection while the ship sails in the water. Distance is also a factor as larger and more expensive satellite dishes are required when ship moves away from the poles. If you are looking for a strong signal anywhere at sea, be prepared to pay a higher price for the services.

Basics of Internet access on ship

Satellite internet offer services which can be used for voice calling, messaging, HD television reception, and web browsing. Equipment provided by the internet service provider for moving sea vessels can offer uninterrupted internet service anywhere in the ocean.

Manufacturers offer dishes which are similar to antennas along with their monthly data plans. If your vessel rarely goes out to sea, you can go for an enhanced antenna and signal booster system which will make Wi-Fi networks available on your ship. However, for more expansive and reliable internet connections, maritime VSAT is the only effective solution.

Explore the web for more information and suggestions on choosing the best broadband satellite services for your sea vessels. Once finalised, you can get in touch with the customer service team of your preferred service provider to enquire about their plans and pricings.