Maritime Cyber Risk Management
Beyond Compliance
Implement a cybersecurity program that manages risk at every stage of the asset lifecycle and cybersecurity journey.
Leading Maritime Cybersecurity and Risk Management
Marine asset owners and operators must navigate active cyber threats while maintaining compliance and securing their operations. As the marine industry transforms through increased digitalization, a proactive cybersecurity program is essential to minimize disruptions and protect the nation’s critical infrastructure across the maritime value chain, including ports, terminals, vessels, waterways and shore-side connections.
ABS Consulting's maritime OT cybersecurity consulting services include:
- Risk Advisory Services
- Strategic Risk Assessments
- OT Cybersecurity Program Development
- Standard-Based Assessments
- Regulatory Compliance
- OT Cybersecurity Assessments
- OT-Specific Security Training
- Government-Only Cybersecurity Services
- Penetration Testing
- Managed Services
Going beyond compliance, our cybersecurity program manages risk at every stage of the asset lifecycle and cybersecurity journey.
A vital collaborator with United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Department of Homeland Security, our Maritime Cybersecurity Services team is at the forefront of understanding cyber risk, working with mariners and regulators to help solve the industry’s most pressing operational challenges. Whether securing containers or cruise ships, bulk tankers, inland waterway vessels, support tugs or ports and terminals, we’re here to help defend maritime shipping operations.
ABS Consulting’s marine specialists are recognized globally in the shipping community as trusted safety and risk management advisors—with more than a century of expertise in maritime transportation and regulatory compliance. As a wholly owned subsidiary of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), our knowledge of the marine environment spans more than 160 years of contributing to safer operations at sea.
ABS Consulting supports governmental agencies and industry in managing evolving maritime cyber risk and its impact on the nation’s supply chain and critical infrastructure. Through a network of more than 1,000 problem solvers, we proudly represent the many faces and diverse voices of the maritime transportation, ports and terminals sector as well as energy, power and utility industries. Leveraging multidisciplinary engineering capabilities in industrial cybersecurity combined with our frontline compliance expertise, we stay focused on securing the maritime community across individual assets and operations.
What is Maritime Cyber Risk?
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) refers to maritime cyber risk as a measure of the extent to which a technology asset could be threatened by a potential circumstance or event. According to IMO, such incidents can result in shipping-related operational, safety or security failures as a consequence of critical information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems being corrupted, lost or compromised. Successful cybersecurity incidents can result in operational and supply chain disruptions and significant financial losses.
IMO’s Maritime Cyber Risk guidelines include high-level recommendations to safeguard shipping from current and emerging cyber threats and vulnerabilities and provide functional support for effective cyber risk management
Rising to USCG's New Maritime Security Directive
Our comprehensive paper, "Managing Maritime Cyber Risk – Rising to USCG’s New Maritime Security Directive," explores the implications of these USCG regulations, including the critical steps your organization must take to enhance cyber resilience and safeguard against rising threats.
Resilient Solutions
Building Resiliency for Cyber Risk and Asset Management
Advancements in technology and the increasing use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and automation are transforming the maritime sector.
Vessel owners seeking to comply with global emissions reduction goals while enhancing efficiency are adopting more digital systems and tools to connect their operational technology (OT) systems and transfer vast amounts of operational data.
This evolution of digitalization is expanding the attack surface of vessels, ports and terminals in real time, exposing them to accelerating cyber threats. In maritime operations, managing cyber risk must be an integral part of any company’s operational safety and security.
Protecting OT systems, which control essential ship functions such as propulsion, navigation, and cargo handling, from disruptive cyberattacks is crucial for the safety and security of marine operations. ABS Consulting consolidates all the available guidance and best practices for implementing OT cybersecurity to develop simple, tailored and practical solutions that help maritime organizations manage cyber risk. Our deep understanding of the latest standards and regulatory requirements support the global maritime community in building operational resilience to protect assets, people and the marine environment.
Committed to the safety and security of the marine industry, ABS Consulting keeps pace with the latest technological changes, applying practical solutions to mitigate OT cyber threats and protecting the marine environment. Whether at the helm of an optimized digital fleet or behind the scenes in regulatory policy discussions, we’ve established a credible voice in maritime cybersecurity and risk management. Our goal is to support shipping businesses and regulators alike in building resilient solutions for safer, more reliable operations.
Compliant Solutions
Guiding Maritime Cybersecurity Compliance
We’ll work with your team to identify which compliance and security-driven metrics are critical to your business and establish a framework to communicate results and progress through a maritime operational lens. With safety and compliance at the center of all we do, ABS Consulting helps organizations develop comprehensive cyber risk management strategies, processes and procedures that integrate with existing operational safety and security management practices.
Understanding not only how to mitigate risk but also how to respond to and triage incidents, ABS Consulting supports maritime operators with evaluating, developing and implementing a robust cybersecurity and risk management program. We do so in accordance with IMO recommendations as well as applicable classification society standards and USCG regulatory guidance. As part of our Cybersecurity Consulting Services, we facilitate strategic and standard-based cyber risk assessments, identifying ways to strengthen operational security in alliance with IMO Guidelines and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF).
Operational insights sourced from your company’s expert team combined with the continuous monitoring capabilities of our advanced Industrial Security Operations Center (ISOC) provide robust and reliable controls to mitigate cyberattacks in real time.
Practical Solutions
We’re here to help ensure cybersecurity risks to marine operations are known, managed and predicted across the digital fleet as well as the nation’s critical ports. Wherever the public’s most essential products and resources are shipped, ABS Consulting can deliver technical and managed solutions to increase visibility and control for maritime cybersecurity.
Our services and solutions help identify vulnerabilities by assessing modern ship systems, connected technology networks and operational data that may be susceptible to cyberattacks. By understanding the cyber risk in an organization’s specific operating environment, we can prioritize risk mitigation strategies and help you develop and implement a cybersecurity program based on your organization’s risk tolerance.
Maritime OT cybersecurity consulting services include:
- Risk Advisory Services
- Strategic Risk Assessments
- OT Cybersecurity Program Development
- Standard-Based Assessments
- Regulatory Compliance
- OT Cybersecurity Assessments
- OT-Specific Security Training
- Government-Only Cybersecurity Services
By strengthening cybersecurity in marine operations, vessel, port and terminal owners and operators can maintain compliance, protect critical infrastructure and operations and minimize downtime in shipping.
Ports and Terminals Cybersecurity
See how we are safeguarding the nation's most critical shipping infrastructure.
Industrial Security Operations Center (ISOC)
Our Industrial Security Operations Center allows for 24/7 cyber risk monitoring.
Cybersecurity for Onshore and Offshore Operations
From IMO to NIST CSF, here's what you need to know to stay ahead of compliance.
Safety and Security Solutions
Reducing Cyber Risk for Safer Marine Operations
ABS Group is a premier provider of cybersecurity consulting, implementation, and risk management services to the marine industry. We work with mariners to understand and reduce their cyber risk, from the earliest concept and design phases to integrating a program into existing operations. Let us help you develop and implement the controls you need to manage cyber risk for safer, reliable and compliant operations.
Our qualified consultants leverage multiple engineering disciplines and emergency management expertise to help companies protect, defend, detect, and respond to a cyber incident. Explore our OT cybersecurity solutions and get started with a consultation.
Uptime Peace of Mind
Manage Risk to Secure Your Operations
ABS Consulting is a premier provider of cybersecurity consulting, implementation, and risk management services. We will work with you to understand and reduce your cyber risk. From the earliest concept and design phases to integrating a program into existing operations, we'll help your organization develop and implement the controls you need to manage cyber risk.
Our qualified consultants leverage multiple engineering disciplines and emergency management expertise to help companies protect, defend, detect, and respond to a cyber incident. Explore our OT cybersecurity solutions or get started with a consultation at your facility.
Contact Our Team Today
ABS Consulting is your trusted advisor for Cyber Risk Management. Get started with a custom plan to secure your operations.
Our Ecosystem of Partners
Our partners make the difference. With customers industry-wide, including critical infrastructure, we understand there are niche cybersecurity needs and challenges that must be addressed. Our agnostic approach and dedicated partners allow us to integrate products and services into comprehensive cybersecurity solutions that allow our clients to take control of not only their OT risk but their IT risk via our trusted team of cybersecurity experts.
