Keeping data safe and systems protected is a key challenge for global companies. Yet, many companies are not prepared for an attack on their infrastructure. We have spoken to shipping and cyber security expert Lars Jensen of Improsec about the state of cyber security in global shipping and logistics. He explains why the next attack in the industry is not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’.
The fact that the four largest carriers have all been attacked within the last three years highlights the vulnerability of the shipping industry. On shore, shipping companies are just as vulnerable as other multinational companies. “The decentralized setup of shipping and logistics companies with a network of subsidiaries and agents that all have access to a company’s servers offers a very broad attack surface”, says Lars Jensen. Therefore, the expert recommends that cyber security should be part of any company’s business contingency plan.
Jensen: “Protecting a system is not rocket science. With fairly simple changes and measures, you can eliminate 90 percent of a systems vulnerabilities.” Companies should also not underestimate the element of human error and behavior. Basic guidelines for employees can already decrease the chances of an attack.
Read the full article about why the shipping companies become targets and what they can do in order to protect their systems here:
https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/news-insights/insights/2020/10/cyber-attacks--who-will-be-hit-next---and-can-it-be-prevented-.html