Speedcast has announced the launch of a new cybersecurity application developed by Cydome on its SIGMA network management platform. This initiative addresses the escalating surge in cybersecurity threats to commercial maritime, yachting, offshore energy, and port operations. The solution provides a streamlined approach to navigating the urgent need to comply with a US Presidential Executive Order requiring mandatory reporting of cyber incidents, new International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) regulations starting in July 2024, and the European Union’s Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2) beginning in October 2024.
This new cyber application is made possible through Speedcast’s partnership with Cydome, which offers a real-time detection and protection solution with a managed 24×7 security operations centre (SOC) service. Cydome’s solution delivers comprehensive protection, including multi-layered cyber protection of all assets, real-time fleet-wide monitoring, AI-based threat detection, continuous vulnerability scanning, and security information and event management (SIEM) technology for compliance and incident management. The SOC service provides immediate monitoring and handling, periodic vulnerability assessments, and regulatory audits and certifications. A single dashboard offers risk scores for each vessel, overall fleet risk and compliance scores, and the ability to drill down into any vessel’s alerts, events, IT, and OT assets, and their vulnerabilities.
Cydome’s addition to the SIGMA platform enhances Speedcast’s enterprise-grade SD-WAN technology, which ensures high uptime and bandwidth optimisation. The cyber offering runs on SIGMA hardware installed onboard and at fleet headquarters, as well as in customer-managed virtual machines. It will become available as a native virtual machine service within the SIGMA platform later this year.
Dee Schwalb, Chief Product Officer at Speedcast, said: “Our partnership with Cydome adds best-in-class cybersecurity protection and compliance as a seamless component of our SIGMA platform. SIGMA is known as a market-leading solution for seamless, multi-path connectivity, but the platform offers more than advanced communications capabilities. Partnering with customers, we’ve identified edge solutions that can accelerate remote operations and we’ve layered on those services as applications to the SIGMA platform. These specialised applications cover everything from data management needs, to supporting crew welfare, and now cyber security.”
A report by the law firm HFW highlighted a significant rise in the average cost of a cyberattack in the maritime sector, increasing threefold in a single year to $550,000 in 2023. Labelling the industry as an “easy target,” it pointed to generative AI as a catalyst for this growth and urged maritime organisations to bolster their cyber defences.
Nir Ayalon, CEO of Cydome, added: “As the maritime industry undergoes profound digitalisation and communication enhancements, the partnership between Cydome and Speedcast is a beacon of innovation and reliability. Together, we are pioneering solutions that not only meet the evolving needs of providing a secure backbone but also ensure compliance. Our collaborative efforts empower maritime companies to navigate this transformative era with confidence, security, and seamless connectivity, ultimately enhancing operational efficiency and safety across the seas.”
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