The maritime industry is no stranger to threats. Challenges that threaten every known aspect of this billion-dollar industry have always been present, albeit evolving along with the times and circumstances. One recent change it must overcome—possibly the biggest in recent years—is the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic demanded the maritime industry to adjust to the breakneck speed of digital transformation, which was needed to keep operations running amidst strict health protocols. This ultimately came with a newer set of challenges, including heightened risks to maritime cyber security.

All these called for expert solutions that can enhance every aspect of the maritime sector, and in Asia and Southeast Asia, there is iSHIP, Singtel Satellite’s all-in-one, five-pronged satellite connectivity solutions.

Singtel iSHIP has five core pillars for enriching sea experiences for businesses and their crew so they’re able to create decisions that give them an edge over their competition:

Smart Connect boasts a myriad of fully integrated maritime connectivity solutions that allow fleets to keep up with digital transformation demands from wherever. It does this by managing satellite use and spendings, remotely overseeing satellite connectivity and status, enabling secure maritime optimised email services, as well as engaging with telephony solutions that guarantee undeterred connection from sea to land.

Smart Operations is created to empower and inform decision-making from aboard ships by sending real-time data and reports back to teams on land.

Smart Security fortifies vessel security by protecting it against a slew of cyberattacks and other threats. In addition, iSHIP also has two more solutions that focus on the crew’s well-being.

Smart Crew, a cost-effective solution that highlights the welfare needs of crew aboard each vessel so they can stay motivated and connect with their families as well as the rest of the world during long journeys at sea.

Smart Care, which connects the crew to telemedical staff that ensures the crew’s health and medical needs are covered (available in Q3).

Cyber Threats Assessment and Prevention

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) ^[1] has published a series of guides and protocols for measuring and managing cyber threats, with each one written to accommodate information technology developments within the maritime industry.

Cyber risk assessment follows a different protocol in the shipping context, with a heavy focus on how each component contributed to the threat or will contribute to the likelihood of cyber-attacks. Naturally, what comes after, is the development of a cybersecurity strategy and the adoption of necessary tools for fortifying areas of vulnerabilities. So, subsequent solutions and services provided by individual players critical to its protection must meet the standard.

Helping Businesses Thrive: The Benefits of iSHIP

With so many threats to maritime security, it is crucial to find smart security providers that could offer a robust defence approach against cyber issues. To help with this, Singtel Satellite designed the iSHIP digital services, a strong ecosystem of maritime solutions to complement the digital adoption for seafaring companies and their crew.

As a solution, Singtel Satellite’s iSHIP offers a suite of digital infrastructure strategies to safeguard ships and their crew against the multitude of risks involved in maritime digitalisation. It’s one of the most compound and consistent satellite management providers in the maritime IoT (Internet of Things) field, which offer critical maritime satellite services and connectivity solutions that keep the industry running smoothly.

Some notable benefits of the iSHIP value-added services are:

1.  Strengthen security posture against cyber attacks;

2.  Improved operational process through augmentation of onboard and onshore management;

3.  High-throughput satellites to accommodate bandwidth demand whenever needed; and

4.  24/7 end-to-end support.

iSHIP also fortifies both OT (Operational technology) and IT (Information technology) to protect not only the exchange of digital information but also the vessel’s physical onboard equipment and computer systems.

With iSHIP, shipping companies no longer have to liaise with multiple connectivity providers (which makes them vulnerable to cyberattacks). iSHIP’s vast satellite network capability allows the centralisation of maritime solutions to reduce threats to overall security and seamlessly accelerate network protection, wherever the ship is located.

Human error is also one important factor to consider when fortifying against data attacks onboard, since it accounts for up to 95% of all security breaches ^[2].

Other Top Singtel Satellite Solutions to Protect Your Ship Against Cyber Attacks

iSHIP is equipped with optimised antivirus capabilities through its Smart Sentinel, Smart Vanir Lite, and Smart Vanir UTM solutions. Since standard antiviruses don’t fare well at sea (where conditions are more unstable), it would take a different kind of solution to protect a ship’s connection’s stability, prevent viruses, malwares, and corrupted files from hijacking ship systems and keep operations working without being interrupted. iSHIP’s answer to these is three curated maritime antivirus solutions with a multi-layer protection and a dynamic approach to vessel safety. Smart Sentinel uses a world class antivirus protection from ESET which makes it a perfect use for maritime bandwidths. The solution can flag suspicious system behaviour, identify malicious communications, scan all devices, stop malicious attacks, and block threats on the machine. Smart Vanir Lite boasts advanced, customisable endpoint protection that gives access to various monitoring options and management for assets. Completing this triumvirate of antivirus from Singtel Satellite is the Smart Vanir UTM, an integrated, antivirus solution designed specifically for Maritime VSAT (Ku, Ka or C band) capable vessels that is able to perform multiple tasks through single, smartbox-powered device.

Find the product or service information here:

• Smart Sentinel
• Smart Vanir Lite
• Smart Vanir UTM

To learn more about Singtel Satellite’s suite of satellite connectivity services, talk to us.

Links

1.     https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Security/Pages/Cyber-security.aspx

2.     https://blog.usecure.io/the-role-of-human-error-in-successful-cyber-security-breaches