At GTMaritime, we understand the critical importance of cybersecurity in the maritime industry. Vessels rely on secure, reliable email communications to operate effectively and protect sensitive data. As threats evolve, so too must our solutions. That’s why we are excited to announce a new feature in GTMailPlus designed to empower shipping organisations to strengthen their human risk management efforts. For the first time, GTMailPlus allows organisations to disable its phishing filter temporarily, enabling effective phishing tests for vessel crews.
Why Phishing Tests Matter
Phishing remains one of the most prevalent and effective forms of cyberattack. These deceptive emails trick recipients into sharing sensitive information, clicking malicious links, or downloading harmful attachments. While GTMailPlus is highly effective at identifying and blocking phishing emails, preventing them from ever reaching the inbox, this success has inadvertently created a challenge for organisations looking to assess and train their crews on recognising phishing attempts.
Human Risk Management (HRM) is a vital component of a holistic cybersecurity strategy. Training seafarers to identify phishing attempts builds a more resilient workforce, reduces human error, and strengthens an organisation’s overall security posture. Many organisations partner with third-party Human Risk Management and phishing test providers like KnowBe4, YouSecure, and SoSafe to deploy simulated phishing campaigns. These campaigns test how well crews can detect and respond to phishing emails without exposing them to real threats.
However, until now, GTMailPlus’s advanced phishing filters prevented these test emails from reaching their intended targets, limiting the ability of shipping organisations to perform these critical training exercises. Recognising the need to support this aspect of cybersecurity, we have introduced a user-friendly solution.
Introducing Customisable Phishing Filter Controls
With the latest update to GTMailPlus, shipping organisations can now temporarily disable phishing filters to allow test emails to pass through. This feature ensures that simulated phishing campaigns can be conducted seamlessly, without compromising the overall security of vessel communications.
The process is simple and intuitive, managed directly through the GTMailPlus dashboard. Organisations can customize the filter controls for each campaign, ensuring only test emails are permitted through the system. Here’s how it works:
- Specify Campaign Dates: Input the start and end dates for your phishing test campaign. During this time, the specified test emails will bypass the phishing filter.
- Define Test Email Parameters: Provide the subject line and URL used in the test campaign. This ensures only authorised test emails are allowed through, minimizing the risk of real phishing emails exploiting the temporary filter adjustment.
- Monitor Results: Conduct your phishing test and evaluate crew performance. Post-campaign, GTMailPlus automatically reactivates the phishing filter to maintain optimal security.
Key Benefits of the Update
This new feature offers a range of benefits for shipping organizations:
- Enhanced Cybersecurity Awareness: Simulated phishing campaigns help crews recognize and respond to potential threats, reducing the likelihood of successful real-world attacks.
- Tailored Flexibility: Organisations can customize filter settings for each campaign, ensuring precise control over email traffic.
- Ease of Use: The GTMailPlus dashboard provides an intuitive interface, enabling quick setup and management of phishing test campaigns.
- Seamless Integration: The feature supports popular HRM and phishing test providers, including KnowBe4, YouSecure, and SoSafe, allowing organisations to continue using their preferred solutions.
- Maintained Security: Filters are automatically reactivated after the campaign, ensuring vessels remain protected against genuine phishing threats.
Driving Continuous Improvement
At GTMaritime, we are committed to delivering solutions that address the unique challenges of the maritime industry. This update reflects our dedication to helping organisations build a culture of cybersecurity awareness and resilience. By enabling phishing tests, we empower shipping companies to:
- Evaluate and enhance crew readiness.
- Identify areas for improvement in cybersecurity training.
- Build trust and confidence in their workforce’s ability to handle threats.
How to Get Started
If you’re already using GTMailPlus, you can access this feature through the dashboard. Simply follow these steps:
- Log in to your GTMailPlus account.
- Navigate to the “Phishing Test Settings” section.
- Input the required details for your campaign, including dates, subject lines, and URLs/send email address.
- Save your settings and proceed with your phishing test.
For customers new to GTMailPlus, our solution combines cutting-edge email security with user-friendly features designed for the maritime industry. Contact our team to learn more about how GTMailPlus can protect your vessels while supporting your cybersecurity training initiatives.
A Secure and Resilient Future
As the maritime industry continues to embrace digital transformation, cybersecurity remains a top priority. The ability to perform phishing tests is a critical step in building a resilient workforce capable of identifying and mitigating threats. With this latest update to GTMailPlus, we’re proud to support our customers in achieving their cybersecurity goals.
For more information about enhancements to GTMailPlus please contact our sales team here