The shipping industry is entering a new phase of cyber risk, where limited visibility of onboard systems is leaving operators exposed to disruption, fraud and safety concerns.
As vessels become increasingly connected, many organisations still lack a clear and current understanding of what systems and software are running across their fleets. Without that visibility, identifying vulnerabilities and assessing the impact of a potential breach becomes far more challenging.
A visibility problem at sea
Unlike shore-based IT environments, maritime operations bring unique complexities. Ships can operate for long periods without synchronising with central systems, bandwidth is often limited, and onboard configurations vary from vessel to vessel.
Over time, these factors create fragmented and outdated system records. The result is a growing gap between what operators believe is running onboard and what is actually in place, allowing risks to go unnoticed.
Cyber risk is evolving
The nature of cyber threats in shipping is also changing. While traditional attacks remain a concern, the industry is seeing a rise in more deceptive tactics.
These include:
- Fraudulent instructions that appear legitimate
- Manipulated communications
- Operational errors triggered by compromised or misleading systems
In these scenarios, understanding exactly what was running onboard at any given time becomes critical, not only for response but also for accountability and compliance.
As Jamie Jones, Managing Director at GTMaritime, explains:
“If you cannot clearly see and manage what is running on your vessels, you cannot protect it. That creates exposure not just to cyber attacks, but to operational mistakes and manipulated communications with real safety implications. A major cyber incident in shipping is increasingly likely unless operators strengthen visibility and control of their onboard systems.”
The need for continuous visibility
To address this challenge, operators need more than periodic audits or manual tracking. Continuous visibility of onboard systems is becoming essential to effective cyber risk management.
Solutions such as GT Identify platform are designed to provide an always up-to-date record of onboard systems, software and vulnerabilities across fleets. By capturing changes even when connectivity is limited, operators can identify risks earlier and maintain a clearer picture of their cyber posture over time.
Take control of your onboard systems
Gaining visibility is the first step towards stronger cyber resilience.
GT Identify gives operators a continuously updated view of onboard systems, helping teams understand what is running across their fleet, identify vulnerabilities earlier and support more effective risk management.
Find out how GT Identify can help you strengthen visibility and reduce cyber risk across your fleet.