Managing cyber security

The International Association of Ports and Harbors’ (IAPH) cybersecurity guidelines are intended to help senior executive decision makers make an objective assessment on the readiness of ports and port facilities to prevent, stop and recover from a cyber-attack.

Patrick Verhoeven, IAPH managing director, commented: “We have produced this set of port and port facilities cybersecurity guidelines targeting the strategic rather than technical level. They are designed to create awareness among the C-level management of port authorities.”

What resources are needed?

The guidelines also address the question of what port organisations need in terms of resources to effectively manage cybersecurity risks.

These guidelines have been produced from the work of 22 experts from IAPH member ports from around the world as well as Associate Member cybersecurity specialists and contributors from the World Bank.

The guidelines have been submitted to both the IMO Facilitation and Maritime Safety Committees for consideration.

They form part of the joint industry call Accelerating Digitalisation of Maritime Trade and Logistics: A Call to Action led by IAPH in June last year, which includes reviewing existing IMO guidance on Maritime Cyber Risk Management on its ability to address cyber risks in ports, developing additional guidance where needed.