The maritime world is facing an increasing number of cyberattacks, ranging from unmanned drones to AI systems that forge identities. At the MS&D, important questions were raised – and answers provided.
On the second day of Maritime Security & Defence (MS&D), which is taking place as part of this year’s SMM in Hamburg, unmanned warfare and cyber security were among the key topics. In a panel discussion moderated by David Patrician, industry experts discussed possible responses to the ever-growing threat posed by cyberattacks.
Captain Stefan Hamann from the German Bundeswehr’s Joint Force Command began by highlighting the growing imbalance in naval warfare. Ukraine had halted the Russian fleet in the Black Sea without having a navy of its own – instead, the country’s unmanned forces use drones to carry out targeted attacks on the fleet. Similarly, the Houthis have succeeded in sinking several ships in the Red Sea without possessing a fleet of their own, and Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz primarily without relying on naval assets. Instead, these actors primarily use various types of unmanned systems to exert pressure.
Inexpensive drones versus expensive defence systems
Their greatest advantage: they are cheap, whilst defending against them involves high costs. Hamann thus highlighted an important asymmetry that has transformed the nature of warfare worldwide. “These attacks can happen anywhere if the conditions are right,” said the captain. Western powers would find it difficult to withstand this deluge of low-cost means of attack. To respond, investment in low-cost and readily available systems is necessary. Direct action is also required. “Don’t shoot the arrow, shoot the archer,” he said.
Stefan Langhammer, Team Lead for Cyber and Information Security at OHB Digital Connect, outlined developments in satellite technology. This has shifted from a few large systems to many small satellites, which are both better connected and more powerful. According to Langhammer, this brings with it higher costs, but also greater risks.
Annika Nevaste, CEO of DNV Cyber, addressed the issue of risks, but above all that of trust. Attackers in the digital realm no longer simply steal data, but primarily seek to disrupt systems and, consequently, supply chains. This also results in psychological damage. The question “Can I still trust this ship, can I still trust this supplier?” is always hanging in the air. Moreover, one does not have to be a target to become a victim oneself. Nevaste placed the focus on the resilience of supply chains: resilience must be tested, not simply assumed.
Tracing the ‘digital trail’
Haythem El Mir, CTO of Cypurge, provided a possible answer to this question. Traditional documents and identity cards are only capable of proving that they have been issued. However, according to Cypurge, they do not prove that the person actually exists. “Identification is a major challenge for cyber security,” he said. Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly adept at passing even sophisticated tests that only humans can solve – thereby granting false identities access to important information, authorisations and the like. By tracking the “digital trail”, however, Cypurge’s technology makes it possible to verify that individuals are “real”. This is achieved not only by collecting data, but by cross-referencing it with the company’s records, documents and the individual themselves.
The topic of cyber security will also play a central role at this year’s HANSA Forum. Cypurge’s Managing Director, Gregor Krah, will use case studies from the shipping industry to illustrate the role the digital space plays today and how threats can be countered.
