NATIONAL MARITIME CYBERSECURITY PLAN
Security Code provides an opportunity to
incorporate
a
maritime
cybersecurity
component into foreign port assessments that
would not only protect the United States from
maritime cyber threats, but also our partners
and Allies. The United States will design a
framework
for
port
cybersecurity
assessments.
Federal cargo requires cybersecurity contracting
clauses to safeguard the flow of maritime
commerce, MTS users, and our economic
prosperity. United States Federal agencies
will work with the GSA to develop and
implement
mandatory
contractual
cybersecurity language for maritime critical
infrastructure owned, leased, or regulated by
the United States government to decrease
cybersecurity risk to the Nation.
Partnership with the Federal government is
crucial for port owners, shippers, and operators
to increase protection and resiliency of IT and
OT systems. DHS approves grants to State
and local stakeholders to bolster cybersecurity
through the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) Port Security Grant Program.
For example, in Fiscal Year 2020,
$100,000,000 was available to State and local
port stakeholders to enhance port
preparedness. 13 DHS will promote
cybersecurity grants and initiatives to protect
maritime critical infrastructure.
Priority Action 4: The United States will
develop procedures to identify, prioritize,
mitigate, and investigate cybersecurity risks in
critical ship and port systems.
The United States will examine critical port OT
systems for cyber vulnerabilities. A framework
for examining port OT systems does not exist;
the maritime sector should glean cyber security
best practices from other critical infrastructure
sectors that test for cyber vulnerabilities within
critical systems. For example, the Department
of Energy conducts small-scale vulnerability
testing to protect electrical power generation
and distribution OT systems.
Similarly,
maritime OT systems would benefit from
vulnerability inspections. Findings from these
audits may inform cybersecurity mitigation and
remediation for MTS users. Incorporating
similar best practices could result in a new
framework
for
maritime
cybersecurity
specialists to test system vulnerabilities,
anonymize applicable information, and share
those practices across the maritime sector and
international partners.
The growing dependence on technology
demands a maritime cyber-workforce with the
capacity
and
capability
to
support
investigations into major marine casualties and
mishaps. Ship and port system vulnerabilities
present adversaries with opportunities to
masquerade cyber-attacks as accidents. Barring
intelligence or law enforcement cueing, these
types of incidents could be classified as a
traditional major marine casualty or mishap
and not attribute the incident to a criminal, or
otherwise, nefarious actor(s). Developing and
deploying cyber forensics for all major marine
casualties and mishaps, when a maritime cyber
effect cannot be ruled out, is paramount. The
United States will establish a cyber-forensics
process for maritime investigations.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
and the Department of Defense (DOD) will
conduct maritime cybersecurity assessments to
enhance the protection of port facilities, vessels,
and infrastructure from malicious cyber-attacks.
Building on existing international frameworks
such as the International Ship and Port Facility
13 https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/portsecurity
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