In June 2017 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) laid out its “Guidelines on Maritime Cyber Risk Management”, which you can find in full here.
From the 1st January 2021 onwards shipowners and managers are required to build cyber risk management into their ship safety initiatives – or risk having their ships detained.
To help you get started and make sure that you are passing the IMO guidelines, we have created a checklist to provide you with an overview of the risk areas highlighted by the IMO.
We’ve included some of the top risks to look out for, as well as initial steps you can take to address them.
Click the buttons below to download our IMO checklist, or read on to find out more about what the IMO have recommended.
The IMO is a United Nations agency which is responsible for improving the safety and security of international shipping. The IMO provides guidance to governments and shipping companies, to ensure that they are following guidelines and legislation on international shipping.
While the IMO does not enforce legislation, they do audit the performance of governments in enforcing the laws and provide advice on how to improve.
The IMO is a critical international body for setting international standards and practices for shipping and their guidelines can create the foundation for new legislation from member states. Click here to visit the IMO site and find out more about their function.
The “Guidelines on Maritime Cyber Risk Management” set broad recommendations and best practice steps for improving the overall cyber security of maritime vessels and organisations.
The guidelines can be summarised as follows:
These guidelines are generalised but far reaching, which can make them difficult to understand and implement for maritime organisations. We have developed an interactive guide to help you to understand the risks that vessels can face and outlined how the IMO’s guidelines can apply to each.
Click here to explore our virtual guide.
The IMO’s guidelines have been provided for interpretation and potential enforcement by member governments, meaning that you may have to comply in order to operate within certain areas.
Beyond any legal requirements to comply, the guidelines also set a strong basis for improving your vessel’s cyber security in an environment where malicious cyber attacks are increasing. Improving the cyber security of your vessels and organisation will help to protect you from the risks posed to your assets, finances and personnel.
At Neptune Cyber, we take a no-nonsense approach to maritime cyber security to help you test, evaluate and improve your cyber security. Our maritime cyber security services will help to make sure that you fully comply with the IMO’s guidelines, while also taking additional steps to protect your operations.
To find out more about the services offered by Neptune Cyber, or if you have any questions on the IMO’s guidelines, please get in touch with our team today.
© 2021