Inmarsat Expands Maritime Cyber Security Offering

Marine Satcom major Inmarsat has introduced two new components to its maritime cyber security service, Fleet Secure, as it continues to develop solutions that combat ever-increasing cyber threats faced by shipowners and ship managers.

Accoridng to a press release from the British satellite telecommunications company, vessel operators will benefit from a powerful, multi-layered endpoint security solution, Fleet Secure Endpoint, which is based on industry-leading technology from ESET, a world leader in digital security, and powered by Port-IT to protect desktop computers and other systems connected to a vessel’s network.

Fleet Secure Endpoint has been developed to remove infections and thwart hackers before damage occurs to onboard endpoints and connected systems, it said.

The solution will be available for commercial use from January 2019 and is compatible across Inmarsat’s maritime portfolio of services, including Fleet Xpress, FleetBroadband and Fleet One. It also complements the resilience of Inmarsat’s own satellite and ground network, enabling consistent cyber security standards to be maintained.

Peter Broadhurst, SVP of Safety and Security for Inmarsat Maritime said: “It is a priority for every fleet operator and ship manager, shore-side and at sea, to ensure their systems are properly protected. As this enhancement to Fleet Secure demonstrates, Inmarsat is constantly monitoring the ever-changing cyber security landscape and devising new tools and approaches for addressing potential problems, ensuring that ships and their crew remain safe – physically and virtually.”

Inmarsat has also launched a training app for mobile devices, Fleet Secure Cyber Awareness. This enables seafarers to educate themselves on the tactics that cyber criminals might employ in attempting to infiltrate a company’s IT infrastructure.