ClassNK reports that it has joined the Maritime Transportation System Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MTS-ISAC), a US-based non-profit formed in February 2020 to promote cybersecurity information sharing throughout the maritime community.

The MTS-ISAC has already produced a number of maritime cybersecurity advisories sourced from member shared information, aiming to share members’ best practices so that critical infrastructure stakeholders can be better protected. ClassNK is the group’s first non-US member, though it expects to add further additional international stakeholders to the community in the future.

The partnership provides ClassNK with additional community-sourced cyber threat intelligence to reinforce its own Cyber Security Guidelines, something the class society has been keen to do in advance of the IMO’s January 1, 2021, deadline for Maritime Cyber Risk Management to be addressed in Safety Management Systems.

In addition, the US Coast Guard will begin inspecting facilities regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 for cyber risk management efforts for the first time next year, starting with annual inspections occurring on or after October 1, 2021.

“We are excited that ClassNK is bringing a proactive, classification society perspective into the MTS-ISAC community,” said Scott Dickerson, the MTS-ISAC’s Executive Director.

“The MTS community’s resiliency is improved when we can quickly address cyber risks with meaningful cybersecurity controls. ClassNK joining the MTS-ISAC is a perfect example of how community partnerships provide win-win situations while reinforcing to stakeholders how the implementation of guidelines and recommended security controls can reduce their exposure to risks the community is actively seeing.”

“The MTS-ISAC’s Board of Directors understands the importance of cyber risk prevention efforts and are supportive of the inclusion of class societies into our information sharing ecosystem as a key component to building a stronger culture of community cybersecurity.”

Source: smartmaritimenetwork