The maritime industry is deeply rooted in the movement of physical goods, but this does not make it immune from digital disruption. Increasingly, operation technology (OT) is highly connected to information technology (IT). Modern ports and vessels have myriad systems performing many functions; tracking goods through loading and transit, navigation systems optimizing docking and shipping routes, and sensors monitoring and adjusting engines to optimise fuel consumption. These digital innovations are brought from, and managed by, an increasingly complex supply chain.
Most suppliers take security seriously, but the very nature of having many suppliers accessing customer networks, creates entry points which could be exploited by criminals or activists. Supply chain breaches have already struck many industries; the biggest of recent times (Target, and TalkTalk) were at least partly due to supplier lapses.
