Smart ships are transforming the maritime industry, but with this innovation come new IT and cybersecurity risks that demand smarter IT strategies and solutions. During the 2025 Cyprus Shipping News ICT Conference, KVH’s vice president of marketing and communications Chris Watson discussed the rapid expansion in smart ships and tech, the corresponding expansion in a fleet’s risk surface, the vital need for cybersecurity, and how to balance those issues for a modern IT department:
The Rise of Smart Ships and Cyber Risks
Advances in AI, IoT sensors, and smart navigation are revolutionizing vessels and ports, driving demand for seamless connectivity and cloud-based applications to support everything from navigation to crew welfare. Satellite innovations like Starlink deliver high-speed internet at sea (ten times faster and cheaper than existing VSAT communications) that enables ships to function as real-time network nodes even in the remotest parts of the ocean. However, as ships become better connected, they face the same cyber threats as land-based networks, including phishing, ransomware, and service disruptions, but with unique operational and safety implications for crew and cargo.
The Business Impact of Maritime Cyber Threats
The risks extend far beyond technical disruptions:
- Regulatory non-compliance can bring substantial fines and business consequences.
- Cyberattacks can halt operations, disrupt payroll, and erode hard-earned customer trust and reputation.
- Compromised navigation or safety systems (such as GPS spoofing or ECDIS data corruption) can put lives and cargo at risk and drive up insurance costs.
- Distracted or under-resourced IT departments may become reactive rather than strategic, slowing operational efficiency and innovation across the fleet.
Too often, there’s a temptation to sideline cybersecurity: “We’re too small to be a target” or “a basic firewall is enough.” Unfortunately, hope is not a strategy, and many maritime operators have already suffered attacks that never made the headlines. As threats evolve rapidly, so must the defense strategies.
Regulations: The Expanding Compliance Landscape
Global and national regulators are upping the stakes. IMO, the US Coast Guard, IACS, NIST, and others are rolling out increasingly complex cyber rules over the next 18 months and beyond. These typically require continuous attention to:
- Governance: Setting policy, accountability, and disaster recovery.
- Identification: Inventorying digital assets and assessing vulnerabilities.
- Protection: Enforcing controls like network segmentation, patching, employee training, and password hygiene.
- Detection: Continuous monitoring for suspicious activity.
- Response: Incident planning, evidence collection, prompt reporting.
- Recovery: Resilient recovery of essential systems and evaluation of each part of the process for lessons learned and opportunities to improve for the future.
This is an ongoing process. It’s not a coincidence that they are typically presented as a never-ending cycle.
Compliance and optimal cybersecurity efforts are not simply about passing an audit today. What about tomorrow? Next week? A month from now?
Smarter IT: Automation, Visibility, and Scalability
Today, the only way for maritime IT and compliance teams to scale with the pace of technology and regulation is by leveraging automation and advanced assessment tools. Integrated systems can:
- Map compliance across frameworks (IMO, NIST, Coast Guard, etc.).
- Centralize real-time monitoring, alerting, and reporting.
- Provide AI-driven remediation suggestions and compliance tracking.
- Keep evidence ready for audits and prove control effectiveness at all times, not just during inspections.
- Tie together the whole technology stack, from onboard devices to cloud applications, so nothing falls through the cracks.
KVH’s own approach, for example, involves breaking down nearly 90 Coast Guard controls into manageable subsets, enabling automated compliance mapping, consolidated reporting, and seamless tracking of risk and action items.
The Strategic Role of Managed IT Services
Managed IT and cybersecurity service providers are now vital partners for any maritime business seeking resilience and growth. These partners augment, not replace, in-house teams by:
- Providing 24/7 IT and OT cybersecurity resources.
- Managing complex network infrastructure for optimal uptime.
- Ensuring system patching and updates are never delayed.
- Delivering secure, user-friendly tools and systems for crew and shore-based staff alike.
- Freeing internal IT to focus on strategic tech initiatives and market expansions instead of reactive troubleshooting.
Key Benefits of Smarter IT for Shipping Companies
Managed IT and cybersecurity service providers are now vital partners for any maritime business seeking resilience and growth. These partners augment, not replace, in-house teams by:
- Reduced risk: Lower exposure to threats, fines, and disruptions.
- Improved operational efficiency: Systems run reliably and staff can focus on core business.
- Audit readiness: Always prepared for inspections, with evidence at your fingertips.
- Scalability: Grow and adapt compliance efforts across vessels and regions.
- Professional oversight: Access to the latest expertise and technology, without overextending internal resources.
Final Thoughts
Cybersecurity and smart IT in maritime are not about ticking boxes. They’re about safeguarding crew and vessel safety, protecting business operations and reputation, and creating the foundation for revenue growth and new opportunities. With the right tools and partners, shipping companies can thrive in a hyper-connected and regulated future.
Talk to a KVH Team Member about Managed IT
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