Maritime Cyber Capability
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- 3 min read
Delivering Maritime Cybersecurity Compliance and Operational Resilience
The maritime industry is entering a new era of maritime cybersecurity assurance. The introduction of the IACS Unified Requirements (UR) E26 and E27, grounded in the IEC 62443 series, marks a major regulatory shift, with the rules applying to in-class ships and offshore installations contracted for construction from 1 July 2024 onward.
These requirements introduce significant new obligations for how vessels are designed, constructed, integrated, and assured — with direct impact on shipyards, designers, system integrators, and equipment suppliers.
This shift is reinforced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), whose regulatory instruments — including amendments to the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and the IMO Guidelines on Maritime Cyber Risk Management — have made cyber risk management a mandatory element of vessel safety management systems.
For new builds, cybersecurity compliance is no longer discretionary; it is embedded within classification, safety management, and flag state obligations. While the IACS UR formally applies to new contracts, it is increasingly regarded as industry best practice to apply the same cybersecurity principles to existing vessels, ensuring legacy fleets remain resilient, defensible, and aligned with tightening regulatory expectations.
Organisations must now demonstrate structured, defensible cybersecurity engineering from concept design through to commissioning and operation.
Proven Delivery in Complex Maritime Environments
We have recently supported a large public sector client in delivering cybersecurity Certification and Accreditation (C&A) activities across a major naval platform programme.
This engagement required:
Integration of platform, mission, and enterprise systems into a coherent assurance framework. Including aligning the artefacts required of a NZISM based C&A system to commercial compliance artefacts.
Alignment of defence and government security standards with maritime engineering practices and certification.
Development of structured evidence packs for certifying and accrediting authorities.
The result was a clear and efficient accreditation pathway that reduced programme friction while maintaining robust cyber assurance.
Naval and Military Cyber Expertise Applied to Commercial Shipping
Our vetted personnel bring deep naval and military cyber experience, including operational technology security, secure system architecture, platform integration, and formal accreditation processes.
Importantly, this expertise is grounded in operational reality.
Our team has managed security onboard:
Commercial vessels, including cruise ships and offshore installations
Naval vessels
Military facilities and operational bases
We understand shipboard systems and the real world operational and safety implications of cyber compromise. We also understand the governance, documentation, and assurance expectations associated with defence and government environments.
These disciplines directly map to the expectations of classification societies such as DNV Maritime Cyber Security and Lloyd’s Register Cybersecurity, and to the structured compliance model introduced by IACS.
Navigating IACS UR and Classification Requirements
The IACS Unified Requirements introduce defined expectations for maritime cybersecurity compliance, including:
Cyber risk assessment embedded at design stage
Network segmentation and protection of connected shipboard systems
Secure integration of control, navigation, monitoring, and safety systems
Documented verification and validation of implemented safeguards
Supplier coordination and technical evidence submission
Classification societies now assess cybersecurity as part of newbuilding approval and survey processes. Compliance requires more than implementing technical controls — it demands disciplined engineering governance, traceability from risk to mitigation, and structured documentation suitable for class review.
We support shipyards, designers, and operators in translating regulatory requirements into practical deliverables that satisfy maritime regulators, DNV, LR, and other bodies without introducing unnecessary programme delay. We also support ship owners in understanding the owner–integrator–supplier model, ensuring responsibilities are clearly defined and preventing unintended mission creep in owner obligations.
Removing Certification and Accreditation Bottlenecks
Across both civil and military maritime programmes, cybersecurity can become a critical path issue if not managed early.
Our approach is designed to remove certification and accreditation bottlenecks by:
Embedding cybersecurity requirements into early design or engineering change phases
Mapping IMO, IACS UR, and classification expectations to higher level security assurance systems
Establishing clear system boundaries and asset inventories
Conducting structured risk assessments aligned to regulatory frameworks
Producing complete, ready for approval documentation packages for internal governance or external regulators
By integrating cybersecurity assurance into the vessel lifecycle — rather than treating it as a late-stage compliance exercise — we reduce delays, avoid rework, and provide confidence to programme stakeholders.
Built for the New Maritime Regulatory Era
Cybersecurity is now a foundational requirement in ship design and construction. Driven by IMO instruments and formalised through IACS Unified Requirements, it is embedded within classification, safety management, and regulatory compliance obligations.
With deep naval cyber expertise, practical onboard experience, and proven delivery of certification and accreditation programmes, we help maritime organisations achieve maritime cybersecurity compliance with clarity, credibility, and confidence.
If you would like to discuss how we can support your maritime programme — from early design through to formal certification and accreditation — please contact us.
