Cybersecurity for Greek Shipping and Maritime Companies

Greece is home to one of the largest shipping industries in the world, and shipping companies run complex operations across ships, offices and ports. That makes them an attractive target. An attack can delay a vessel, disrupt cargo, expose commercial data or cause fraud in payments and charters.

Why shipping is exposed

• Constant connectivity. Satellite links, crew Wi-Fi and remote access to ship systems widen the attack surface.
• Operational technology (OT). Navigation, engine control, cargo and ballast systems were not designed with security in mind, and often cannot be patched easily.
• Distributed teams and shared systems. Offices, ships, agents, brokers and managers exchange files and payments all day.
• Payment fraud. Charter hire, bunkers and port costs are high-value targets for business email compromise.
• Third parties. Software vendors, managers and port services all connect to your environment.

Regulation and expectations

The International Maritime Organization requires cyber risks to be addressed in ship safety management systems under the ISM Code, as set out in resolution MSC.428(98). Classification societies have their own cyber requirements for ships. In the EU, maritime transport is a sector covered by NIS2, and customers and insurers increasingly ask for evidence of controls. Check which rules apply to your vessels and company with your flag state, class society and legal adviser.

Controls that make a real difference

1. Segment the network. Separate IT, OT and crew networks, and control what crosses between them. A next-generation firewall on each vessel enforces the rules.
2. Protect devices. Endpoint detection and response on office and ship computers, with removable media rules.
3. Secure remote access. Use multi-factor authentication for every remote connection, including vendor access.
4. Stop payment fraud. Email protection, DMARC and a rule to verify any bank detail change by phone.
5. Back up and test recovery. Ships have limited bandwidth, so plan how data is protected and restored. See our backup and disaster recovery service.
6. Train crews and office staff. Short, regular awareness training that matches how they actually work.
7. Monitor around the clock. Vessels sail through every time zone. A managed SOC watches when your office is closed.
8. Have an incident plan that names who decides what, from the master to the head office.

How Guardbyte can help

We help shipping companies assess their exposure, protect office and shipboard environments and monitor them. Talk to our team about a first assessment.