COMSAT Announces Maritime Cybersecurity Programs

Posted by Michelle Howard July 11, 2017

COMSAT teleport at Santa Paula, CA. (Photo: COMSAT)

Following a June 16, 2017, decision by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that requires ship owners and managers to incorporate cyber risk management into safety management systems established by the ISM Code, COMSAT has announced its suite of cybersecurity solutions for the maritime industry. Recent events have underscored the need to protect fleets from harmful cyber-attacks. The new IMO requirement must be met prior to January 1, 2021.

COMSAT provides enhanced security for data transmissions, to and from a ship, no matter where it is in the world, by working to detect, prevent and respond to breaches in security. It identifies patterns or anomalies that indicate data may have been compromised, and it constantly monitors and reports potentially malicious activity.

The heart of the company’s private network is its data center in Melbourne, Fla., with supplemental locations in Amsterdam, New York and Hawaii. In addition, secure teleports in Southbury, Conn., and Santa Paula, Calif., act as extensions of the Melbourne data center. A maritime vessel’s onboard network can be made to operate completely within a company’s protocols. COMSAT’s network architecture incorporates multiple points of presence (POP) and interconnectivity with SATCOM providers, securely making the transition from satellite to terrestrial networks. Further, it offers the unique ability to connect ship-borne data transmissions directly to customers’ corporate network – without ever touching the internet. COMSAT’s data center is fully compliant with industry standards including HIPAA, PCI, FISMA and SSAE 16. COMSAT engineers work together with customers in finding ways to integrate security services sea-side and on shore while mitigating risks and preventing threats.