Representatives of Fortinet and Samsung Heavy Industries Company pose for photos after their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for mutual cooperation in the maritime cybersecurity of ships. — Photo of Fortinet
Fortinet and Samsung Heavy Industries Company have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for mutual cooperation in the maritime cybersecurity of ships.
Fortinet, which has an office in Hà Nội and HCM City, is the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, while their partner is a world leading company in maritime shipbuilding.
Samsung Heavy Industries has accumulated differentiated technological competency and turnkey manufacturing capabilities in the shipbuilding and marine business fields, and possesses topside design and construction capabilities, which are the core of maritime development facilities.
In April 2022, the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) adopted UR E26 and E27 standards to protect ships and ensure the safety of ship operations as cyber threats such as hacking and ransomware have increased.
These URs will be applied to new ships contracted for construction on and after July 1 as mandatory requirements.
Through their agreement, the two companies plan to collaborate on enhancing maritime cybersecurity to comply with the new security regulations of the IACS.
In addition, they will cooperate to broaden the base of the cybersecurity market and expand the application of future leading technologies in the maritime field such as network segmentation and Operational Technology (OT) protocol-based security services, onshore remote monitoring and control, and autonomous ships.
Fortinet plans to support the designing of well-hardened maritime cybersecurity and strengthening of OT security for ships built by Samsung Heavy Industries to fully meet the new UR E26 and E27 mandatory requirements.
Fortinet will contribute to ensuring the cyber resilience of new ships and for the cyber security of onboard systems and equipment built by Samsung Heavy Industries.
“As cyber-issues on ships increase, cybersecurity is becoming an essential element of ship construction and operation," said Director of Autonomous Ship Research Centre Jongung Choi of Samsung Heavy Industries.
"Samsung Heavy Industries will expand its cybersecurity leadership in the ship manufacturing industry by establishing an innovative system for OT security during ship construction and increasing the cyber resilience of ships through close cooperation with Fortinet,” Choi said.
Michael Murphy, Head of OT and Critical Infrastructure - APAC at Fortinet, said: “We will strengthen the global support system and cooperation in the maritime cybersecurity sector and actively support Samsung Heavy Industries in securing a technical foundation to comply with the new security regulations of the IACS.
"Fortinet will continue to expand the scope of its OT business and aim to strengthen OT security and digital innovation for the maritime cybersecurity industry.” — VNS