DHS seeking information to boost port cybersecurity

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) issued a Request for Information from commercial port operators to help research maritime cybersecurity.

The Directorate’s Maritime Port Resiliency and Security Research Testbed project is working to study U.S. port vulnerabilities and current effectiveness when it comes to cybersecurity protections and mitigations. Once it has received the information, S&T will provide actionable cybersecurity measures for the maritime port industry.

The U.S. Maritime Transportation System (MTS) is a network of waterways, ports, and intermodal connections that facilitates the movements of people and goods on the water. The S&T Maritime Port Resiliency and Security Research Testbed activity studies port networks to understand how resources are deployed and to identify needs that are unique to MTS. The Testbed effort aims to understand how commercial port operators deploy their information technology and operational technology systems, how resilient the systems are and what improvements can be made to DHS’ regulatory authority to enhance the cybersecurity of national ports.

“This effort is expanding collaboration between S&T and industry experts to address the growing need for effective cybersecurity measures to ensure safe and efficient maritime commerce,” S&T Project Manager Jason McCasland said. “Our goal is to successfully design and develop a virtual testbed where tactics, techniques, and procedures can be created for effective response to threats to critical maritime infrastructure without impacting real-world operations. For that to be successful, we require baseline information on the equipment U.S. ports are utilizing in their daily operations.”

The RFI deadline is 5 p.m. on Oct. 4, 2024

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