Katerina Tasiopoulou, the founder and CEO of ThreatScene, addressed the 9th Shipping Conference organized by “Naftemporiki,” highlighting the technological risks within the shipping industry.
During her discussion on the challenges faced by shipping, Tasiopoulou stated, “Security is a pressing concern. The shipping industry has been significantly impacted recently, and we often hear the term ‘risks.’ What we need to understand is not just why shipping is at risk, but how it is at risk.”
She further explained, “The risks we encounter are similar to those faced by other sectors. The types of attacks are the same; the techniques used are identical. However, the systems themselves vary.”
“The attacking groups originate from the same regions and exhibit similar behaviors. The news you hear—whether from Greece, England, or elsewhere—pertains to general rather than specific attacks. When we discuss targeted attacks, the narrative and associated risks shift dramatically. Currently, most attacks appear to be random. The shipping sector receives these attacks in various ways, which influences our level of risk. I will explore how this impacts us,” she remarked.
Technological Risks
“The foremost issue is operational security. Right now, I believe a shipping company is under siege. What shipowners fail to realize is that this threat is not merely an IT problem. It can cripple the entire organization, sometimes for weeks at a time. That’s where shipping faces its greatest vulnerabilities,” Tasiopoulou asserted.
“What role does digitalization play?” she questioned, noting that “everyone discusses digitalization, but what does it actually achieve? From the standpoint of attacks, it simplifies and specializes them. In terms of security, it offers limited benefits.”
“Digitalization fosters connectivity, which means if one partner is compromised, it poses a threat to the entire network. We all share this responsibility, creating a domino effect of risks. These are the challenges we face,” Tasiopoulou emphasized.
