Learning from a recent maritime cyber incident affecting IT and OT systems

The case demonstrates how physical access, combined with malicious software, can create conditions for unauthorised access to vessel systems, including operational technology (OT).

The incident reinforces a key reality for the maritime industry: cyber threats increasingly target operational systems alongside traditional IT environments.

What this incident tells us about maritime cyber risk

Incidents of this nature typically follow a recognisable pattern. They begin with the installation of unauthorised software, followed by abnormal behaviour within onboard networks, and finally by suspicious communications with external systems.

As IT and OT environments become more interconnected, threats can move laterally between domains if continuous visibility is not in place.

How Marlink detects and mitigates this type of attack

Marlink’s managed cyber security services provide layered detection across both IT and OT networks, enabling early identification and rapid response.

Endpoint detection and response (EDR) EDR detects the installation of new or unauthorised software on IT and supported OT systems and raises alerts for investigation.

Network detection and response (NDR) NDR identifies unusual network behaviour within and between IT and OT environments, including systems that do not normally communicate.

Unified threat management (UTM) monitors outbound traffic from onboard networks and flags connections to new or suspicious external destinations.

When combined with Marlink’s 24/7 security operations centre (SOC), signals from EDR, NDR and UTM are correlated in real time. Where multiple indicators relate to the same activity, the SOC escalates this as a critical alert, enabling customers to take rapid, informed action before safety or operations are affected.

Strengthening cyber resilience across the vessel

This incident highlights the importance of protecting both IT and OT systems through a layered, maritime-focused approach to cyber security. Visibility across endpoints, networks and external communications, supported by continuous monitoring and expert analysis, is essential to maintaining operational resilience at sea.

Marlink helps maritime operators detect, respond to and contain cyber threats across the full vessel environment