Navigation Cyber Security Solutions

M-SecureSync

IMO Resolution MSC.428(98) - Maritime Cyber Risk Management in Safety Management Systems mandates vessel administrators to ensure that cyber risks are appropriately addressed by the 1 January 2021. Maritime cyber risk refers to activities which may result in shipping-related operational, safety or security failures as a consequence of information technology or operational systems being corrupted, lost or compromised. Cyber risk management means identifying, analysing, assessing and communicating a cyber-related risk and accepting, avoiding, transferring or mitigating it to an acceptable level.

As GNSS (GPS) has become the foundation block of timing and positioning technology at the heart of business critical systems for both IT and OT, increasingly fleet administrators are gaining awareness of the operational and financial impacts of unreliable and insecure GNSS sources and the need to include navigation in their cyber security risk plans.

Orolia Maritime, as a global leader in resilient position navigation and timing solutions, offers navigational cyber security threat detection and mitigation through modular layered protection. This platform can be configured for both ship and shore navigation signals, and as either a standalone or integrated component.

Navigation Cyber Security Resilience Elements

Precision GNSS Source

  • Precision Navigation and timing from multiple GNSS constellation sources for critical system comparison

RF Threat Analysis & Alerts

  • Radio frequency analytics to detect and alert to signal discrepancies

GNSS Augmentation

  • Alternative encrypted navigation sources 1000x stronger than GPS

Signal Mitigation

  • Passive Anti Jam Antennae systems that prevent on-the-horizon interference

M-SecureSync Overview

M-SecureSync acts as a hub for three layers of navigational cyber security resilience to threats to critical GNSS signals. By providing an ultra-precise platform for multi-constellational GNSS timing sources, that incorporates vulnerability scanning and the highest standards for extreme reliability, security and redundancy, shore and vessel have a robust comparison source for existing navigation platforms.M-SecureSync utilises BroadShield, a complex radio frequency analysing algorithm software, allowing M-SecureSync to detect interference, intentional jamming and advance spoofing signals that could weaken, block or compromise critical navigation signals.

M-SecureSync can be used as a standalone device or integrated to the vessels’ Alarm Display Unit that indicates the reliability of GNSS RF signal, from Normal, Caution or Disruption. Allowing both bridge and onshore vessel management the ability to recognise threats to navigation and take corrective action.

Additionally, M-SecureSync can be configured for additional RF signal resilience, mitigating threats with the augmentation of the GNSS source by including encrypted, spoofing resistant, alternative position source STL, supplied via Iridium satellites. This subscription-based component can be activated if vessel administrators believe GNSS navigation signals have been compromised.

Signal Mitigation

Additional navigation cyber security resilience can be achieved by including specialist antenna to work alongside the M-SecureSync. The affordable passive Anti-Jam Antenna helps to prevent signal saturation by removing on the- horizon RF interference, both for onshore vessel management buildings or ships near land, by rejecting signals from a lower elevation angle allowing only RF signals from satellites to be received. More advanced active Controlled Radiation Pattern Antennas (CRPA) are available which further reject jamming even under high pitch and roll sea states conditions.

Vessel Management Ecosystem

As we move towards the IMO mandate for marine cyber security, it is important that the entire vessel management ecosystem, from port coordination to critical bridge systems, include protection of navigation by creating a resilient position and timing source detection and mitigation plan. Contact Orolia Maritime today to discuss you Navigation Cyber Security requirements.