Cyber risk management with MITIGATE - protection for maritime supply chains

MITIGATE (Multidimensional, IntegraTed, rIsk assessment framework and dynamic, collaborative Risk ManaGement tools for critical information infrAstrucTurEs) was developed to improve cyber security in the maritime supply chain. Increasing digitalization increases the attack surface for cyber threats, making precise risk assessment and protective measures necessary.

Project goals and challenges

The main objective of MITIGATE was to develop a web-based cyber risk management system that supports maritime organizations in identifying and combating cyber risks. A dynamic, collaborative approach was pursued that integrates various players within the maritime supply chain.

Central functions of MITIGATE:

• Collaborative risk management: Risk analyses across different stakeholders enable a more precise assessment of threats.
• Dynamic threat analysis: The continuous reassessment of risks using updated data sources and system information.
• Social media integration: Analysis of data from social networks for early detection of potential threats.
• Stochastic prediction models: anticipation of future vulnerabilities based on big data analyses.
• Game-theoretical protective measures: Optimizing security measures through simulation-based decision models.
• Compliance with international standards: Conformity with existing security guidelines and best practices.

Technological implementation and key results

MITIGATE integrated state-of-the-art methods of big data analysis and machine learning to identify threat scenarios in the maritime supply chain. Both public and non-public information sources were taken into account in order to simulate realistic threat scenarios.

A decisive innovation factor was the integration of social media data into the risk analysis. This enabled real-time monitoring of potential cyber attacks and the identification of security gaps. In addition, a game-theoretical model was developed that optimized security measures and determined the best strategy for averting threats.

Practical applications and benefits

The system developed enabled a comprehensive assessment of cyber risks in ports, shipping companies and maritime enterprises. Through automated analyses and real-time monitoring, companies gained deeper insights into potential threats and were able to take countermeasures at an early stage.

Practical development in collaboration with industry partners ensured that MITIGATE could be integrated directly into existing systems. Companies benefit from:

• Increased security and resilience to cyber threats.
• Automated risk analyses for faster decisions.
• Improved cooperation between different players in the supply chain.

Project partners and cooperations

The research project was carried out by an international consortium of industry and research partners. The close exchange with the maritime industry ensured a practice-oriented development.