Maritime cyber innovation wins at UK government’s cyber security event

A globally unique piece of software designed to identify the specific cyber threats facing ships, but with the ability to expand into ports and other sectors, has triumphed in a competition run by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

The Maritime Cyber Risk Assessment (MaCRA) framework was developed by researchers from the University of Plymouth’s Maritime Cyber Threats Research Group.

It identifies the specific risks likely to be encountered by particular vessels on trade routes all over the world, enabling international shipping operators and insurers to rapidly assess individual ship’s or entire fleets’ cyber risk profiles.

The software was among entrants from across the UK in a Cyber Den competition run as part of the UK government’s flagship cyber security event, CYBERUK, on May 11 and 12, 2021.

Having won the overall prize, researchers will now receive assistance from the NCSC in assessing, developing and piloting their product or service. This may include consultancy on the technology and potentially working with a Government Department on further testing.

MaCRA was entered into the competition having previously graduated from the Cyber Security Academic Startup Accelerator Programme (CyberASAP), delivered in partnership by KTN and Innovate UK and funded by the UK Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.