Cybersecurity partnership targets maritime threats

Signed this month, the agreement integrates Cydome’s class-certified cybersecurity technology into Rakuten Maritime’s digital infrastructure platform, providing multi-layered protection throughout the vessel lifecycle, from ship design through to daily operations.

Cydome chief executive Nir Ayalon said the maritime sector faces growing risks as cybercriminals increasingly use artificial intelligence to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.

“The cooperation comes at a time of escalating maritime threat levels and increased ship connectivity, which is expanding the attack surface,” said Ayalon.

“Attackers are now using AI to identify and exploit vulnerabilities at machine speed, turning new flaws into active threats within hours. This leaves defenders with practically zero time to patch systems. Securing vessels one system at a time with basic firewalls and endpoint antivirus is no longer enough to stop these modern threats.”

Ayalon said shipping companies require unified cybersecurity systems specifically designed for maritime operations rather than fragmented solutions adapted from other industries.

The Cydome platform protects both information technology and maritime operational technology (OT), including systems using maritime-specific protocols such as NMEA and MODBUS, which are critical for vessel functionality and operational continuity.

“As vessels become more connected and more regulations are imposed, safeguarding OT is the main concern for maritime companies,” Ayalon added.

“Additionally, context-aware AI analyses information from multiple layers of protection simultaneously, identifying the context of events and their impact on the entire ship.”

Rakuten maritime president Ryan Son said the collaboration would help shipowners improve resilience across their fleets.

“Through this collaboration, we are closing critical security gaps across the entire vessel lifecycle from ship design to daily operations helping shipowners and operators build more secure, resilient, and future-ready fleets,” he said.

The partnership also includes access to Cydome’s 24/7 managed maritime cybersecurity monitoring services, designed to help operators identify and respond to incidents faster while simplifying compliance and fleet-wide risk management.