The Dutch Port of Amsterdam has launched a Cybersecurity Programme in an effort to increase the port community’s digital resilience.

The port sees the importance of the proactive involvement of companies in the port area in joint efforts to improve cyber resilience.

The programme comprises two elements, a hotline and the Cyber Resilient North Sea Canal Area (CYREN) network. The CYREN network collects information about cyber threats and shares this with the affiliated companies.

The hotline provides these companies timely and effective information about potential cyber attacks in the North Sea Canal Area. Companies can contact the hotline when a situation occurs that could impact the port region. The hotline is staffed by the Harbour Master’s Division.

“Data flows and chains are increasingly being linked together and made available to a broad public on the Internet. This offers both opportunities and substantial challenges for information security,” Marleen van de Kerkhof, Harbour Master of Port of Amsterdam and initiator of Port of Amsterdam’s Cybersecurity Programme, said.

“An attack on a customer’s or supplier’s information system not only impacts the company but can often also affect all other companies in its surroundings and disrupt shipping operations: cyber incidents are not limited by physical boundaries. Rapidly sharing the latest information about threats, incidents and perspectives for action increases the cyber resilience of the entire port region,” van de Kerkhof added.

As explained, ports are particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks as they have a wide range of information systems and their data is used by many different parties. What is more, the Netherlands is one of the world’s top three countries affected by cyber attacks.

Information systems contain valuable information that makes them an appealing target for cybercrime. Every company needs to have implemented basic cybersecurity controls such as an awareness programme, segregation of networks, timely installations of security updates and a multi-layered security approach.

CYREN has been recognised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy through the Digital Trust Center. Several companies and organisations make an active contribution to the development of the CYREN network in the North Sea Canal Area.