FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
S&T Public Affairs, 202-286-9047
RFI Will Support Research into Effective Maritime Cybersecurity Measures
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) published a Request for Information (RFI) for commercial port operators to advance the work of the Directorate’s Maritime Port Resiliency and Security Research Testbed project, which studies vulnerabilities in U.S. ports and the effectiveness of current protections and mitigations. Based on the information it receives, S&T will provide actionable cybersecurity recommendations that the maritime port industry can implement to ensure safe and efficient maritime commerce.
The United States Maritime Transportation System (MTS) is a sophisticated network of waterways, ports, and intermodal connections that facilitates the movement of people and goods on the water and supports recreational use by the public. The S&T Maritime Port Resiliency and Security Research Testbed activity supports the Department’s mission to protect this multifaceted system by studying port networks to understand how resources are deployed and to identify research, development, test, and evaluation needs that are unique to the MTS. The Testbed effort aims to better understand how commercial port operators deploy their information technology and operational technology systems, the resiliency of these systems, and what improvements can be made to DHS’ regulatory authority to enhance the cybersecurity of national ports.
“This effort is expanding collaboration between S&T and industry experts to address the growing need for effective cybersecurity measures to ensure safe and efficient maritime commerce,” said S&T Project Manager Jason McCasland. “Our goal is to successfully design and develop a virtual testbed where tactics, techniques, and procedures can be created for effective response to threats to critical maritime infrastructure without impacting real-world operations. For that to be successful, we require baseline information on the equipment U.S. ports are utilizing in their daily operations.”
Interested organizations in the port infrastructure space are encouraged to visit the RFI on Sam.gov. The deadline for RFI submissions is October 4, 2024, at 5 PM ET.
More information about the Maritime Safety and Security Program can be found on S&T’s website: https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/maritime-border-security.