Post-Incident Debriefing
Recovery Objective: To translate incident findings into permanent procedural changes within the Ship’s Safety Management System (SMS), ensuring the vessel returns to a “safe, consistent, and known state” as required by IACS UR E26.
A cyber-attack reveals specific weaknesses in a vessel’s defenses. To prevent a recurrence, the findings from the recovery process must be codified into the ship’s permanent procedures. This cycle of “Lessons Learned” is a mandatory component of both IMO MSC.428(98) and the IACS UR E26 framework.
Closing Gaps via Official Documentation
Based on the evidence gathered during the Respond and Recover phases, the ETO must ensure the following regulatory requirements are met:
Evidence Reporting (§4.4.1.3)
Incident response procedures must include reporting needed evidence. Data from the “Malware Scrub” (Pillar B.2) should be used to update the ship’s threat intelligence and blocklists.
Incident Recording (§4.6.2)
All information related to the incident and the specific response actions taken must be recorded. This log acts as official proof of compliance during subsequent Class surveys.
Integrating Cyber into the SMS
To ensure long-term resilience, the findings from the Post-Incident Review should trigger updates to the standard Shipboard Operating Procedures (SOPs):
- Maintenance Plans: If recovery was delayed by outdated backups, the PMS must be adjusted to include more frequent “Golden Image Verification”.
- Access Controls: If the root cause involved unauthorized credentials, security policies must be updated to require periodic password rotations for all OT service accounts.
- Vendor Management: Update the “Third-Party Access” protocols to include mandatory malware scanning of vendor laptops before they connect to the ship’s network.
Final Audit Sign-Off
Under IACS UR E26 §4.5.3, the final step of recovery is verifying that the system is restored to a “safe, consistent and known state.” To prove this to a surveyor, the ETO must present:
| Evidence Type | Regulatory Alignment |
|---|---|
| Incident Response Log | Satisfies §4.6.2: Detailed record of the incident and response actions. |
| Restoration Verification | Satisfies §4.5.3: Signed confirmation that systems are in a safe operational state. |
Continuity of Resilience
The end of the Recover phase is not the end of the journey. The updated data and improved controls immediately feed back into the Identify phase, creating a continuous loop of improvement that keeps the vessel ahead of evolving cyber threats.
Next Security Phase
Recover Phase: Summary & Audit Readiness Page
Recover Phase: Summary & Audit Readiness Page Phase Conclusion: Restoration & Resilience The Recover phase ensures the vessel returns to a "safe, consistent, and known state" (UR E26 §4.5.3). By completing this phase, the ETO has proven that the shi...