In the maritime environment, USB ports are the “digital gangway” of the vessel. While essential for software updates, log extraction, and chart loading, they represent the most significant physical threat to OT integrity—especially on legacy systems where OS-level protection is outdated or non-existent.

The Challenge: Why “Just Disable It” Isn’t Enough

While standard IT security often suggests a total ban on USB ports, the operational reality of a ship makes this impossible. We face a “Functionality vs. Security” paradox: the very ports used to update critical navigation charts or backup engine parameters are the same ports used by crew members to charge phones or transfer movies. A blind “lockdown” often leads to workarounds—like crew members temporarily bypassing security settings and forgetting to re-enable them—which creates a much higher risk than a managed access policy.

Three-Tiered Defense Strategy

To ensure resilience, we apply a Defense-in-Depth approach. We recognize that no single control is foolproof; if a physical blocker is bypassed, an administrative scan must catch the threat. If the scan fails, technical OS hardening acts as the final line of defense.

Implementation: USB Hardening

Moving from policy to action requires a standardized workflow. The following checklist establishes the mandatory “Clean Media” protocol for all external devices attempting to interface with vessel IACS.