Ports are getting smarter and more hackable
A new policy brief from NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) warns that critical port infrastructure, responsible for 80 percent of global trade, is increasingly under attack by threat actors tied to Russia, Iran, and China.
These ports are essential to national economies and serve as key hubs in NATO’s logistics network. Many remain under civilian control with limited integration into military cybersecurity strategies, leaving serious gaps in defence coordination.
The CCDCOE’s findings draw from a multi-country survey and recent threat intelligence. The data shows a consistent pattern of cyber attacks across regions, with access control systems and vessel traffic management systems most often targeted. DoS attacks, data breaches, ransomware, and phishing campaigns are common. Some incidents have already caused significant disruption to maritime logistics and operations.