Port in an E-Storm: Exploring awareness of state-sponsored cyber-threats and -attacks in the port of Rotterdam and North Sea Canal area

Bibi Kok, Yarin Eski, Mauro Boelens

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Abstract


Cyberattacks on European ports have increased recently, especially since the war in Ukraine. Public and political concerns exist about ports becoming victimized by state-sponsored cyberattacks. As ports depend heavily on interconnected technology, attacking a single port facility damages the entire port sector and other connecting sectors. Cybersecurity literature acknowledges that these attacks are often a result of human behaviour, making humans the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain. Specific knowledge on how human behaviour and cognitive constraints relate to (awareness of) cyberattacks on ports remains undeveloped. This article therefore considers the status quo of cyberthreat awareness within the Port of Rotterdam and North Sea Canal Area/Port of Amsterdam as important European gateways to discover how awareness of cyberthreats and attacks relates to ports’ cyber-resilience. Interviewed (port) security experts and employees argued the lack of cyberthreat awareness is caused by 1) rapid technological developments in a traditional sector, 2) cybersecurity versus economic interests and 3) inactive partnerships.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)189-214
Number of pages26
JournalEuropean Journal of Policing Studies
Volume7
Issue number3
Early online date23 Jan 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Keywords

  • hybrid threats
  • state-sponsored threats
  • cyberthreats
  • cybersecurity
  • cyber resilience
  • port security
  • awareness
  • Port of Rotterdam
  • Port of Amsterdam
  • North Sea Canal Area

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