From Cyber Defense to Information Warfare: Technical Roadmapping Study and Gaps in Maritime Cybersecurity

Abstract:

Maritime Transportation Systems are considered critical infrastructure and systemic risk which can trigger cascade effects to impacting operations, the economy, and national security. Maritime cybersecurity systems currently face challenges, and a lack of structured frameworks to prioritize R&D investments and technological development. This study aims to systematically analyze maritime cybersecurity using a Technology Roadmapping (TRM) approach structured around the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), integrating a qualitative analysis of themes from the perspectives of people, technology, and governance across six functional areas. TRM facilitates the identification of drivers, capability gaps, technologies, and R&D priorities, to address these limitations. The findings highlight that maritime cybersecurity should be treated as a system-of-systems problem that requires the integration of IT, OT, and cyber-physical systems, as well as automation and real-time capabilities supported by human-Artificial Intelligence (AI) collaboration.

AUTHORS

Kasey C. Miller

Cameron School of Business University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America

Kasey Miller is an assistant professor in the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He received his Ph.D. in Information Sciences from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2024. He serves as the Co-PI of the Maritime Cybersecurity Applied Research, Technology & Education Center project.

Ullrn Clark

Cameron School of Business University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America

Ulku Clark is a professor at the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She received her Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from the Naveen Jindal School of Management at UT Dallas in 2005. She serves as the PI of the Maritime Cybersecurity Applied Research, Technology & Education Center project.

Bilge Karabacak

Cameron School of Business University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America

Bilge Karabacak is an assistant professor in the Cameron School of Business at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He received his Ph.D. in Information Systems with a focus on cybersecurity from the Middle East Technical University in 2015. He serves as the Co-PI of the Maritime Cybersecurity Applied Research, Technology & Education Center project.

Hosam Alamleh

College of Science and Engineering University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America

Hosam Alamleh is an assistant professor of computer science at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He received his Ph.D. in Engineering with a focus on cybersecurity from Louisiana Tech University in 2019. He serves as the Co-PI of the Maritime Cybersecurity Applied Research, Technology & Education Center project.

Edwin Garces

Congdon School of Business, Department of Supply Chain & Analytics Cybersecurity Program
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America

Edwin Garces is a researcher in the Maritime Cybersecurity Applied Research, Technology, and Education Center (MCARTEC) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He received his doctorate in Engineering and Technology Management from Portland State University in 2011.