The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded a $625,000 Project Grant under the Congressionally-Identified Projects program (CFDA 11.617) to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW). The funding supports an interdisciplinary faculty team focused on enhancing maritime cybersecurity by advancing standards and developing the workforce. Key activities include:
Updating and refining cybersecurity standards, including NIST SP 800-39, for maritime critical infrastructure operators to address evolving threats
Developing and validating a proof-of-concept system-theoretic process analysis for security (STPA-SEC) analysis for maritime operators
Creating innovative educational programs, including gamification and extended reality platforms, to build a skilled maritime cybersecurity workforce
This 2-year project, running from October 2024 to September 2026, aims to improve maritime sector security and resilience by strengthening cybersecurity standards and training the next generation of professionals.