The Status Quo Must Change

Cyber defenses at port and shipping operations need an extra layer of malware protection to stop what their AV/EDR miss entirely or detect too late. Ransomware has shut down or impaired port and shipping operations, including interconnected supply chains, all over the world. Recent history shows this vital sector has been hit hard by cyber threats that traditional antivirus (AV) and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions did not stop. See examples below, why existing defenses probably failed to stop the attacks, and what you might do about it.

The Rising Cyber Threat to Ports and Shipping

Across the US and EU, the ports and shipping sector is under siege. Ransomware incidents have spiked, with a 300% increase in maritime-targeted attacks between 2019 and 2021, exemplified by the 2017 NotPetya breach that cost Maersk over $300 million. Supply chain attacks, like the 2020 SolarWinds incident, reveal how vulnerabilities in one system can cascade across private and public networks, halting operations from Rotterdam to Los Angeles. Whether it’s a private shipping firm or a publicly managed port authority, the threat is borderless and relentless.

Traditional AV and EDR tools are faltering against this tide. Both rely on various forms of pattern-matching, which means they can stop the familiar but miss what they don’t recognize. The adversaries know this and adjust their malware accordingly. 

A 2023 report from Sophos, *The State of Ransomware 2023*, paints a sobering picture: 76% of organizations hit by ransomware were running up-to-date endpoint protection, yet attackers still succeeded, with 66% facing data encryption. This underscores a critical weakness—AV and EDR often fail against sophisticated, fast-evolving threats like zero-day exploits and double-extortion tactics. In ports and shipping, where endpoints like dockside terminals, vessel systems, and logistics servers are prime targets, this gap is alarming. The mix of legacy and modern IT systems only compounds the risk, leaving both private firms and public authorities exposed to disruptions that ripple across global trade.

Incident Examples: Why AppGuard Matters

The table below, drawn from real-world breaches, illustrates the necessity for offsetting AV and EDR’s shortcomings:

The Limits of AV and EDR

AV and EDR’s reactive nature is their Achilles’ heel. AV can’t stop unknown threats, and EDR’s detection lag leaves systems vulnerable to fast-moving attacks such as fileless malware or process hijacking. For ports and shipping, where a single compromised endpoint can spread malware across a network, this isn’t just a technical flaw—it’s a business risk. Private shipping lines and public port authorities alike face operational paralysis, financial losses, and reputational damage when detection fails. Cyber threats evolve daily, and regulatory pressures are tightening on both sides of the Atlantic. Ports and shipping entities—private or public—can’t afford to lean on defenses that only succeed if and when they recognize the malware attacking them. 

Picture a Phishing Email Hitting an Employee in Hamburg or Houston

With AV, a zero-day exploit might encrypt scheduling systems before it’s noticed. EDR might flag it eventually, but too late to prevent chaos. Instead, you could have controls-based protections that stops the exploit dead on arrival—no damage, no downtime. This proactive edge is critical for an industry where every delay ripples across continents, affecting private logistics firms and public trade hubs alike.

Regulatory Demands Across Borders

Cybersecurity isn’t just about survival—it’s about compliance. In the US, frameworks like NIST 800-171 demand robust endpoint protection for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). In the EU, the NIS2 Directive and GDPR impose strict cybersecurity and data protection standards on critical infrastructure, including ports. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) further ties these regions together with global guidelines for proactive risk management. Controls-based protection aligns with these mandates, delivering real-time, auditable protection that keeps both private and public organizations compliant and operational.

Your Answer Starts with Attack Surface Reduction

From the adversary’s perspective, hitting a smaller target is more difficult. Today’s enterprise cybersecurity paradigm is that of ‘detect and react’. Every allowed activity must be monitored to ‘detect and react’ to malice. Attack surface reduction reduces the volume of allowed activities to monitor for malice. The largest surface is the endpoint. Reducing what is allowed to occur within endpoints makes the adversary’s target much more difficult to hit. 

• Application Control: restrict what can run.
• Application Containment: restrict what the running can do.
• Deployment: these host-based software agents can be deployed with minimal disruption to ongoing operations, often through central management tools that are compatible with legacy environments.
• Policy Definition and Ongoing Administration: Many vendors have tools that can do this in theory. The challenge is finding one that does this effectively for fewer policy rules and fewer policy changes over time as endpoints change over time. 
• Ready for YOUR Applications: some application control vendors provide policies for end-customers from the vendor cloud but most fall short regarding uncommon or custom software.
• Adapts to Endpoint Change: software patches, updates, or plug-ins occur weekly/daily and they require policy updates that must be implemented immediately to avoid disrupting workflows.

AppGuard Stops Malware that AV, EDR, and/or XDR Miss or Detect Too Late

EDR/XDR uses behavioral detection to differentiate between benign and malicious behaviors/actions, terminating them only after a pattern match is identified. Incorrect guesses by EDR/XDR result in false positives and false negatives. AppGuard, on the other hand, doesn't rely on guesswork. Instead, it implements roadblocks to prevent high-risk behaviors. However, some legitimate behaviors are indistinguishable from malicious ones, so AppGuard doesn't put roadblocks in place in such cases. As a result, what AppGuard, AV, EDR, or XDR might miss, another might catch.

AppGuard avoids the administrative overhead of alternative application control and containment tools with its patented, “auto-adaptive” technology. An AppGuard agent typically runs for months without any need for policy updates.

Connect with AppGuard Today

Whether you’re a private shipping firm in the US or a public port operator in the EU, AppGuard offers the proactive cybersecurity you need to stay ahead of attackers. Don’t wait for the next breach—reach out to our channel partners now to explore how AppGuard can protect your operations, compliance, and reputation. Visit www.appguard.us to start the conversation. In a world where cyber resilience is critical, AppGuard is your strongest partner.