Matthew Koehr, President, Xage Security Government
A New Era of Maritime Cybersecurity
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has charted a bold new course for maritime cybersecurity. With the release of its final rule on cybersecurity requirements for U.S.-flagged vessels and Maritime Transportation System (MTS) facilities, compliance is now enforceable by law.
From ports and energy terminals to offshore facilities, every operator within the MTS must now implement and maintain cybersecurity measures that protect both IT and Operational Technology (OT) assets. This includes mandatory reporting of cyber incidents, annual cybersecurity training, and designation of a Cybersecurity Officer (CSO). Failure to comply can result in enforcement actions such as deficiency notices, detentions, or even denial of vessel entry.
Securing Complex IT-OT Environments
Maritime systems have rapidly evolved into highly interconnected ecosystems that blend digital control systems, communication networks, and advanced automation technologies. While these IT-OT integrations have revolutionized operational efficiency and visibility, they have also dramatically expanded the attack surface, introducing new risks that can threaten safety, continuity, and compliance. In response, the U.S. Coast Guard’s new cybersecurity rule mandates rigorous controls across several critical domains, including account security, device and asset management, data protection, network segmentation, and vulnerability management and patching.
For maritime operators overseeing fleets, remote terminals, and offshore facilities, maintaining continuous compliance across such complex and geographically dispersed networks presents significant challenges. The task becomes even more demanding in environments where connectivity is intermittent or operations must remain fully functional offline. In this landscape, ensuring both operational resilience and regulatory alignment requires solutions purpose-built for the realities of maritime cybersecurity.
Xage Fabric for Maritime Cyber Resilience
The Xage Fabric Platform is uniquely designed to help maritime operators achieve and sustain USCG cybersecurity compliance, without disrupting operations.
| USCG Requirement | How Xage Helps |
| Account Security | Enforces MFA, strong credential policies, and least-privilege access across users and systems. Automates lockouts and credential revocation for departing personnel. |
| Device & Asset Security | Provides continuous discovery and mapping of IT and OT assets, revealing unmanaged devices and new connections in real time. |
| Data Security | Encrypts data in transit, while securing logs with integrity protection and privileged access controls to meet evidentiary standards. |
| Network Segmentation | Enforces Zero Trust segmentation between IT and OT networks with secure zones, conduits, and policy-based isolation. Manages vendor and remote access via secure brokers. |
| Vulnerability Management | Provides compensating controls and virtual patching for unpatchable OT systems, using protocol mediation and dynamic allow-listing. |
Even when ships are at sea or facilities are in denied, disrupted, intermittent, or limited (DDIL) environments, Xage’s platform continues to enforce access and policy controls. This offline continuity ensures that security and compliance don’t stop when connectivity does.
By providing granular control, detailed audit evidence, and dynamic protection across every level of the IT-OT ecosystem, Xage helps maritime operators confidently meet regulatory demands, while enhancing overall cyber resilience.
The Coast Guard’s cybersecurity rule marks a turning point for the maritime industry. Operators who take early, proactive steps will not only meet compliance deadlines but also strengthen their defenses against cyber threats that could jeopardize mission-critical operations, safety, and reputation.
Xage Security empowers organizations to protect critical infrastructure from ship to shore, enabling unified Zero Trust protection that meets both today’s regulations and tomorrow’s challenges.
To learn more, read the full brief: Coast Guard Cybersecurity Requirements for the Marine Transportation System Facilities
