An Evaluation of Students' Cybersecurity Awareness in the Maritime Industry

Abstract

Maritime operations have now become faster, safer, and more secure than before, as technological changes in the maritime industry have increased significantly over the past decade. However, no matter how advanced the technology is, removing the human variable from maritime operations is still impossible. Cybersecurity is one of the primary concepts that both enhance human adaptation to technology and reduce risk within the maritime industry. Training and raising situational awareness of maritime cybersecurity are the most basic of many defences to reduce vulnerabilities resulting from human beings not adopting technological changes. Therefore, this study proposes that maritime students’ cybersecurity awareness should be investigated. For this purpose, a questionnaire is used, including 3 attitude scales. This is presented and applied to a sample group including 168 participants representing the population. This evaluation of students’ cybersecurity awareness is aimed to provide taking the first steps to raise cybersecurity awareness in the maritime industry. In this study after a comprehensive investigation, quite striking findings have been obtained regarding awareness of maritime students' cyber security, and suggestions are made to increase students’ cybersecurity awareness in the maritime industry.