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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Government of Japan have completed a significant tabletop exercise to bolster maritime cybersecurity and incident response capabilities. This initiative underscores the ongoing commitment of both nations to strengthen cybersecurity collaboration, particularly concerning the protection of maritime critical infrastructure.
The exercise simulated a severe cyber incident impacting operations at a Japanese port, allowing both nations to test their incident response policies and procedures rigorously. It also facilitated discussions on enhancing mutual preparedness for threats affecting interconnected critical infrastructure.
The exercise was a key component of Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’s broader strategy to deepen cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners, focusing on refining protocols for incident response, improving information sharing, and identifying areas for future bilateral collaboration to address current and emerging cyber threats to maritime infrastructure.
The exercise provided a practical framework for the United States and Japan to evaluate and enhance their respective cybersecurity strategies and operational coordination by simulating a significant cyberattack on a Japanese port.
Under Secretary for Policy, Robert Silvers, underscored, “Exercises like these bolster our nation’s capabilities and establish reliable channels for coordination with key international partners.”
Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, echoed Robert’s sentiment, stressing the vulnerabilities of ports worldwide. “Malicious cyber actors recognise ports worldwide possess the same critical vulnerabilities and are increasingly willing to target them,” she said. “Coordinating together to share risk information, improving operational coordination between incident responders, and building our collective capacity to withstand the targeting of port infrastructure is a necessary step to safeguard the global maritime system.”
Dr Masahiro Inada, Director General of the Ports and Harbours Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, underscored the significance of the exercise for Japan. “Cyberattacks on ports and harbours could potentially disrupt key international logistics functions, which serve as a lifeline for Japan, a country surrounded by the sea. Such disruptions would impact both Japan and the United States. I intend to share best practices gained through this exercise and continue to promote the reinforcement of cybersecurity for ports and harbours, working closely with relevant parties.”
“The opportunity to collaborate within the Department and with the Government of Japan was extremely beneficial in building effective partnerships that strengthen maritime systems cybersecurity and resilience,” Dr David Mussington, Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), noted. “This joint exercise underscores the importance of international planning to ensure we are equipped to respond to cyber threats and reduce risks to global maritime activities.”
This tabletop exercise marked the second significant maritime security drill conducted by DHS this year, following a successful joint exercise with Indonesian counterparts in June 2024. The lessons learned from this exercise will be instrumental as DHS and Japanese counterparts work to operationalise their findings and enhance their cybersecurity measures.
This exercise was organised by the DHS Office of Policy, CISA, and the U.S. Coast Guard, with contributions from the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, the Office of Intelligence & Analysis (I&A), and the Supply Chain Resilience Centre. On the Japanese side, the Ports and Harbours Bureau hosted the exercise, with active participation from the National Centre of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC), Prefectural Police, Port Authorities, the National Security Secretariat, the Japan Coast Guard, the National Police Agency, and other relevant port stakeholders in observational roles.
This collaborative effort represents a significant step toward strengthening the cybersecurity of maritime infrastructure, demonstrating the vital role of international cooperation in addressing the complex and evolving cyber threat landscape.
