# Maritime Cyber Security: A Global Challenge Tackled through Distinct Regional Approaches
## 4 Findings and Discussion
This difference became evident when the results from Europe and Asia were combined, as demonstrated in Figure 8.  
The observed difference in perception on the level of preparedness for the IMO 2021 requirements is derived from two main attributes. The first attribute, as presented in the analysis of the findings of the previous questions, is that the IMO resolution does not offer clear guidance to the sector. Therefore, as it is demonstrated in Figure 7a,b that maritime transport stakeholders perceive differently what is required to meet the IMO resolution and address cyber security in the maritime transport sector. The second attribute is that there is a difference in perception in what cyber security entails. That perception derives from the increased technical savviness (as demonstrated in the literature review) compared to European counterparts, who are more \"traditional\" in operating the sector. Figure 8: How prepared are shipping companies in meeting the IMO 2021 requirements and consequently addressing cyber security? (Asia and Europe). Figure 4.0 How prepared are shipping companies in meeting the IMO 2021 requirements and consequently addressing cyber security? **(a)** Europe; **(b)** Asia. Over the years, Asian maritime transport stakeholders are amongst the first to apply technology solutions that improve operations (e.g., minimize costs, etc.) [28; 29]. Following the preliminary analysis regarding the industry's response to cyber security, predominantly concerning the IMO 2021 resolution, the second part of the questionnaire examined the industry's perception of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in day-to-day maritime transport operations. The first question of theme B explores if the COVID-19 pandemic affected the maritime cyber security landscape. Even though this is not a binary question, for matters of simplicity, the question was structured as such (yes or no). Responses collected from both focus groups in Europe and Asia, as illustrated in Figure 9,b and summarized in Figure 10, concur that the cyber security of the maritime transport sector was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes as no surprise, since, as noted previously, the number of cyberattacks since the appearance of the pandemic has globally, remarkably increased [23; 24; 29]. However, when trying to identify the effect of the pandemic on the maritime cyber security landscape, it became evident that respondents from Europe who believed that the industry's cyber security landscape was not affected, were twice as many as those from Asia, enhancing the points discussed in Figure 7,b regarding the misconceptions about cyber security. As aforementioned, this originated from the fact that Asian maritime transport stakeholders  
Figure 4.1 Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the maritime cyber security landscape? (Asia and Europe). Figure 4.2 Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the maritime cyber security landscape? (a) Europe; (b) Asia. were amongst the first to apply technology solutions. Therefore, they were agnostic to the benefits of digital transformation in the maritime transport sector, along with the consequent potential cyber risks that they may face. The next question of the survey examined whether the participants experienced a surge in cyberattacks in their organizations during the pandemic. This question aimed to narrow down the analysis, drawing from participants' direct engagement within their organizations. While in Europe the responses were split (with 53% mentioning that they did not experience a surge in cyber attacks in their organization and 47% mentioning the opposite), in Asia, two thirds of the respondents mentioned that they did not experience any surge in cyber attacks in their organizations during the pandemic. Figure 10(a),b results are aggregated in Figure 10, demonstrate that there was an increase by 40% in cyber attacks in maritime transport organizations during the pandemic, reinforcing the argument that there is a need to increase cyber resilience in the maritime transport sector.