Risk Matters X.0

The cyber-physical world is now a raging battleground—who do you have on the digital frontline? As cyber attacks on industrial operations and critical infrastructures continue to rise, so do the devastating real-world impacts. Criminals are no longer simply stealing data; their goal is to disrupt and control core operations. This translates into what is now known as the cyber-physical world. From influencing the flow of oil and the functions of machinery to manipulating the navigation of vessels, the risk to OT environments is vast.

Host Ian Bramson explores the question of how you can fight back on this new and ever-changing battleground. Listen as top industry experts George Daglas, Chief Operating Officer at Obrela; Dimitris Strevinas, Chief Technology Officer at Obrela; Christos Kapodistrias, IT Manager at Neptune Lines; and Grigoris Floutsakos, Data Protection Officer at WIND Hellas, provide key insights, including how you can move beyond fear-driven tactics to safeguard your organization.

About the Guests

Obrela Security Industries is a global cybersecurity service provider. Addressing an emerging demand, Obrela offers an 'umbrella' of end-to-end security services under which clients can enjoy peace of mind and focus on their business. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in London, Obrela leverages sophisticated real time risk management technology to dynamically protect its clients by identifying, analyzing, predicting and preventing cybersecurity threats. Obrela’s mission statement ‘We Keep Your Business in Business’ underpins the company’s commitment to a better prepared, more secure corporate world.

Neptune Lines Shipping and Managing Enterprises SA is a leading finished vehicle logistics provider, offering transportation and shipping solutions to manufacturers and shippers of cars and high & heavy cargoes. Through their modern fleet of Pure Car & Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessels and their expansive agency network and operational expertise, they provide short sea transportation solutions to almost 19 countries and more than 30 key ports, focusing on the Mediterranean, North Europe and the Black Sea.

WIND is one of the largest telecommunications companies in Greece. Since their establishment in 1992, until today, they have continuously invested in technology, providing complete mobile, fixed, internet and television solutions to our customers.

ABS Group (www.abs-group.com) provides data-driven risk and reliability solutions, including industrial cybersecurity services, to help clients reduce risk and confirm the safety, integrity, quality and efficiency of their critical assets and operations. ABS Group has over 50 years of risk management and safety experience and was recently named one of America’s Best Consulting Firms of 2021 by Forbes. Headquartered in Spring, Texas, ABS Group operates with more than 1,000 professionals in over 20 countries serving the marine and offshore, oil, gas and chemical, government and industrial sectors. ABS Group is a subsidiary of ABS, one of the world's leading marine and offshore classification societies. 

Produced by Brittney Warrick and Daniel Fischer, Digital Communications at ABS Group

What does a career in STEM look like and how can we encourage more women to pursue this path?

There is currently a shortage of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The solution: educating girls and young women on what a career in STEM truly looks like (it can be what you make of it) and exposing them to not only the vast realm of career choices, but how these jobs contribute to building and maintaining the world we live in today. 

In honor of Women’s Equality Day, host Pendo Mugofwa, Marketing Intern at ABS Group, leads a conversation with three trailblazing women in STEM: Sheila Boyington, President of Thinking Media/Learning Blade; Marcia Lee, Business Development Manager of Industrial Cybersecurity at ABS Group; and Hannah Waldron, Graduate Process Safety Engineer at ABS Group.

Follow along with these three women as they discuss the experiences that shaped their lives, ultimately leading them to their current careers and goals, including how they plan to help young girls bridge the gender gap and gain the confidence they need to thrive in STEM.   

About Our Guest

Sheila Boyington, P.E., is the co-founder and CEO/President of Thinking Media, a Chattanooga-based educational technology firm, for the past 24 years. Thinking Media is the creator of Learning Blade®—system of interactive online lessons and printable at-home activities for 5th to 9th graders that has been validated by Battelle to increase awareness and interest in STEM careers with many statewide contracts currently and use in over 40 states. Thinking Media was the creator of ACT-acquired KeyTrain® which has been hailed as the most effective system for improving basic skills, used by millions of students/clients in high schools, community colleges, one stops and major corporations throughout the United States and abroad.  Thinking Media was also named to the Inc. 5000 – Fastest Growing Private Companies for 2021.

Sheila has served as the National States Chair for Million Women Mentors since its inception—helping to launch, grow and now lead the state-level mentor movement with State Chairs and Steering Committees contributing to the national, cross-sector conversation on Women in STEM and workforce development. 


ABS Group (www.abs-group.com) provides data-driven risk and reliability solutions, including industrial cybersecurity services, to help clients reduce risk and confirm the safety, integrity, quality and efficiency of their critical assets and operations. ABS Group has over 50 years of risk management and safety experience and was recently named one of America's Best Consulting Firms of 2021 by Forbes. Headquartered in Spring, Texas, ABS Group operates with more than 1,000 professionals in over 20 countries serving the marine and offshore, oil, gas and chemical, government and industrial sectors. ABS Group is a subsidiary of ABS, one of the world's leading marine and offshore classification societies.

Produced by Pendo Mugofwa, Brittney Warrick and Daniel Fischer, Digital Communications at ABS Group

If a cyber attack can take down an entire pipeline, what's next? As news from the recent attack on Colonial Pipeline continues to develop, owners and operators, the U.S. government and the public continue to question the dangerous implications behind our critical infrastructure lacking the proper cybersecurity against dangerous hackers. 

"20 years ago, if you wanted to attack operational technology (OT) or an industrial control system you had to specifically target it," says Dr. Dennis Hackney, Head of Cybersecurity Services Development. "Now, all you have to do is look and see where a connection exists between the information technology (IT) and OT environments."

"Oil and gas [industries] have historically underinvested in cybersecurity," says Kyriakos "Rock" Lambros, cyber expert and CEO and Founder of RockCyber, LLC. "While OT systems are being targeted, most of the impact that we're seeing are casualties of war. The IT side of the house is targeted and then the ransomware moves laterally throughout the network because there aren't good controls in place."

Tune in as host Ian Bramson dives into the minds of cybercriminals like DarkSide and discusses how this historic event will impact industrial operations and new cyber regulations moving forward.

Need more cyber expertise? Revisit our Cyber Risk Series: https://bit.ly/2ywSHuG

About the Guest 

Founded in 2018, RockCyber, LLC is a cybersecurity executive consulting firm specializing in aligning Cybersecurity strategy to enterprise business goals. Kyriakos "Rock" Lambros is the CEO and Founder of RockCyber. He is a seasoned Cybersecurity and Information Technology executive with expertise in aligning cybersecurity and technology strategy with enterprise business goals. He has served in several senior cybersecurity and technology roles for global companies such as MPLX (a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation), eBay, Honeywell, General Dynamics Information Technology, Wells Fargo and Agilent Technologies.

About the Host:

Ian Bramson heads the global cybersecurity organization at ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (ABS Group), an affiliate of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), where he works closely with senior executives across the maritime sector to help minimize their cyber security risks. For over 20 years, Ian has helped organizations adapt to their digital environments and solve business challenges related to industrial cybersecurity, risk management and digital transformation. He has built successful companies, global sales organizations and cybersecurity programs across multiple industries. Ian is a recognized thought leader and market developer in the emerging threat landscape of attacks on industrial operations and critical infrastructure. He has a bachelor's degree in Economics and English from Cornell University.

ABS Group (www.abs-group.com) provides data-driven risk and reliability solutions, including industrial cybersecurity services, to help clients reduce risk and confirm the safety, integrity, quality and efficiency of their critical assets and operations. ABS Group has over 50 years of risk management and safety experience and was recently named one of America's Best Consulting Firms of 2021 by Forbes. Headquartered in Spring, Texas, ABS Group operates with more than 1,000 professionals in over 20 countries serving the marine and offshore, oil, gas and chemical, government and industrial sectors. ABS Group is a subsidiary of ABS, one of the world's leading marine and offshore classification societies.

Produced by Brittney Warrick and Daniel Fischer, Digital Communications at ABS Group

This episode is part three in a series of conversations with Wärtsilä’s cybersecurity and new technology leaders. 

Cyber incidents go from 0 to 100 in the blink of an eye. The recent cyber attack on Colonial Pipeline, one of the nation’s largest fuel pipelines, highlights this callous reality. With nearly half of the East Coast’s fuel supply disrupted, the conversation of protecting critical infrastructure is at the forefront of The White House Administration. Join our discussion with Wärtsilä as we talk about preceding real-life OT cyber incidents that have gone wrong.

Host Ian Bramson asks tough questions regarding the vulnerability of supply chains and debunks the “air gap” myth surrounding OT environments that claim limited access equates to cyber safety. Listen as Wärtsilä’s industry experts Päivi Brunou, Head of Cyber Security, Technology Voyage; Matti Suominen, Head of Product Incident Response; and Paul Ward, Director of Cyber Strategy, explore supply chain risk management, the common red flags that have emerged from heightened connectivity and how organizations can increase their cyber maturity.

Need more cyber expertise? Revisit our Cyber Risk Series: https://bit.ly/2ywSHuG

About the Guest:

Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising sustainable innovation, total efficiency and data analytics, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2019, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 5.2 billion with approximately 19,000 employees. The company has operations in over 200 locations in more than 80 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

About the Host:

Ian Bramson heads the global cybersecurity organization at ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (ABS Group), an affiliate of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), where he works closely with senior executives across the maritime sector to help minimize their cyber security risks. For over 20 years, Ian has helped organizations adapt to their digital environments and solve business challenges related to industrial cybersecurity, risk management and digital transformation. He has built successful companies, global sales organizations and cybersecurity programs across multiple industries. Ian is a recognized thought leader and market developer in the emerging threat landscape of attacks on industrial operations and critical infrastructure. He has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and English from Cornell University.

ABS Group (www.abs-group.com) provides data-driven risk and reliability solutions, including industrial cybersecurity services, to help clients reduce risk and confirm the safety, integrity, quality and efficiency of their critical assets and operations. Headquartered in Spring, Texas, ABS Group operates with more than 1,000 professionals in over 20 countries serving the marine and offshore, oil, gas and chemical, government and industrial sectors. ABS Group is a subsidiary of ABS, one of the world's leading marine and offshore classification societies.

Produced by Brittney Warrick and Daniel Fischer, Digital Communications at ABS Group

This episode is part two in a series of conversations with Wärtsilä’s cybersecurity and new technology leaders. 

A system is only as secure as its weakest point. In this episode of Risk Matters X.0, we discuss cyber ecosystems with Wärtsilä, examining the advantages and vulnerabilities that support connectivity. 

“The ecosystem in the marine environment is a very populated space,” says Eric Schreiber, General Manager for New Technologies at Wärtsilä. “There are a lot of hands in the pot, and not everyone has cybersecurity expertise.” 

“There are a million things that can be taken into account when you are operating your vessel, and those come from IT and OT systems that expand far beyond the vessel ecosystem,” adds Christopher Stein, Cybersecurity Expert at Wärtsilä.

Need more cyber expertise? Revisit our Cyber Risk Series: https://bit.ly/2ywSHuG 

About the Guest:

Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising sustainable innovation, total efficiency and data analytics, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2019, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 5.2 billion with approximately 19,000 employees. The company has operations in over 200 locations in more than 80 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

About the Host:

Ian Bramson heads the global cybersecurity organization at ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (ABS Group), an affiliate of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), where he works closely with senior executives across the maritime sector to help minimize their cyber security risks. For over 20 years, Ian has helped organizations adapt to their digital environments and solve business challenges related to industrial cybersecurity, risk management and digital transformation. He has built successful companies, global sales organizations and cybersecurity programs across multiple industries. Ian is a recognized thought leader and market developer in the emerging threat landscape of attacks on industrial operations and critical infrastructure. He has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and English from Cornell University.

ABS Group (www.abs-group.com) provides data-driven risk and reliability solutions, including industrial cybersecurity services, to help clients reduce risk and confirm the safety, integrity, quality and efficiency of their critical assets and operations. Headquartered in Spring, Texas, ABS Group operates with more than 1,000 professionals in over 20 countries serving the marine and offshore, oil, gas and chemical, government and industrial sectors. ABS Group is a subsidiary of ABS, one of the world's leading marine and offshore classification societies.

Produced by Nancy Dunnahoe, Brittney Warrick  and Daniel Fischer, Digital Communications at ABS Group

This episode is part one in a series of conversations with Wärtsilä’s cybersecurity and new technology leaders. 

Let’s talk digitalization and cyber risk. In this episode of Risk Matters X.0, we welcome Wärtsilä to discuss increasing connectivity as a major concern for cybersecurity in the digital age.

"As connectivity increases, so does cyber risk," – Ian Bramson, Head of Cybersecurity at ABS Group. 

"We are already living in this digital, ultra-connected world and times. After 2020, we'll be even more connected and doing activities even more remotely. There are already discussions about 'zero trust' in the OT industry, and 'what about 5G,' and all the upcoming new technologies. I think the cadence or speed of security in the industrial control and OT world is becoming quicker and faster," – Päivi Brunou, General Manager of Cybersecurity at Wärtsilä Voyage.

"I think the greatest hurdle is human behavior, having everyone understand the importance of what is needed to make the asset secure," Eric Schreiber, General Manager for New Technologies at Wärtsilä.

Continue listening to a leading OEM's perspective and revisit the full Cyber Risk Series at https://bit.ly/2ywSHuG.

About the Guest:

Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising sustainable innovation, total efficiency and data analytics, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2019, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 5.2 billion with approximately 19,000 employees. The company has operations in over 200 locations in more than 80 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

About the Host:

Ian Bramson heads the global cybersecurity organization at ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (ABS Group), an affiliate of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), where he works closely with senior executives across the maritime sector to help minimize their cyber security risks. For over 20 years, Ian has helped organizations adapt to their digital environments and solve business challenges related to industrial cybersecurity, risk management and digital transformation. He has built successful companies, global sales organizations and cybersecurity programs across multiple industries. Ian is a recognized thought leader and market developer in the emerging threat landscape of attacks on industrial operations and critical infrastructure. He has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and English from Cornell University.

ABS Group (www.abs-group.com) provides data-driven risk and reliability solutions, including industrial cybersecurity services, to help clients reduce risk and confirm the safety, integrity, quality and efficiency of their critical assets and operations. Headquartered in Spring, Texas, ABS Group operates with more than 1,000 professionals in over 20 countries serving the marine and offshore, oil, gas and chemical, government and industrial sectors. ABS Group is a subsidiary of ABS, one of the world's leading marine and offshore classification societies.

Produced by Nancy Dunnahoe and Daniel Fischer, Digital Communications at ABS Group

Episode 9: Cyber Risk Series – From the Hacker’s Point of View

What does cybersecurity look like from the opposition's point of view? With a long background in pen-testing (penetration testing) and extensive experience in security research and programming, Weston Hecker is a professional "white hat" hacker at Mission Secure, a firm focused on control system cybersecurity. An avid speaker on all things hacking, Weston is working on a major university's research project with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on 911 emergency systems and attack mitigation. In this episode, Weston shares insights into hacking oil rigs and how he's found cyber vulnerabilities in popular software and firmware systems from some of the world's leading technology companies. 

Listen now to the hacker’s point of view and learn why organizations working in the offshore oil and gas and maritime sectors must confront cyber as a growing threat to operations.

Discover more episodes in this Cyber Risk Series: https://bit.ly/2ywSHuG

About the Guest:
Weston Hecker is a cyber evangelist and ethical hacker with over a decade of pen-testing and 14 years of experience in cybersecurity research and programming. Weston works with organizations on their cybersecurity strategies, including leaders in the oil and gas, chemicals, maritime and defense sectors. A regular on the cybersecurity circuit, he has delivered over 50 presentations ranging from industry-leading events to regional conferences and universities. Notable events include Blackhat, Defcon, ISC2-Security Congress, SC-Congress, BSIDESBoston and TakedownCON. His work with universities includes projects and training such as the "Hacking Oil Rigs for Profit" event at the University of Houston and a major university project with DHS. Weston attended school in Minneapolis, where he studied Computer Science and Geophysics.

About the Host:
Ian Bramson heads the global cyber security organization at ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (ABS Group), where he works closely with senior executives across the maritime sector to help minimize their cyber security risks. For over 20 years, Ian has helped organizations adapt to their digital environments and solve business challenges related to industrial cybersecurity, risk management and digital transformation. He has built successful companies, global sales organizations and cybersecurity programs across multiple industries. Ian is a recognized thought leader and market developer in the emerging threat landscape of attacks on industrial operations and critical infrastructure. He has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and English from Cornell University.

ABS Group (www.abs-group.com) provides data-driven risk and reliability solutions, including industrial cybersecurity services, to help clients reduce risk and confirm the safety, integrity, quality and efficiency of their critical assets and operations. Headquartered in Spring, Texas, ABS Group operates with more than 1,000 professionals in over 20 countries serving the marine and offshore, oil, gas and chemical, government and industrial sectors. ABS Group is a subsidiary of ABS, one of the world's leading marine and offshore classification societies.


Produced by Nancy Dunnahoe and Oscar Diaz, Digital Communications at ABS Group

20 to 30 seconds. That's how long it takes cyber professional Ewan Robinson of Yangosat, a UK-based satellite communications supplier, to hack into your ship. "It's still very easy—the systems are still exposed. That's one of the things we're trying to bring to people, [the awareness of] just how exposed they are without knowing it," he says. "No system is an island," adds Ian Bramson, Global Head of Cybersecurity at ABS Group.

Ewan is a white hat hacker (an ethical computer hacker) who understands how easy it is to access a vessel's communications systems and disable, disrupt and potentially destroy your shipping operations. Listen now as host Ian Bramson discusses the imminent threat of hacking maritime vessels in this latest episode of Risk Matters X.0.

Listen to more episodes in this Cyber Risk Series: https://bit.ly/2ywSHuG


Produced by Nancy Dunnahoe and Oscar Diaz, Digital Communications at ABS Group

Let's talk Catastrophic Risk. How have major industrial incidents, transportation accidents, terrorist attacks and natural disasters changed our understanding of risk? A fire at the Port of Beirut, on Lebanon's northern Mediterranean coast, and subsequent ammonium nitrate explosion on 4 August 2020 has brought new public awareness as we investigate how this devastating incident occurred.

In this episode, Host Matt Mowrer seeks answers from experts from ABS Group’s Extreme Loads and Structural Risk division. This specialized engineering team analyzes blast effects to understand how we can make buildings safer and more resilient to withstand disasters. Incident investigators Darrell Barker and Ben Harrison share technical insights on what we know about ammonium nitrate and what we can learn from these catastrophic incidents to improve awareness and better manage risk.

"This is the first large-scale ammonium nitrate event that has occurred in a major city during the smart phone era, in the daytime. So, we have tons of photo and video evidence [to analyze] what happened here," Matt Mowrer, ABS Group Director.

This series focuses on Catastrophic Risk and the outcomes from historic events that have shaped regulations and industry practices to manage the risk from man-made and natural disasters. Stay tuned for more risk matters.

About the Guests:

Ben Harrison, P.E. is a technical director in the Extreme Loads and Structural Risk division of ABS Group. Ben has led and actively participated in over 20 fire and explosion incident investigations during his professional career. His areas of expertise include the design, analysis, testing and investigation of structures subjected to energetic loads, including extreme wind, blast and debris impact. His responsibilities have included surveying structural damage to determine the magnitude of explosion blast loads, directional indicator mapping to determine explosion sources, fire mapping, evidence collection and storage to maintain chain of custody, deconstruction planning, regulatory interface support and root cause analysis. Some of his more notable investigation experience includes the 1998 DeBruce Grain Elevator explosion, the 2005 BP Refinery Explosion and the 2013 West Fertilizer Explosion.

Darrell D. Barker, P.E. is Vice President of the Extreme Loads and Structural Risk division. With over 37 years of experience in blast resistant design and construction, Darrell is a recognized industry leader in this field and speaks extensively on the subject to industry groups and government agencies. He has published more than 40 papers on explosion effects research and development as well as practical approaches to protection of structures against explosion hazards.

Darrell manages a unit of 50 professionals located across the U.S. specializing in structural analysis and design for building structures and offshore equipment subjected to extreme wind, seismic and blast loads. This division conducts structural reliability analysis for clients domestically and internationally who require innovative solutions to challenging problems.  

Darrell is active on several industry committees which address blast resistant design including the American Concrete Institute and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He has been a contributing author for technical publications, including Design of Blast Resistant Building in Petrochemical Facilities and the AISC Design Guide 56 Design of Blast Resistant Structures. He also chaired ACI Committee 370 on Short Duration Dynamic and Vibratory Effects and is a founding member of the Protective Glazing Council.

Produced by Nancy Dunnahoe and Oscar Diaz, Digital Communications at ABS Group

Episode 6: Cyber Risk Series - Sleek showstoppers at sea, Superyachts are privately owned luxury vessels with the latest and most advanced technology systems onboard. As mix-use spaces, megayachts present a high return on investment for hackers seeking collateral damage with serious personal, safety and financial consequences. As the current COVID-19 situation continues to impact operations globally, how is the yachting market a prime target for cyber attackers to exploit?

In this episode, Ian Bramson takes a closer look at this unique cyber environment with experts from luxury technology provider Van Berge Henegouwen (VBH) and its cyber partner, Atlas Cybersecurity.

"From an OT perspective, yachts have distinct sets of technologies," says Ben Dynkin, co-founder of Atlas Cybersecurity. "The reason cyber criminals are targeting them varies wildly. We are seeing a much broader spectrum of the kinds of risk facing this market—from extortion and blackmail attempts leveraging IoT based attacks to espionage efforts if you have CEOs and corporate executives onboard. There’s a panoply of attacks that can come across the wire." 

"Yachts are very specific. From an ownership and use point of view, they are private assets with professional needs," says Goran Antonijevic, Business Development Manager at VBH. "So, one of the main characteristics is diversity of use…from passenger ships and floating casinos, to an extension of a family’s home. All of these activities bring their own challenges and risks."

Listen to all six episodes in this Cyber Risk Series: https://bit.ly/2ywSHuG

Produced by Nancy Dunnahoe and Oscar Diaz, Digital Communications at ABS Group