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Shaul Schneider, Chairman of the Board of Ashdod Port, participated this week in the "Cybertech" conference in Tel Aviv, the world's largest cyber event outside the US. During the conference, Schneider took part in a one-on-one interview with the former head of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, Yigal Unna, as well as a professional panel discussing evolving trends in maritime cyber. In his remarks, Schneider emphasized that Ashdod Port constitutes critical infrastructure, handling approximately 40% of the goods entering Israel, a figure that necessitates strict maintenance of functional continuity at all times.
Meanwhile, Schneider revealed the concerning data behind the scenes of port management over the past two years, noting that during the war period, the port faced cyberattacks on an enormous scale. According to him, "At times, up to a thousand attacks were recorded in a single week, which created a significant challenge but did not lead to a halt in activity for even a moment." He explained that dealing with these threats required a deep change in the cyber concept and led to the establishment of special teams. These specialized in blocking sophisticated attacks aimed not only at traditional IT systems but also at OT (Operational Technology) systems, in close cooperation with the National Cyber Directorate.
Beyond defense, Schneider emphasized that a strategic decision was made at the port to turn the challenge into a growth opportunity. As part of this move, the port currently operates a technological "hub" that serves as a platform for identifying and developing dedicated solutions for the port world, while mentoring startups from the development stage to field use as a "live port." Schneider noted that despite the conservative nature of the industry, the port chose to lead innovation in cyber for the benefit of strengthening the port and the entire global supply chain.
According to him, looking to the future, Ashdod Port is working to expand its global ecosystem, as it already holds about 30 "innovation embassies" around the world for the purpose of knowledge sharing and mutual learning.
In addition to existing collaborations with ports in Greece and Cyprus, Schneider revealed that negotiations are currently underway with the Port of Hamburg with the aim of adding it to the innovation network. This move is intended to influence the global ecosystem in the field of maritime cyber and ensure the resilience of all parties involved in international trade.
