US Heads Maritime Cybersecurity Exercises in Manila

Early last month in December, a high-impact cybersecurity tabletop exercise and chemical security workshop was held in Manila with the Philippine Government. The exercise focused on maritime cybersecurity, testing scenarios involving port systems like automated cargo handling systems and port communications networks. The exercise was devised by the United States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and the U.S. Embassy in Manila as a result of the first U.S.-Japan-Philippines Cyber and Digital Dialogue, held in October 2024. From the USDHS, experts were provided from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).

This was the third major Indo-Pacific maritime cyber event held since the Trilateral event in October. The first two were held in Indonesia and Japan.

In the exercise, stakeholders from both Philippine private and public sectors teamed with American experts to face down complex, simulated cyber incidents, testing their established processes and protocols. Key stakeholders included personnel from public agencies such as the Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTR), the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Security Council, and ASIAN Terminal Incorporated, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Once the exercise was over, a workshop was hosted by USDHS and DTRA to go over best practices in chemical security and risk management in the marine transportation system. CISA Experts held briefings on mitigation strategies for addressing risk related to the proliferation of chemical weapons. USCG presented lessons learned from the deployment of cybersecurity controls such as maritime cyber incident response and information sharing about maritime cyber risks between nations.

Following this activity, the United States Department of Homeland Security has expressed its commitment to continue its partnership with the Government of the Philippines on programming and engagements in the Philippines focused on developing a chemical security standard and a trained workforce.