MDM-Protect
Real-time cybersecurity. On board. Always on.
The first and only OT cybersecurity solution built specifically for inland shipping. Installed on your vessel and monitored from shore.
Your ship is more connected than you think.
Track pilots, engine management, navigation systems, and communication equipment. Modern inland vessels run on digital systems that are increasingly connected to the internet. That connectivity makes operations smarter, but it also creates vulnerabilities that most operators have never had to think about before.
Every connected device on board is a potential entry point; the dishwasher with a wifi connection, the contractor's laptop plugged in for maintenance, the update downloaded from an unknown server. In the worst case, a compromised system can affect how your vessel operates and not just your administration.
This is not a theoretical risk. It is already happening in maritime operations worldwide. And with NIS2 coming into force, it is also becoming a regulatory obligation, not just for shipowners, but for every cargo owner, charterer and logistics partner who depends on your vessel being safe and operational.
An immobilised vessel does not just cost you time. It costs your entire chain.
What is MDM-PROTECT?
MDM-PROTECT is a compact hardware unit that will be installed on board of your vessel. It sits between your IT systems (internet, communication, administration) and your OT systems (navigation, engine management, operational controls), and makes sure the two never become a liability for each other.
Think of it as a digital lock between the parts of your ship that connect to the outside world, and the parts that keep it moving. If something suspicious comes in, it is stopped before it reaches the systems that matter.
How it works
MDM-PROTECT creates a protective layer between the two worlds on board your vessel: the IT environment (everything connected to the internet) and the OT environment (the operational systems that control your vessel).
1. Installation on board
Our team installs the MDM-PROTECT unit on your vessel and configures it to your specific network setup. No two ships are the same, that's why every installation is tailored to how your systems are connected. This typically takes one working day.
2. Continuous monitoring
From the moment MDM-PROTECT is active, it monitors every data packet travelling through your network, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The unit uses AI-driven detection to learn what normal traffic looks like on your vessel, so it can immediately flag anything that deviates from that pattern.
3. Threat detection and response
When something unusual is detected, such as an unauthorised access attempt, unexpected communication from a device, or traffic patterns that suggest a breach, our control room is alerted immediately. We assess the situation and act: isolating the threat, notifying you and supporting you through any necessary steps. Most threats are neutralised before they cause any impact to your operations.
4. Monthly reporting
Every month you receive a report covering network activity, any detected anomalies, actions taken and your current compliance status. This documentation is exactly what cargo owners, charterers and authorities will ask for under NIS2 and it is ready to share at the click of a button.
What does 24/7 monitoring actually mean?
Cybersecurity is one of those things you only notice when it fails. MDM-PROTECT works in the background, every hour of every day, so that you do not have to think about it. But that does not mean nothing is happening. Here is what our team sees, and acts on, while your vessel is underway:
A maintenance engineer boards with a laptop.
The device connects to the ship's network and immediately attempts to access systems outside its authorised scope. MDM-PROTECT flags the anomaly. Our control room reviews it, confirms it is unauthorised and blocks the connection. You are notified. The engineer never reaches your operational systems.
A firmware update is pushed to a navigation component.
The update originates from an unverified source. MDM-PROTECT intercepts the traffic before it reaches the system. Our team investigates and confirms it did not come from the manufacturer. The update is blocked and you receive a full incident report.
An on-board device starts sending unusual data.
A connected sensor begins transmitting data to an external address, outside normal operating patterns. MDM-PROTECT detects the deviation within seconds. The connection is flagged, investigated and closed before any data leaves your network.
Nothing unusual is detected.
Most days, nothing suspicious happens. But the monitoring runs regardless, logging every connection, verifying every pattern, and building the documentation trail that proves your vessel is cyber-compliant. That log is what you hand to your cargo owner, charterer or inspector when they ask.
Who is MDM-PROTECT for?
Shipowners and operators
Whether you run one vessel or a growing fleet, MDM-PROTECT gives you real-time protection and the compliance documentation to prove it. No technical knowledge required on board, our team handles everything from the shore.
Cargo owners and charterers
Under NIS2, your cybersecurity obligation does not stop at your own office. If your cargo moves on an inland vessel, that vessel is part of your chain and its cyber maturity is your responsibility too. MDM-PROTECT gives the operators you work with a verifiable standard. And it gives you the documentation to demonstrate due diligence across your entire supply chain.
Fleet managers
Managing multiple vessels means managing multiple risks. MDM-PROTECT scales with your fleet, with each vessel individually monitored and all reporting centralised. One overview. One compliance trail. No surprises.
NIS2: what you need to know
The EU's NIS2 directive extends cybersecurity requirements across critical sectors, including transport and logistics. Vessels operating in or connected to regulated sectors must demonstrate that they have assessed their cyber risks and taken appropriate steps to address them. That means both IT and OT. Both the vessel and the office. And it applies not just to shipowners, but to the cargo owners and logistics operators who depend on them.
MDM-PROTECT supports NIS2 compliance directly:
- Continuous monitoring of IT and OT systems on board
- Incident detection, response and documentation
- Monthly compliance reports, ready to share with any authority or chain partner
- Expert guidance on what NIS2 means for your specific situation
NIS2 will come into force in the Netherlands in July 2026. If you are not sure whether it applies to you, or to the operators you work with, get in touch and we will give you a straight answer.
Everything included
MDM-PROTECT is not just hardware. Every installation includes the full package:
- Professional installation and custom network configuration on board
- 24/7 monitoring from our control room
- Immediate incident detection, notification and response
- Monthly reports on network activity, incidents and compliance status
- Automatic firmware and security updates, always current, no action needed
- NIS2 compliance documentation and expert guidance
From the moment we install MDM-PROTECT, our team is watching. You focus on sailing.