Information technology network security risk assessment and management framework for shipping companies

Shipping companies are high-vulnerability information handling organizations (HIHOs). In the past, such companies used exclusively HIHO private communication networks and own satellite resources in order to share and transport sensitive information. In recent years, the ability for the HIHO network users to exploit the advantages of the low-vulnerability information handling organizations' (LIHOs) value added networks, has led to the need for augmentation of the HIHO networks. In the maritime sector, a push-and-pull effect on the need and demand to transfer information onboard and ashore has led many companies to experiment with interconnected HIHO and LIHO open distributed systems and networks, for their ship-to-shore communications. Security then becomes an issue in a domain, onboard-ashore data transmissions, where little information on the level of risk is available. This paper proposes a risk assessment and management framework to assist in countermeasure selection and level of LIHO network use definition. The model is ultimately applicable where information on potential risks and their impact is minimum and simultaneously changeable. The model is connected to a security profile for interconnected HIHO and LIHO open distributed systems and networks.     

Exploring ways to determine an alternative strategic road network in a metropolitan city: A multi-criteria analysis approach

Street functional classification comprises a principal element of urban road networks. However, the conventional approach that has dominated urban and transport planning, has given main priority on car movement. This condition lead to significant negative impacts on cities such as major severances to the urban fabric, low multimodality level, inaccessible road environment for pedestrians and cyclists. As a result, it is clear that we should embark into a new hierarchy system, enhancing and supporting sustainable transport modes.The current research intends to develop a method that determines the strategic road network of a metropolitan region based on a multicriteria analysis process (MCA). More specifically, at first, we created 3 alternatives of re-defining the current strategic road network of the study area. These alternatives propose 3 different strategic network classifications according to several parameters; i) connectivity properties, ii) route position in the road network, iii) urban interest, iv) existence of major public transport lines and metropolitan cycling routes, as well as v) their existing classification condition. Afterwards, we evaluate these alternatives using multicriteria analysis (REGIME method) in order to choose the most efficient one. The evaluation process uses various criteria which cover a considerable range of urban and transport issues. The selected alternative adopts a two-dimensional matrix approach, which addresses the significance of the routes and the modes prioritized. The method is applied to the metropolitan area of Athens in Greece.It is worth noting that the selected alternative can bring about notable benefits for the Greek capital, such as increase of walking, cycling and public transport share, improvement of traffic safety level, greener mobility (less GHG emissions and energy consumption), enhancement of the urban realm, better accessibility and coherence of the urban fabric. The method proposed, is a human-oriented planning tool which provides priority to sustainable modes and could be replicated to other areas with similar characteristics as well.     

Information technology network security risk assessment and management framework for shipping companies

Shipping companies are high-vulnerability information handling organizations (HIHOs). In the past, such companies used exclusively HIHO private communication networks and own satellite resources in order to share and transport sensitive information. In recent years, the ability for the HIHO network users to exploit the advantages of the low-vulnerability information handling organizations’ (LIHOs) value added networks, has led to the need for augmentation of the HIHO networks. In the maritime sector, a push-and-pull effect on the need and demand to transfer information onboard and ashore has led many companies to experiment with interconnected HIHO and LIHO open distributed systems and networks, for their ship-to-shore communications. Security then becomes an issue in a domain, onboard–ashore data transmissions, where little information on the level of risk is available. This paper proposes a risk assessment and management framework to assist in countermeasure selection and level of LIHO network use definition. The model is ultimately applicable where information on potential risks and their impact is minimum and simultaneously changeable. The model is connected to a security profile for interconnected HIHO and LIHO open distributed systems and networks.