British port deploys AI system to keep attackers at bay

Port IT chief claims that conventional cyber security methods are no longer working

One of Britain's largest network of ports has implemented an artificial intelligence system in a bid to defend its systems from growing cyber threats.

Harwich Haven Authority, a trust port based in Essex, has installed Darktrace's Industrial Immune System to identify and respond to potential cyber attacks.

A major infrastructure provider in the UK, the Authority handles many of the world's largest container ships and delivers shipping services across five commercial ports.

These include the Ports of Felixstowe, Ipswich, Navyard, Mistley and Harwich International, all of which are seen as a gateway for European and global trade.

The decision by the port to invest in an AI cyber security solution comes as hackers and nation states continue to target UK critical infrastructure.

Matt Calver, IT infrastructure engineer at Harwich Haven Authority, said the technology means the port can continue to operate without any interruptions:

"It is critical that the trust port is fully operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and Darktrace helps us achieve this by detecting threats before they escalate,"

The port has intercepted cyber-attacks in the past using already-deployed security solutions, admitted Calver. But, he added, the AI solution has allowed the port to increase its detection and reporting capabilities.

"The technology provides insights into our network that would be impossible to gather without the help of artificial intelligence. We could never be 100 per cent sure about what was going on on our network before we deployed Darktrace," he explained.

Calver claims that conventional cyber security methods are no longer working: "Attackers are using increasingly novel methods to try and breach traditional defences," he said.

"Reliance on signature-based tools such as anti-virus and malware engines is no longer enough to protect from the unseen threats appearing daily."

He sees artificial intelligence as the answer. "Darktrace and its AI technology allows us to detect unknown and unseen threats, so is an important part of our cyber security posture.

"As the technology employs unsupervised machine learning, we are not solely relying on traditional forms of protection to detect the subtle/stealthy attacks that are becoming more prevalent."

The Industrial Immune System uses a range of machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to develop a better understanding of every device and user connected to a network.

Darktrace said its technology is capable of learning the normal 'pattern of life' of devices, controllers and networks, making it possible to generate insights that can help IT teams quickly spot and respond to threats.

Andrew Tsonchev, director of technology of Darktrace Industrial, said increasing numbers of organisations are investing in AI and other emerging technologies to transform their cyber security infrastructure:

"The defence of our critical national infrastructure is of paramount importance in keeping society running efficiently.

"The cyber-threat landscape is evolving at pace, with threats becoming more stealthy and fast-moving, and humans alone cannot keep up.

"Harwich Haven Authority joins a growing number of organisations across the world relying on our artificial intelligence technology to defend their increasingly complex networks."