Embracing Digital Transformation, Episode #322

"Navigating Cybersecurity in Maritime Transportation"
Host: Dr. Darren Pulsipher
Guests: Betsy Freeman (Synergist Mobility Accelerator), Brock Hashimoto (Argosy Group)
Release Date: February 3, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Darren Pulsipher explores the evolving challenges and opportunities of cybersecurity in the maritime transportation sector, focusing on how innovations and regulatory changes are driving both technological and cultural adaptation. With guests Betsy Freeman—a seasoned defense and technology leader—and Brock Hashimoto, founder of the Argosy Group, the conversation centers on increasing digital connectivity at sea, the convergence of IT/OT (Information Technology/Operational Technology), industry inertia, regulatory responses, and new collaborative solutions to protect the business and operational integrity of maritime transportation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Superhero Origin Stories (01:00–04:19)

• Betsy Freeman chronicles her journey from Air Force service and high-level DoD roles to founding Synergist Mobility Accelerator, focusing on management consulting and cybersecurity for Michigan’s transportation sector.
• Brock Hashimoto details his Coast Guard background, maritime inspection experience, and transition to business founder, using his operational expertise to specialize in maritime cybersecurity needs.
• Memorable moment: Dr. Pulsipher’s playful assertion “I only have superheroes on the show” sets a collaborative, lighthearted tone.

2. Why Cybersecurity Matters in Maritime (04:19–07:00)

• Dr. Pulsipher highlights the disconnect many feel between maritime operations and cyber risk, questioning, “Unless you’re moving data centers on barges or something... I mean, maybe I’m concerned about cybersecurity there” (05:02).
• Brock Hashimoto explains the dramatic increase in network connectivity aboard ships, driven by modern crew expectations and owner demand for real-time monitoring:
  “Here we are, twenty years later, and everyone wants to be connected constantly… it’s easy to be connected. And… there’s definitely a threat level there to be hacked. We’ve seen that… from GPS spoofing to GPS denials…” (06:11)

3. The Growing IT/OT Convergence (07:00–13:43)

• Betsy Freeman describes how security in transportation is now inseparable from digital considerations, regardless of military or commercial context: “It’s a seamless integration between the IT and the OT… it’s an ecosystem of all the things that we run, right?” (09:40)

• Discussion of how previously strict separations between onboard operational systems and IT are rapidly dissolving under business pressures:

  • Owners and operators demand more data, often merging IT and OT, despite risks.
  • Traditional fallback navigation skills (sextants, compasses) coexist with digital management (apps, TMS).

• Key Takeaway: Cybersecurity in maritime is not simply a technical challenge but a core business risk:
  “At the end of the day, you’re running on information… cybersecurity is a business decision. It’s a business risk.” (Repeated and emphasized by Betsy at 12:14 & start of episode)

4. Cultural Barriers & Industry Tradition (13:43–15:58)

• Brock Hashimoto attributes slow adoption to maritime’s deeply rooted traditions:
  “The maritime industry is rooted in tradition to its own fault, sometimes… There’s a reluctance to admit that yeah, these vessels are, there is a threat...” (14:04, 14:50)
• Dr. Pulsipher quips, “Do you still get keelhauled if you do something bad?” (14:18) to highlight cultural inertia.
• Broad consensus: Culture and lack of awareness about actual cyber threats slow progress.

5. Regulatory Pressure and Compliance (15:58–19:18)

• International Push:
  • IMO (International Maritime Organization) and classification societies have been advancing cyber regulations, but U.S. adoption lagged due to Coast Guard jurisdiction.
  • Coast Guard’s 2025 cybersecurity regulations mark a major shift; compliance is now not optional for vessels and facilities.
• Brock:
  “If it isn’t required, it’s just not … going to be done. So there has to be some requirement, some regulatory backing to really push that piece forward.” (17:41)

6. Risk & The Human Factor (18:17–21:31)

• Betsy Freeman’s compact mirror demonstration:
  • Culturally, people themselves can be the biggest barriers to change: “I take my compact out of my purse and I open it and … I say, right here is a barrier.” (18:31)
  • Ultimately, cyber is just one facet of overall “security”; the business impact, not just regulatory compliance or technical hurdles, should drive adoption.
• Discussion: Will the industry change proactively, or will it require a major incident?
  • Betsy warns about broader digital risks (“containers on the ship have computers in them monitoring what’s in there... transportation management systems ... run the ballast...”) emphasizing how operational technology is already digital and vulnerable (20:45–21:22).

7. From Evangelism to Action: Solutions for the Industry (21:31–27:34)

• Evangelism giving way to solutions:
  • With compliance dates looming, the discussion has moved from “Why?” to “How?”
  • Argosy Group and Synergist Mobility Accelerator are collaborating (Trident Shield Alliance) to provide one-stop compliance and cybersecurity services for maritime clients.
• Focus: Not just big enterprises, but small and mid-sized operators—those with only “a boat and two barges”—who lack internal resources and knowledge.
• Betsy:
  “Big business ... can take the big scale stuff... Even mid tiers have a much greater ability ... [Brock] said, you figure out what the small business solution looks like...” (25:13)

8. Collaboration as a Best Practice (27:34–28:55)

• The organizational alliance model allows each party to focus on their strengths (compliance vs cybersecurity) and better serve the full spectrum of the industry:
  • “Instead of trying to build up all the expertise in one place, you’re forming these alliances. I think it’s a great way to go...” – Dr. Pulsipher (27:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I only have superheroes on the show and every superhero has a background story.”
  – Dr. Darren Pulsipher (00:57)

• “At the end of the day, you’re running on information... cybersecurity is a business decision. It’s a business risk.”
  – Betsy Freeman (00:00, 12:14)

• “The maritime industry is rooted in tradition to its own fault... There’s a reluctance to admit that these vessels...there is a threat there.”
  – Brock Hashimoto (14:04–14:50)

• “It’s a seamless integration between the IT and the OT… it’s an ecosystem of all the things that we run, right?”
  – Betsy Freeman (09:40)

• “If it isn’t required, it’s just not ... going to be done. Some regulatory backing to really push that piece forward.”
  – Brock Hashimoto (17:41)

• “You could delete the word cybersecurity from anything. Security is the key. Cyber is part of the overall security of the business…”
  – Betsy Freeman (18:45)

• [On the collaborative model:] “...Instead of trying to build up all the expertise in one place, you’re forming these alliances. I think it’s a great way to go...”
  – Dr. Pulsipher (27:34)

Important Timestamps

• 01:31: Betsy Freeman’s professional background.
• 03:09: Brock Hashimoto’s origin story.
• 06:11: The new landscape: always-connected ships and new cyber threats.
• 09:40: The dependence and convergence of IT and OT.
• 12:14: Cybersecurity as a business risk.
• 14:04–14:50: The impact of tradition and culture on maritime cybersecurity progress.
• 17:41: Regulatory push: IMO, class societies, and U.S. Coast Guard actions.
• 18:31: Human factor as barrier to successful cybersecurity adoption.
• 22:26: From education to actionable solutions—what vendors and alliances are doing.
• 27:34: Collaboration as a best-practice model.

Resources & Further Information

• Argosy Group Cybersecurity Page: argosygroup.com/cybersecurity
• Trident Shield Alliance: Joint effort between Argosy and Synergist Mobility for turnkey maritime cyber compliance.
• Contact for Small and Mid-Size Operators: See Argosy’s website for alliance partners and solutions.

Tone & Style

The episode is frank, colloquial, and direct, balancing expert technical insights with a business-oriented, pragmatic approach. The hosts and guests make cybersecurity approachable and relevant—especially for industry leaders hungry for trustworthy, actionable guidance.

Summary Prepared by PodcastExpert AI