The Port of Los Angeles has entered a multiyear agreement with IBM Security to design and operate a Port Cyber Resilience Center (CRC) that will help protect the organization's supply chain from cyber-related breaches. The agreement is aimed at improving the Port's cybersecurity readiness as well as enhancing threat sharing and collaboration within its supply chain ecosystem. 

The CRC will be a maritime Security Intelligence and Operations Center (SIOC) to automate threat collaboration and extend its reach beyond traditional maritime stakeholders to Port stakeholders that are more broadly involved in cargo flow, such cross-sector companies. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to contribute threat data to the CRC as well as benefit from the more extensive and accumulated threat intelligence made available to them through it.

The Port of Los Angeles is in the midst of an infrastructure investment program aimed at raising the bar for cargo efficiency, and it is also focused on new technologies to enhance digital information flow throughout the supply chain. With cyber threats emerging as reality for all industries, the Port is taking proactive steps to enhance its ecosystem's awareness and readiness to respond to cyber threats that could disrupt the flow of cargo.

"The Cyber Resilience Center will provide a cutting-edge early warning system to further defend the Port and its stakeholders against cyber threats," said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. "This will result in greater collective knowledge, enhanced data sharing throughout our Port ecosystem, and will help to maintain the flow of critical cargo."

The $6.8 million, three-year agreement with the Port of LA includes IBM Security software and services to design, install, operate and maintain the CRC.