{mprestriction ids="1,2"} VCell is a fully integrated ICT solution, specifically designed to meet the needs of the maritime industry. VCell provides a smooth, secure, fully controlled, consolidated, centralised and multi-functional IT environment onboard for digital infrastructure and ship-to-shore communications that are managed and administered remotely on a 24-hour basis.

During the early stages of the VCell certification process, Bureau Veritas provided guidance for its cybersecurity requirements and protection of critical assets, such as component hardening; user profiles; authentication; encryption; storage; connections; and remote access. Bureau Veritas and IQ Solutions have established rigorous evaluation and monitoring procedures of VCell to ensure the integrity and availability of information. A survey was performed to validate specific points such as equipment compliance; accounts and security policies; network architecture and security; as well as recovery and patch management procedures.

Vincent Lagny, head of cybersecurity for Bureau Veritas, marine & offshore, commented: “This certificate is proof that VCell meets Bureau Veritas’s cyber rule requirements. More importantly, this is the result of a fruitful collaboration between the cyber experts from both our companies. Relationships based on trust are the cornerstone to the way we work with stakeholders to build a solid cybersecurity eco-system.”

“Working with Bureau Veritas and reaching full compliance with BV’s cybersecurity rules was an unparalleled experience. BV’s professionalism and vast know-how in both ICT and the maritime industry, contributed to the completion of our vision, classifying VCell as fully compliant for a Cyber Safety, 360 degree vessel ICT ecosystem, for the world merchant fleet to enjoy” said Paris Papanastasiou, managing director and CEO of IQ Solutions. {/mprestriction}