Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic director focused on measurable results and operational excellence in maritime education. Integrates IMO/STCW regulations and ISO 21001/9001 f
Masters · 1600 h · 11 modules
Master's in Naval Cybersecurity
This program is designed to train the professionals who will protect the critical maritime infrastructure of the future. In response to the increasing cyber threats in the naval sector, this program offers comprehensive training…
Duration1600 h
FormatOnline
Starts28 December
Places20 / 20
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Programme overview
What is the Master’s in Naval Cybersecurity?
The Master in Naval Cybersecurity
This program is designed to train the professionals who will protect the critical maritime infrastructure of the future. In response to the increasing cyber threats in the naval sector, this program offers comprehensive training in onboard systems security, maritime communications protection, and international regulations compliance. You will learn to defend against targeted attacks, implement robust security protocols, and manage cybersecurity incidents in complex maritime environments.
Differentiating Advantages
- Specialized Focus: Cybersecurity applied to the naval sector, autonomous vessels, and smart ports.
- Hands-on Labs: Simulation of attacks and defenses in real naval environments.
- Industry Experts: Instructors with experience in naval and maritime cybersecurity.
- Relevant Certifications: Preparation for leading cybersecurity certifications.
- Professional Networking: Access to a network of contacts in the naval and cybersecurity industry.
Programme type
Master's Degree
Study mode
Online
Duration
1,600 hours
Modules
11
Start date
05-12-2026
Programme highlights
- Proactive Defense: Learn to anticipate and neutralize cyber threats in naval environments.
- Critical Infrastructure Security: Protect the control and communications systems vital to maritime operations.
- Naval Digital Forensics: Master the techniques to investigate incidents and track attackers in naval cyberspace.
- Regulatory Compliance: Understand the international cybersecurity regulations and standards applicable to the naval environment.
- Cyberwarfare Simulations: Participate in practical exercises to strengthen your skills in crisis situations.
- Get ready for To lead cyber defense in the naval industry with a strategic approach and the latest technologies.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 11 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Advanced strategies for the protection of navigation systems and communications in hostile maritime environments.
- Naval navigation systems architecture and design: fundamental principles, critical components and redundant configurations to ensure operational resistance in hostile scenarios
- Advanced maritime communication protocols: Detailed analysis of VHF, HF, satellite and digital data systems, with emphasis on encryption, authentication and mitigation of electronic interference
- Naval domain-specific cyber risk assessment and management: identification of internal and external threats, attack vectors and vulnerability analysis methodologies applied to maritime SCADA systems
- Implementation of cryptographic algorithms resistant to quantum attacks for data protection in transit and at rest in naval communication networks
- Development and application of intrusion detection and response systems (IDS/IPS) adapted to naval communication and navigation systems architecture, capable of operating in low bandwidth and high latency conditions
- Security in GNSS systems: advanced countermeasure techniques against spoofing and jamming attacks, including the use of real-time authentication signals and integration with redundant inertial systems
- ECDIS systems integration and shielding against cyber threats: firmware analysis, secure update management, and safeguard against malicious tampering
- Simulation and modelling of cyberattack scenarios in hostile environments for operational training and validation of defence strategies in real time
- International regulations and standards applicable to naval cybersecurity: Compliance with IMO, NIST, and military standards governing the protection of critical maritime infrastructure
- Cyber contingency operational planning: development of rapid recovery protocols, digital forensics analysis for incidents in navigation and communication systems, and establishment of electronic custody chains in naval environments
02
Proactive defence and response to cyberattacks in critical maritime infrastructure
- Fundamentals of proactive defence in naval cyberphysical systems: architecture, attack vectors and threat models specific to critical maritime infrastructure
- Analysis of vulnerabilities in industrial control networks (ICS/SCADA) on board and at coast stations, including Modbus, DNP3, and OPC UA protocols
- Implementation of intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS) systems applied to maritime environments with latency and limited bandwidth considerations
- Application of advanced network segmentation and micro-segmentation techniques to isolate critical subsystems on board and on the ground
- Development and deployment of honeypots and honeynets for the attraction and analysis of malicious activities aimed at naval platforms
- Incident management and response to cyberattacks: protocols, coordination between naval units and command centres, and establishment of specialised incident response centres (CSIRT) in the maritime domain
- Simulation and cyber warfare exercises: Creation of realistic attack scenarios, assessment of operational resilience and continuous improvement through targeted intrusion tests
- Cryptography applied to the protection of satellite communications, VHF links and maritime signalling systems to guarantee the integrity and confidentiality of operations
- Continuous monitoring and digital forensic analysis in critical maritime infrastructure: capture, preservation and correlation of evidence to support post-incident investigations
- International regulations and standards applicable to naval cybersecurity: compliance with IMO, NIST, ISO/IEC 27001 guidelines, and their practical implementation in maritime operating environments
03
Innovation and Cyber Defence Strategies in Navigation Systems and Maritime Communications in Hostile Environments
- Naval System Cybersecurity Fundamentals: Threats, Vulnerabilities and Attack Vectors of the Maritime Domain
- Secure navigation systems architecture and design: GNSS, radar, INS and ECDIS systems with advanced security protocols
- Cryptography applied to maritime communications: symmetric and asymmetric encryption, key management and digital certification in naval networks
- Cyber Incident Detection and Response: Real-time monitoring tools, naval forensic analysis, and containment protocols in hostile environments
- In-depth defence for navigation control systems: network segmentation, specialised firewalls, and critical app sandboxing
- Risk Management and Impact Assessment in Naval Operations: Advanced Methodologies to Identify and Mitigate Cyber Risks in Strategic Maritime Missions
- International regulations and standards in naval cybersecurity: compliance with IMO, NATO CNAD and specific guidelines for the protection of critical infrastructures
- Implementation of artificial intelligence for cyber defence: predictive systems, anomalous behaviour analysis and automation of responses in naval cyber defence
- Secure maritime communications systems: Satellite link encryption, interference resistant protocols and protection against electromagnetic interference
- Advanced simulation and training practices: coordinated cyber attack exercises, joint response and evaluation of operational resilience in real and simulated scenarios
04
Comprehensive Cyber Defence of Naval Platforms: Safe Architectures, Hardening, Advanced Detection, Forensics and Operational Response in Navigation and Propulsion Systems
- Fundamentals and challenges of cyber defence in naval environments: specific threats and attack vectors targeting critical maritime systems
- Safe architectures for naval platforms: design and segmentation of networks, demilitarized zones (DMZ) and inspection chambers for isolation of navigation and propulsion systems
- Advanced Hardening Techniques in Naval Embedded Systems: Secure Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) Configuration, Access Control and Firmware Secure Update
- Implementation of security policies in marine SCADA systems: risk analysis, privileged access control and management of specific vulnerabilities of industrial equipment
- Advanced detection systems in maritime environments: integration of IDS/IPS with naval telemetry, behaviour analysis (UEBA) and contextual correlation for early intrusion identification
- Naval Digital Forensic Analysis Tools and Methodologies: Safe Collection of Evidence, Preservation of Integrity and Traceability in Navigation and Propulsion Systems
- Operational response to cyber incidents on naval platforms: protocols for containment, eradication and recovery adapted to the limitations and criticality of the maritime environment
- Applied cryptography and robust authentication mechanisms in naval systems: Implementation of public and private key, digital certificates and security hardware (HSM)
- Naval communications security: protection of satellite links, tactical networks and critical transmission protocols to prevent interception and manipulation
- International regulations and standards for maritime cybersecurity: Analysis of the IMO resolution MSc-Fal.1/Circ.3 and Compliance on state-of-the-art naval platforms
05
Secure architectures and advanced cyber resilience techniques in military ship control systems
- Fundamentals of secure architectures: Principles of design, system isolation and redundancy in naval environments
- Advanced Cyber Resilience Models: Detection, Response, and Recovery from Attacks in Naval Control Systems
- Protection of SCADA and DCS embedded systems: network segmentation, access control and data encryption in real time
- Specific Naval Communication Protocols: CAN Bus Analysis and Assurance, MIL-STD-1553 and Critical Interconnection Systems
- Hardening of hardware and firmware: Techniques to mitigate vulnerabilities in PLCs and devices integrated in military ships
- Implementation of Zero Trust policies on maritime platforms: multifactor authentication, micro-segmentation and continuous monitoring
- Advanced threat simulation and analysis (APT) targeting navigation systems and weapons: proactive identification and mitigation
- Tools and frameworks for cyber incident management in sensitive maritime environments
- Integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning for behavioural detection and anomalies in naval control systems
- Recovery Strategies and Operational Continuity: Failover Protocols, Real-Time Backups and Cyber Resistance Tests
06
Advanced Strategies for Protection, Response and Resilience in Navigation Systems and Maritime Communications in Hostile Environments
- Models and architectures of maritime communications and navigation systems: critical components and vectors of cyber threat
- Advanced risk analysis: dynamic assessment of vulnerabilities in hostile maritime environments and sophisticated attack scenarios
- Cryptographic protection protocols for NAVCOM communications: Implementation of TLS, IPsec and new quantum encryption techniques in satellite and RF networks
- Intrusion detection and mitigation: IIDS/IPS systems specialised in maritime signals and digital forensics in naval data traffic
- Integration of automatic and manual response systems: Orchestration of playbooks based on artificial intelligence and machine learning for targeted attacks
- Operational resilience: design and management of redundant and secure architectures to ensure continuity of navigation and communications in electronic warfare scenarios
- Evaluation and control of risks associated with electromagnetic interference (EMI) and denial of service (DOS) attacks on satellite links and radiofrequency maritime
- International regulations and standards: regulatory compliance with IMO, NATO, and local agencies in maritime cyber defence policies
- Advanced simulation of cyber attacks and cyber defence exercises: practical implementation in naval simulation environments for training and protocol validation
- Post-incident forensic analysis: techniques for collecting, preserving and analysing digital evidence on engaged maritime navigation and control platforms
07
Proactive Cyber Defence Strategies and Resilience in Critical Maritime Infrastructures
- Fundamentals of cybersecurity in critical maritime infrastructure: specific threats, attack vectors and naval context
- Threat and vulnerability models: Risk analysis applied to SCADA systems, control centres and embarked platforms
- Advanced Proactive Defence Strategies: Early Detection, Artificial Intelligence for Behaviour Analysis and Automated Response
- Implementation of intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) specialised in maritime and satellite networks
- Safe architecture for maritime industrial networks: segmentation, micro-segmentation and use of next generation firewalls
- Operational Resilience and Business Continuity: Strategies for Incident Recovery and Operation Assurance in Hostile Environments
- Application of international regulations and standards (IEC 62443, NIST SP 800-82) in critical naval infrastructure
- Naval digital forensic techniques: identification, preservation and analysis of post-cyberattack evidence in maritime technological systems
- Red Teams and Blue Teams in maritime environments: Pilot exercises to strengthen cyber defence and advanced attack response capacity
- Blockchain and cryptography integration to ensure the integrity and security of critical communications and logistics information
08
Advanced Satellite Communications Cryptography and Security Techniques for Safe Naval Operations
- Basics of cryptography applied to naval systems: symmetric and asymmetric algorithms, flow and block encryption, hash functions and digital authentication.
- Crypto protocols for satellite communications: TLS/SSL analysis, IPsec, and VPNs adapted to naval and satellite environments.
- Design and architecture of secure networks in naval satellite systems: segmentation, access control, and distributed cryptographic key management.
- Quantum cryptography and its impact on naval security: Principles of quantum distribution of keys (QKD), quantum attacks and post-quantum resistance.
- Implementation of multi-factor authentication mechanisms in satellite terminals for naval defence.
- Security in military satellite links: interference mitigation, signal encryption and analysis of specific threats such as denial of service and spoofing.
- Resilience and continuity protocols in satellite communication networks: failure recovery, cryptographic redundancy and secure synchronisation.
- International regulations and standards on satellite communications security in naval operations, including stanags and applicable NIST guidelines.
- Tools and platforms for real-time cryptographic management: encryption software, security hardware (HSM) and integrated monitoring systems.
- Study of real cases and practical simulations: Analysis of incidents of cyberattacks in naval satellite systems and response methodologies to security gaps.
09
Advanced protection strategies, forensic detection and operational response in critical maritime navigation and communications systems in hostile environments
- Naval Cybersecurity Fundamentals: Specific Threats in Critical Navigation and Maritime Communications Systems
- Advanced encryption and authentication protocols in maritime networks: implementation and vulnerabilities
- Critical systems architecture in hostile environments: resilience, redundancy and network segmentation
- Proactive intrusion detection in SCADA systems and control of naval platforms
- Digital forensic methodologies applied to incidents in navigation and maritime communications equipment
- Analysis and correlation of logs and events in navigation devices (ECDIS, AIS, Radar, VHF) for attack research
- Operational response to cyber-physical incidents: protocols, multidisciplinary teams and inter-agency coordination
- Advanced attack simulation (APT) and maritime communication and navigation systems resilience assessment
- Cyber insurance crisis management: secure communication, operational continuity and recovery in hostile maritime environments
- International regulations and applicable standards in the protection of critical naval infrastructures (IMO, NIST, IEC 62443)
10
Naval Cybersecurity Regulation, Audit and Governance
- Cybersecurity in defence regulations
- national security scheme
- NATO Cyber Defence Requirements
- IMO and IACS guidelines
- Cyber risk management
- Security audits
- Systems certification
- Management of suppliers in defence
- Training and awareness of endowments
- Cybersecurity Master Plan
11
Master’s Final Project in Naval Cybersecurity
- Naval Cyber Defence Conceptual Framework: Contemporary Challenges and Evolution of Threats in Hostile Maritime Environments
- Design and development of integrated resilience architectures: principles of redundancy, segmentation and access control in naval critical systems
- Advanced Threat Modelling (APT) targeting navigation and communications systems on naval platforms
- Implementation of early detection mechanisms: behaviour analysis, event correlation, and use of artificial intelligence in naval networks
- Automated cyber incident response protocols: real-time countermeasure activation and guaranteed operational recovery
- Integration of C4ISR systems with cybersecurity solutions: assurance of the chain of command and control under adverse conditions and electronic warfare
- Evaluation and mitigation of vulnerabilities in GNSS, radar, AIS and naval communications systems
- Simulation and analysis of cyberattack scenarios: proactive defensive strategies to ensure the continuity of maritime missions
- International regulations and technological standards applied to naval cyber defence: compliance and adaptation in multinational interoperability environments
- Development of contingency plans and recovery of specific disasters for critical maritime and naval infrastructure
Workload
Study Time and Workload
1600 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Naval officers, naval engineers, and maritime security personnel seeking to protect ships, ports, and critical infrastructure against cyberattacks.IT and cybersecurity professionals interested in specializing in the naval environment and the unique challenges of protecting maritime systems.Systems and network administrators at shipping companies who need to strengthen information security and
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
Verified reviews
Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Protecting critical maritime infrastructure
- 02Managing cybersecurity incidents in naval environments
- 03Develop and implement naval cyber defense strategies
- 04Leading cyberattack response teams at sea
- 05Assessing and mitigating cyber risks in naval systems
- 06Design and ensure secure naval communications
Careers
Career Opportunities
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02Naval Cybersecurity Analyst: Protection of critical systems and naval networks against cyber threats.
03Maritime Cybersecurity Consultant: Risk assessment, design, and implementation of security solutions for the naval industry.
04Naval Systems Security Engineer: Development and implementation of security measures in the architecture of embarked systems.
05Naval Cybersecurity Incident Manager: Response to and recovery from cyber incidents in naval environments.
06Naval Cybersecurity Auditor: Evaluation of compliance with security regulations and standards on ships and naval bases.
07Maritime Cyber Threat Investigator: Analysis of malware and attack techniques targeting the naval industry.
08Naval Cyber Intelligence Specialist: Gathering and analyzing information on cyber threats to support strategic decision-making.
09Naval Cybersecurity Officer: Protecting the Navy's digital assets and communications infrastructure.
Questions
Entry Requirements
Yeah.
Yes. The itinerary includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with harbor, ocean, fog, storm, and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/practical placements through agreements.
Maritime or naval cybersecurity.
Recommended functional SMCP. We offer support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a relevant degree or experience in maritime/port operations. The admissions interview will confirm suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Collaborations and the Alumni Network.
Simulator practice (rubrics), defeat plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and applied TFM.
A degree from Navalis Magna Institute + operational portfolio (tracks, SOPs, reports and KPIs) useful for audits and employment.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
```htmlAcademic/Professional Profile:Bachelor's/Undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related STEM field; or demonstrable professional experience in cybersecurity, defense, or the naval sector.Language Proficiency:Technical English (B2 or higher) is essential for accessing specialized documentation and resources.Recommended Prior Knowledge:Fundamentals of networks, operating systems, programming, and computer security. Basic knowledge of naval architecture and onboard systems is a plus.Documentation:Updated CV, copy of degree or acade
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
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