How TrueOcean Ensures Security for Offshore Data Management

The Situation: Managing Underwater Sensor Data

Offshore wind developers and survey companies operate in a highly competitive and data-sensitive environment. The underwater sensor data they acquire is not only expensive but also crucial for strategic decision-making, particularly during the early phases of bidding for offshore wind areas but also during the operational phase. Moreover, this data is often tied to critical underwater infrastructure (CUI), making its security and management paramount.

The challenge lies in managing large volumes of data while ensuring its safety, accessibility, and usability. Developers need robust systems to analyze and share data without compromising its integrity or security, all while adhering to stringent industry regulations.

The Problems Offshore Wind Developers Face

The offshore industry faces several challenges when it comes to managing underwater sensor data:

• High Sensitivity of Data: Underwater sensor data often provides a competitive advantage and must be protected from theft or unauthorized access.
• Costly Data Acquisition: With data acquisition being expensive, any loss or corruption can result in significant financial setbacks.
• Regulatory Compliance: Offshore developers must navigate an evolving regulatory landscape to ensure secure data management. In Europe, the NIS2 Directive (2022/2555) and the CER Directive (2022/2557) set new cybersecurity and resilience requirements for operators of critical infrastructure, including offshore wind farms. These directives must be transposed into national law, with, for example, Germany currently discussing the KRITIS Dachgesetz, an overarching law integrating NIS2 and CER.
• Operational Challenges: Managing large, complex datasets across teams requires a solution that ensures high availability, reliability, and scalability.
• Critical Infrastructure Risks: Underwater infrastructure associated with offshore wind farms is considered critical infrastructure. It is therefore, subject to sabotage for geopolitical purposes. Ensuring its security requires compliance with frameworks like NIS2 and CER.

The Solution: north.io’s Secure and Flexible Geodata Platform

At north.io, we understand the gravity of these challenges. That’s why our geodata platform, TrueOcean, incorporates robust measures to ensure the safety and efficiency of marine data management. Here’s how:

Cloud Provider Security

Our platform is built on a secure foundation, leveraging public cloud providers that adhere to high-security standards such as:

• ISO 27001: Ensuring strong information security management.
• IT- Grundschutz: Providing comprehensive IT security.
• BSI C5 Type 1: Certified security measures against cyber attacks.

Application Security

TrueOcean addresses risks like data theft, corruption, and access blocking with features such as:

• Data Encryption: Protects data from unauthorised access.
• Automated Backups: Daily backups with recovery options from geographically distributed S3 storage.
• Application Monitoring: Continuous monitoring for high load, traffic, and other security-relevant threats.
• Network Limitations: IP-specific address ranges can limit access to the application for added security.
• Georedundant Storage: High availability of data assets through distributed storage systems and redundancy.
• Authentication Integration: Support for corporate authentication servers (e.g., Active Directory) and two-factor authentication (2FA).
• Logging and Auditing: Comprehensive user activity logs with alert mechanisms for suspicious behavior.
• Node Redundancy: Distributed product architecture for enhanced reliability.

Secured Cloud Environment

Each customer receives a virtual, network-isolated workspace where data is securely contained. This single-tenancy approach ensures that data is not shared with others or used for unintended purposes. Importantly, all uploaded data belongs exclusively to the user of the platform—whether an offshore developer or survey company—and can only be shared with explicit permission.

Rights and Role Management

Our user management system provides granular control, allowing customers to assign roles and permissions tailored to their needs. This ensures secure collaboration while maintaining data integrity.

On-Premise Option

For organisations requiring additional control, TrueOcean offers an on-premise deployment option. This allows clients to manage their data entirely within their own infrastructure, catering to specific compliance or operational requirements.

What’s in It for You? The Benefits of TrueOcean

By choosing TrueOcean, offshore wind developers and survey companies gain:

• Enhanced Data Security: Your data is safeguarded against unauthorised access, theft, and loss of physical hard drives.
• Regulatory Compliance: Our platform ensures adherence to established information security standards.
• Operational Efficiency: Streamline your workflows with secure, georedundant storage and automated processes.
• Competitive Advantage: Securely analyse your data in the early stages to gain a strategic edge in bidding for offshore wind areas.
• Flexibility and Control: Opt for cloud-based or on-premise solutions tailored to your needs.
• Peace of Mind: Trust that your data, a valuable asset, is managed in a secure, scalable, and reliable environment.

Conclusion

At north.io, we take data security seriously. Our geodata platform TrueOcean offers a robust and secure environment designed to meet the complex needs of the offshore industry. Whether you’re managing underwater sensor data for critical infrastructure or bidding on offshore wind projects, TrueOcean is here to ensure your data remains safe, accessible, and actionable.