From Seafloor to Stratosphere: Protecting Networked Maritime Defense Systems

In this episode of Exploited: The Cyber Truth, host Paul Ducklin is joined by Ocean Aero’s Michael “Sparky” Braun and RunSafe Security Founder and CEO Joe Saunders for a deep dive into the vulnerabilities and opportunities in autonomous maritime defense.

As navies deploy autonomous vehicles on—and below—the water’s surface, this conversation explores the overlooked cybersecurity risks that threaten their resilience and effectiveness. Sparky shares Ocean Aero’s vision for solar- and wind-powered autonomous vessels capable of weeks-long missions while Joe breaks down the need for embedded security to ensure these systems can operate safely in contested environments.

Topics covered:

• How autonomous maritime vehicles reshape modern defense strategy
• Interoperability challenges and the need for Secure by Design systems
• Why nations like South Korea are shifting from traditional assets to autonomous fleets
• Risks posed by supply chain vulnerabilities and insecure software components

Whether you're in defense, critical infrastructure, or cybersecurity, this is a must-listen discussion on protecting mission-critical systems in an increasingly connected battlespace.