The 2026 Maritime Threat Landscape - Cyber Intel Threat Brief

Session Abstract

As global tensions reshape the threat landscape, the maritime sector faces escalating cyber risks from both state-backed and criminal actors. This briefing outlines key threats to networks, operational technology, vessel navigation, and logistics systems, offering insights into current attack methods and their impact on critical operations.

Session Takeaway

Attendees will gain an actionable understanding of the modern threat environment and its implications for critical operations across the maritime ecosystem.

Session Speakers

Dr. Christopher Porter

International Security Cooperation - Google Cloud

Christopher Porter is the Head of International Security Cooperation at Google Cloud, where he leads a variety of programs to exchange intelligence with public sector partners worldwide and facilitate substantive discussions between Google’s security leaders and top outside experts.

From 2019 to June 2022 he was the National Intelligence Officer for Cyber, leading the USIntelligence Community’s analysis of foreign cyber threats and threats to US elections. As a member of the National Intelligence Council, Christopher oversaw production of National Intelligence Estimates, was the primary cyber intelligence advisor to the Director of National

Intelligence, was President Trump’s briefer for cyber threats and election threats, developed the analytic portion of the Unified Intelligence Strategy, and lead the IC Cyber Analysis Leadership Council made up of the other cyber leaders of CIA, FBI, NSA, DOD, and other agencies. Serving under both President Trump and President Biden, he frequently briefed and wrote for

the President of the United States, senior Cabinet officials, the Gang of Eight and other legislative leaders in the US House of Representatives and Senate, and civilian and military cyber leaders throughout the executive branch.

From 2016 to 2019, Christopher was the Chief Technology Officer for Global Cybersecurity Policy and the Chief Intelligence Strategist at cybersecurity company FireEye.

Christopher has testified before the U.S. Congress and Canadian Parliament. He has offered commentary on cybersecurity and threat intelligence in the New York Times, USA Today, NBC News, the Council on Foreign Relations, BBC, Lawfare, Foreign Policy, Defense One, Christian Science Monitor, Bloomberg News, Cipher Brief, War on the Rocks, Politico, Axios, Cyberscoop,

Dark Reading, Roll Call and many other TV, radio, and print outlets worldwide.