DevSecOps Integration in Cruise Industry Systems: A Framework for Reducing Cybersecurity Incidents

Abstract

The cruise industry has undergone significant digital transformation, integrating advanced IT and operational technologies to enhance navigation, onboard services, passenger experiences, and operational efficiency. However, this rapid evolution has simultaneously expanded the cybersecurity attack surface, exposing cruise lines to increasingly sophisticated threats such as ransomware, data breaches, and system intrusions. Traditional security approaches, which often treat cybersecurity as a final-stage concern, have proven inadequate for protecting the dynamic and distributed architectures typical of maritime systems.
This article presents a tailored DevSecOps framework designed to embed security early and continuously throughout the software development lifecycle in cruise industry systems. By aligning continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) practices with automated security testing, infrastructure as code, and runtime threat detection, the proposed approach enables a proactive and resilient security posture. Drawing on principles of risk-based prioritization and shift-left security, the framework addresses the unique constraints of maritime operations, including intermittent connectivity, hybrid legacy systems, and regulatory compliance.
The paper also outlines implementation strategies, evaluates hypothetical use cases, and identifies measurable benefits such as reduced mean time to remediation (MTTR), improved vulnerability management, and enhanced regulatory readiness. Ultimately, it argues for a paradigm shift in how cruise operators, vendors, and regulators approach cybersecurity moving from reactive containment to integrated, preventive defense through DevSecOps.