ShipCIS
Overview
Ship Cyber Infrastructure Services (ShipCIS) is the unit within Scripps IT that is dedicated to managing the cyberinfrastructure aboard the ships operated or supported by SIO. It collaborates closely both with other Scripps IT units to develop and implement shared services and procedures, and with Ship Operations & Marine Technical Support (SOMTS) units to coordinate the support efforts for ships’ crew, research scientist support staff, and research scientists. The infrastructure systems supported by ShipCIS include both OT and IT:
- Operational Technology (OT) refers to the hardware and software that is used to control and monitor the performance of industrial equipment. OT includes industrial control systems (ICSs) like Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Distributed Control Systems (DCSs), and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. Modern research vessels rely on networked OT throughout the engineering plant.
- Information Technology (IT) is the technology involved in the development, maintenance, use, and protection of software, networks, and computer systems to process and distribute data. IT, through hardware and software, ensures the storage, security, and exchange of electronic data.
ShipCIS constitutes an IT-aware workforce that provides necessary OT/IT services (including IIoT, i.e. the Industrial Internet of Things), while maintaining cybersecurity risks within acceptable standards, as required by UC San Diego policies, IMO regulations and the requirements specified by various federal partners, including the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, and the United States Coast Guard.
Services
ShipCIS aims to provide a robust and performant cyber infrastructure on the ships it supports so they can safely and efficiently perform their mission as floating research laboratories. There are several core services to enable the operations of both ship crew and science parties:
- Network connectivity both to the Internet (in close collaboration with HiSeasNet) and on the ships themselves;
- Storage and backup platforms;
- Account management and collaboration tools;
- Virtual Windows desktops;
- Cybersecurity monitoring systems management;
- Technology documentation to satisfy audit requirements.
The unit has a close working relationship with various Shipboard Technical Support groups to ensure nominal operation of both permanently installed and cruise-specific data acquisition instruments plus any associated analysis equipment.
ShipCIS personnel also participate actively in longer-term initiatives, such as the initial design, midlife refit and shipyard maintenance for its vessels; projects with other operators in the Academic Research Fleet to standardize cyber infrastructure; and ongoing meetings with UC San Diego ITS and Scripps IT teams to coordinate the deployment of technology platforms that will function correctly both on shore and on ships.
Ships
The ships supported by ShipCIS include the three main vessels operated by SIO:
- R/V Sally Ride
- R/V Roger Revelle
- R/V Robert Gordon Sproul
As well as one Coast Guard vessel via the the Ship-based Technical Support in the Arctic (STARC) project:
- USCGC Healy
Team
Current ShipCIS personnel include:
- Bryan Hill (Server Administrator)
- Daniel Volpe (Systems Analyst, R/V Sally Ride)
- Erik Stevens (Systems Supervisor)
- Eugene Vivino (Systems Analyst, USCGC Healy)
- Jon Meyer (interim Manager of ShipCIS)
- Kenny Olsen (Network Administrator)
- Mary Huey (Systems Analyst, R/V Roger Revelle)
Contact
The preferred communication is via email in order for the Scripps IT team to track work and assign available team members. For support requests about cyber infrastructure on a ship, please use shiphelp@ucsd.edu.
Other options for ships (again, mostly to sort it into the correct inbox):
- shipsec@ucsd.edu - support requests related to cybersecurity
- shipweb@ucsd.edu - support requests related to ship web services
- shipsys@ucsd.edu - support requests related to systems administration
- shiptech@ucsd.edu - support requests related to science instrumentation