Maritime cybersecurity challenges at MCP
In this maritime cybersecurity case study, we explore how Maritime Cargo Processing (MCP) strengthened its security posture against evolving cyber threats by implementing Arctic Wolf’s MDR solution with 24/7 SOC and concierge protection services.
About Maritime Cargo Processing (MCP)
Maritime Cargo Processing (MCP) plc is the UK’s leading port Community Systems Provider (CSP) working in close partnership with port operators, shipping lines, forwarding agents and hauliers, as well as Customs and other Government agencies, to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs involved in the trading and transportation of cargo through ports.
Since 1985, MCP has revolutionised the flow of imports and exports at UK ports, depots, and airports. It has developed expertise and resources to deliver fast, efficient and cost-effective port community systems. MCP provides a complete cargo community system 24/7, encompassing exports, imports, transshipments, shed operations, hazardous cargo and inland clearance locations. Its web-based inventory service supplies real-time information in a secure way, without a physical paper trail.
Engaging a strong IT partner
In 2023, MCP made the decision to execute a comprehensive tender process, engaging multiple Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to ensure a competitive evaluation. With a clear vision and well-defined scope of requirements, MCP’s objective was to identify an IT partner capable of meeting its immediate needs while fostering a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership that would enhance its technology landscape and drive operational efficiencies. At the time, it was also migrating over to Microsoft Azure Cloud while moving away from its current port provider.
Following a highly robust tender process, MCP engaged Northdoor. They were impressed with Northdoor’s deep understanding of MCP requirements and challenges. Northdoor’s experience and capabilities were also backed by strong real-world case studies and valuable insights from their existing customer engagements, demonstrating their commitment to delivery.
By working with Northdoor, MCP would be able to focus on optimising its IT infrastructure, while enhancing cybersecurity, and exploring future innovations, keeping MCP at the forefront of industry advancements in this highly competitive sector.
“Our experience with Northdoor has been highly positive. They have demonstrated a deep understanding of our needs, provided strong evidence through case studies, and fostered a collaborative, value-driven partnership.”
Moving to a modern security provider
Part of this engagement involved implementing a managed endpoint detection and response (MDR) solution from cybersecurity vendor, Arctic Wolf. MCP had decided to move away from its current port service provider, who had been looking after its security requirements.
Northdoor recommended Arctic Wolf as an ideal dynamic cybersecurity solution. Northdoor subsequently implemented the solution across both MCP’s server and desktop environment. Additionally, Arctic Wolf provided a 24-hour security operation centre (SOC) service and vulnerability scanning to alert the in-house MCP team to any critical issues that might be happening. All logs of MCP systems are fed into Arctic Wolf, which prioritises and alerts the internal team to any risks and issues they need to act upon.
Seamless and fast implementation
Northdoor completed the seamless implementation in less than two months from March to April 2025. In fact, according to Ian Doe, Infrastructure Manager at MCP;
“This was one of the best onboarding processes that I have been involved in over the past 30 years of my career in IT, and it has certainly created a high benchmark for other vendors to meet. This included very comprehensive playbooks and guides, provided by Arctic Wolf, that were easy to use and aided the implementation process.”
Today, the new cybersecurity solution and concierge protection is providing priority alerting and monitoring and a granular level of visibility that Ian and his team haven’t previously seen. The graphical user interface (GUI) is incredibly easy to use and highly intuitive. Now Ian’s team are receiving high quality aggregated data and only the alerts that are considered a potential risk to the organisation.
Throughout this process and critical project, Northdoor played a crucial role, providing expert guidance, tailored IT solutions, and implementation that aligned with MCP’s specific business requirements. Its involvement ensured a smooth transition, enhanced efficiency, and mitigated potential risks. Northdoor leveraged its expertise and existing customer insights to deliver a solution that was both strategic and future-proofed.
Ian Doe adds:
“The vulnerability scans point us in the right direction so that we know what to focus on. We now have much better protection in place. For example, if one of our machines is compromised, we immediately see any user accounts being flagged so that we can quickly shut these down and address the issue. There is a lot of safeguarding provided by the 24/7 Arctic Wolf concierge team that we simply don’t see, because they stop issues before they even get to us, and we are extremely confident that we have a good level of protection in place.”
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond
Moving forward in 2025, MCP will continue to use Northdoor as a key IT partner for any future projects. Given its expertise and the success of the current collaboration, MCP plans to work with Northdoor on further enhancing its IT infrastructure, security, and digital transformation initiatives.
“Our experience with Northdoor has been highly positive. They have demonstrated a deep understanding of our needs, provided strong evidence through case studies, and fostered a collaborative, value-driven partnership. We would confidently recommend Northdoor. Their deep understanding of business challenges, strong technical expertise, and commitment to delivering tailored solutions backed by strong customer engagement make them a reliable and strategic partner.” Steve Lamb, General Manager, MCP
