Enhancing Cybersecurity of J1939 and NMEA 2000 Protocols Through Encryption Implementation in the Presentation Layer

The growing number of devices in industrial and maritime networks has elevated the importance of cybersecurity. Based on CAN technology, J1939 and, NMEA 2000 protocols face significant security challenges due to their original design, which lacks encryption and authentication mechanisms. Cybersecurity was not the focus when these protocols appeared, and the number of devices tended to be much lower than it is now. Lack of encryption, combined with restricted bandwidth and the inability to compress small packets, contributes to network congestion and even heightened vulnerability to attacks. This paper investigates the integration of encryption in the presentation layer, a feature these protocols do not traditionally support. The proposed solution focuses on securing communication with minimal impact on traffic flow and key management overhead. By addressing vulnerabilities such as eavesdropping, spoofing, and denial-of-service attacks, this research evaluates the effectiveness of encryption in maintaining secure and efficient network operations. The findings aim to strengthen the resilience of J1939 and NMEA 2000 protocols, ensuring their reliable application in modern, security-critical environments.