(The Epoch Times)—U.S. ports are strategic infrastructure upon which the nation’s economic stability and military readiness depend, yet remain highly exposed to an attack that could ground billions in trade activity or defense operations to a halt. In fact, adversaries have already infiltrated U.S. port infrastructure, and the path forward must be one that adopts “zero trust” principles, experts say.
“Zero trust is a fundamental shift in the way that we view and defend our enterprise and [operational technology] environments,” David Forbes, director of cyber physical defense at management consulting company Booz Allen Hamilton, said at an event on July 31 discussing a report released July 29 by Booz Allen and the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security.
“It changes the way we think about cyber defense, so we are here assuming breach.”
The report, titled “Anchored in Zero Trust: Taking Action to Create Resilient U.S. Port Infrastructure,” outlines the current exposure to risk and offers policy recommendations and operator best practices to secure the ports.
“We know that adversaries are on our networks. They’re in our infrastructure. Volt Typhoon has proven this in a broad range of critical infrastructure sectors, and maritime ports can be and should be at the center of that,” Forbes said.
Ports Exposed
The roughly 360 ports in the United States handle more than 40 percent of goods entering or leaving the country, valued at about $2.1 trillion.
The zero trust approach assumes systems are already breached, building in continuous verification rather than defending systems at the perimeter.
The McCrary Institute–Booz Allen report notes cases in which U.S. ports have already been subject to disruptive cyber activity, including a Volt Typhoon hack on the Port of Houston in 2021.
Just last year, the Port of Seattle was hit by a ransomware attack that disrupted baggage handling, check-in kiosks, flight displays, Wi-Fi, and online reservation tools. The report notes that this case illustrates how isolated systems in this incident meant that the impact of the attack was comparatively contained.
Lawmakers have sounded the alarm over the fact that a single Chinese company, Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company (ZPMC), currently dominates the ship-to-shore cranes market, accounting for 80 percent of those used in U.S. ports.
A congressional investigation concluded that some of these cranes had installed unauthorized components, which included cellular modems. Lawmakers have also noted that ZPMC has multiple times requested remote access to the cranes. The company is a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned communications conglomerate with ties to the Chinese military.
A U.S. Coast Guard review of 90 foreign-made cranes found that, although they posed no unique vulnerabilities, the cranes had the same security weaknesses that often plague such technology systems. These networks can often have poor password policies, unpatched systems, or unnecessary connections to other systems.
The Coast Guard already requires owners and operators of Chinese-made ship-to-shore cranes to eliminate crane connections to the internet and take other risk management actions.
The report recommended an approach wherein port operators ensure that systems can run even when disconnected from networks, and be segmented as much as possible, with strict identity security for all user accounts and automated services, clear visibility into all critical data flow, encryption of sensitive information, and active threat analyses.
It also includes more advanced recommendations, such as tabletop exercises to walk through potential attack scenarios. The nonprofit think tank Gold Institute for International Strategy and cyber security firm Neptune SHIELD hosted one such exercise on June 26 and will do so again at an Oct. 6–9 forum.
The cybersecurity of today extends far beyond the digital space. The disclosure of Volt Typhoon, a Chinese communist regime-backed cyber campaign that has infiltrated U.S. critical infrastructure systems and is pre-positioned to cause disruption, showed a significant escalation in Chinese state-sponsored cyber activity from espionage and IP theft to a potential willingness to cause widespread physical damage.
Brad Medairy, executive vice president for National Security and Cyber, said that as the United States becomes a bigger cyber target, there should be a shift in approach to provide deterrence.
“Our national attack surface is continuing to expand, our risk posture continues to get bigger,” Medairy said at the July 31 event. “We should not accept the fact that the PRC is pre-positioning capabilities in our critical infrastructure that could cause us harm. We shouldn’t accept that the PRC is attacking our telecommunication infrastructure, our defense industrial base.”
McCrary Institute Director Frank Cilluffo agreed. “We have been a victim for too long, and we’ve got to get out of that mindset,” he said.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.