A system and method for monitoring a condition of a marine riser including at least one subsea sensing and acoustic platform mechanically coupled to a riser joint of the marine riser. The at least one platform includes one or more sensors mechanically coupled to the riser joint and including plug-and-play sensor interface technology. The platform further includes a microprocessor configured to receive and analyze sensor data from the one or more sensors and provide pre-processed data representative of a determination of a condition of the riser joint. A memory module is provided including one or more software modules executable by the microprocessor and configured to provide data storage. The platform further includes an acoustic modem configured to receive the pre-processed data, communicate the condition to a topside acoustic transceiver in real-time and provide remote command configuration in response to the condition. An included power module provides power to the platform components.