Taking Simple Steps Toward Industrial Security

Learn the five key points to a well-planned security strategy. The openness of Ethernet and the availability of industrial software that runs on notebooks, tablets and even smart phones all make it easier to manage automation systems. But these tools have inherent vulnerabilities that should be acknowledged and addressed.  In the words of Ben Franklin, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” All network managers must be aware of these threats, which constantly... Read More

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A Fresh Look at the Best Industrial Network Security Strategies

Securing industrial networks from threats both inside and outside the firewall requires multiple strategies vs. relying on one particular technique. The shift to Ethernet, wireless technologies and remote access has brought many benefits, but this connectivity has also eliminated the system protection strategy of years past: security through obscurity. Automation system managers must now focus on protecting networks from attacks that come from inside or outside the corporate boundaries. When... Read More

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Building a Cyber Secure Plant

Despite what many automation professionals believe, the Stuxnet malware attacks on Siemens Simatic WinCC SCADA and PCS7 DCS systems that came to light this past July were not the first time industrial control systems have been targeted by hackers. A quick scan through the RISI database (Repository of Industrial Security Incidents) turns up several such attacks that have not garnered the same kind of attention earned by Stuxnet. For example, with Venezuela devastated by a politically... Read More

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