Plant security: Invensys and Integralis protecting process manufacturers from cyber threats

Invensys Process Systems, a provider of process control technology, will offer 24/7 global network security monitoring and management through a partnership with Integralis, a global supplier of managed security services.

By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff December 12, 2007

Invensys Process Systems , a provider of process control technology, will offer 24/7 global network security monitoring and management through a partnership with Integralis , a global supplier of managed security services.
The two companies say this unique collaboration between a major process control vendor and a major IT services provider demonstrates the growing importance of combining process engineering and IT expertise in to ward off cyber threats in refineries, public utilities, pharmaceutical plants, and other process industries.
Bob Mick, VP of emerging technologies at Dedham, Mass.-based ARC Advisory Group , says the alliance addresses a definite need.
"The process industries have a growing need to protect their production assets from cyber threats, but doing so requires a blend of production management and IT security skills that few companies can afford to maintain onsite,” Mick says. “In partnering with one of the world’s largest managed security service providers, Invensys is demonstrating a high-level commitment to providing comprehensive cybersecurity protection to its customers."
Husky Energy of Saskatchewan, Canada, is among the first companies to avail itself of the combined security service. Invensys will provide Husky with assessment, design, implementation and real-time management of Husky’s plant and production networks; while Integralis will provide full remote management of security devices, all required changes and updates, and 24/7/365 monitoring to aid in prevention, detection, and removal of cyber threats.
The Invensys portfolio of cybersecurity services includes customized assessments, architecture design, implementation, and management. Examples of customized services include site and vulnerability assessments, policy requirement drafting, security architecture and policy development, modernization of existing technology, and continuous management, review, testing and optimization.
Integralis extends the Invensys portfolio by providing managed security services through a global network of fully redundant Security Operations Centers (SOC). Integralis provides managed security services around best-of-breed perimeter security, content security, threat & vulnerability management, and secure authentication devices. After Invensys consultants design and implement a program, the customer can leverage Integralis’ network of global centers, staffed 24/7 by security experts with all the tools and information to provide ongoing management and apprise them of threats.
"Such close collaboration with the consulting and planning services of Invensys makes 24/7 security management very affordable and highly effective,” says Robin Mayo, Integralis president, Americas. “The Invensys emphasis on threat prevention keeps the actual amount of threat detection and management to a minimum, but if suspicious activity does get through, we have cybersecurity specialists on the case 24 hours a day.”