Two views of the same news-- Industrial Defender and Semaphore

Jan. 22, 2008
It is unusual, and very interesting when I get press releases covering the same event written by the different parties from a different point of view. So not only am I sharing the news with you, that Industrial Defender (formerly Verano) and Semaphore have partnered, I am also sharing both releases so you can see how the points of view differ and mutate about the same event. From Semaphore, since I got this one first: (and if you haven't heard of Semaphore before, you will-- it is being run by ...
It is unusual, and very interesting when I get press releases covering the same event written by the different parties from a different point of view. So not only am I sharing the news with you, that Industrial Defender (formerly Verano) and Semaphore have partnered, I am also sharing both releases so you can see how the points of view differ and mutate about the same event. From Semaphore, since I got this one first: (and if you haven't heard of Semaphore before, you will-- it is being run by Bill Ketelhut, who's been around the block a few times) Semaphore Announces Cyber Security for SCADA Systems Through Alliance With Industrial DefenderSemaphore, a CSE Global company, announces that it has joined the Industrial Defender Enabled Partner Program. As an Industrial Defender Enabled partner, Semaphore offers the industry's first RTU product lines, T-BOX and Kingfisher, to fully support cyber security protection for SCADA networks.   T-BOX is the first, IP-based telemetry solution that enables the complete integration of SCADA, control, and communications functionality in one rugged package. It leverages easy-to-use Web technologies and inexpensive public networks for decentralized, monitoring and control systems. T-BOX products offer up to 50% less total installed cost per point versus traditional SCADA/ PLC systems and permit greater organizational access to data through automated reporting and browser software. The Kingfisher RTU line provides many advanced features for SCADA system solutions, including redundant configurations, intelligent I/O, and open programming that is compliant with IEC 61131-3. Kingfisher is also the first RTU product line that is compliant with IEC 61499, the distributed processing and interoperability extension to IEC 61131-3. Kingfisher systems are well suited to large, demanding measurement and control applications that employ central stations. Semaphore is collaborating with the only company in the industry dedicated and uniquely focused on providing end-to-end Defense in Depthâ„¢ cyber security solutions for the real-time process control / SCADA market. Users benefit by leveraging Industrial Defender's comprehensive Defense in Depthâ„¢ approach to cyber security, which includes network security professional services, cyber security technology, and managed security services. "In today's world, having the highest levels of security in control systems monitoring critical infrastructure is a must. That is why we have partnered with Industrial Defender to provide uncompromised security monitoring," said William J. Ketelhut, Managing Director of CSE-Semaphore. Industrial Defender Enabled capabilities allow Semaphore RTU products to be monitored by the Industrial Defender Security Event Management (SEM) console enhancing the cyber security posture of the process control / SCADA network. Customers who purchase an Industrial Defender (SEM) console will be able to monitor all Industrial Defender Enabled devices on the real-time process control / SCADA network. "Global awareness as to the cyber security risks and the uniqueness of securing real-time process control/SCADA systems is driving the rapid adoption and expansion of our world class Industrial Defender technology platform," said Brian M. Ahern, president and CEO of Industrial Defender. "Partnering with other market-leading technology providers strengthens best-in-class, Defense in Depth, security solutions while assisting each in developing new customer opportunities." Semaphore's T-BOX and Kingfisher RTU products are ideal for a broad range of monitoring and control applications in the broadcast / telecom, infrastructure management, oil & gas, power, transportation and water / wastewater industries. For more information about Semaphore solutions, visit www.cse-semaphore.com, or contact Semaphore at 15B Charron Avenue, Nashua, NH 03063, 603-577-3803. And now from Industrial Defender: (note the addition of information about RuggedCom) INDUSTRIAL DEFENDER INTRODUCES TECHNOLOGY PARTNER PROGRAM   Collaborative Partner Program Will Enhance Cyber Security Protection  for Real-Time Process Control and SCADA Markets   FOXBOROUGH, Mass., Jan. 22, 2008 - Industrial Defender, Inc., the global leader in Cyber Risk Protectionâ„¢, today announced a new partnership program that enables technology providers focused on the real-time process control/SCADA market to collaborate on expanding their technology offerings and providing end customers with comprehensive integrated cyber security solutions.   The new Industrial Defender Enabled Partner Program is designed to enhance cyber security protection while creating value for participating industry vendors through integrated technology solutions, co-marketing and demand-generation programs.  Partners can leverage Industrial Defender's comprehensive Defense in Depthâ„¢ approach to cyber security, which includes network security professional services, cyber security technology, and managed security services.  By collaborating with Industrial Defender, which is uniquely focused on providing end-to-end Defense in Depthâ„¢ cyber security solutions for the real-time process control/SCADA market, technology vendors can fortify their products with enhanced cyber security protection by taking advantage of Industrial Defender's expertise in this market.    The program offers two levels of participation for technology providers. As an Industrial Defender Enabled Partner, technology providers complete a comprehensive technology validation process that will enable a partner device to be monitored by the Industrial Defender Security Event Management (SEM) console, enhancing the cyber security posture of the process control/SCADA network. Customers who purchase an Industrial Defender (SEM) console can monitor all Industrial Defender Enabled devices on the real-time process control/SCADA network. Industrial Defender Enabled partners also will benefit from opportunities to participate in co-marketing and demand-generation programs.    For a tighter level of integration, technology vendors can become an Industrial Defender Enabled Premier Partner, which delivers a more extensive technology integration of partner devices, including monitoring and management by the Industrial Defender (SEM) console, co-marketing, demand-generation and solution-selling by combining Industrial Defender's cyber security technology, network security professional services and managed security services with industry-leading premier partner technologies.   CSE-Semaphore, a leading IP-based SCADA RTU provider, is the first technology provider to join the Industrial Defender Enabled Partner Program, and RuggedCom, a leading provider of ruggedized communications networking solutions for mission-critical applications has joined the Industrial Defender Enabled Premier Partner Program.   Semaphore telemetry systems are designed to leverage easy-to-use web technologies and inexpensive public networks.  They offer up to 50 percent less total installed cost-per-point versus traditional SCADA/PLC systems and permit greater organizational access to data through automated reporting and browser software.  Semaphore's RTU product lines include T-BOX, which offers an integral Web server and is ideal for decentralized networks, and Kingfisher, which brings open programming and advanced capabilities to SCADA systems that employ central stations. As an Industrial Defender Enabled partner, Semaphore offers the industry's first RTU line to fully support cyber security protection for process control/SCADA networks.   "In today's world, control systems require the highest levels of security when monitoring critical infrastructure," said William Ketelhut, Managing Director of CSE-Semaphore. "Our partnership with Industrial Defender has enabled us to provide uncompromised cyber security monitoring for our customers."    RuggedCom offers industry-leading rugged communications networking infrastructure products for environments requiring hardened specifications including the electrical substation environment, as well as RuggedCom Gauntletâ„¢, a user authentication solution for the electric power market that provides secure access to critical cyber assets.   With North American electric utility customers facing mandatory NERC-CIP compliance by mid-2008, (which are now enforceable due to the recent January 17th FERC approval of the NERC-CIP standards) combined technology solutions by Industrial Defender and RuggedCom provide the unique benefit of delivering an integrated solution for compliance, since bulk electricity asset owners were previously forced to deploy single purpose non-integrated solutions from multiple vendors.   By combining expertise in specific vertical markets, including power, oil and gas, transportation, water and chemical industries, with complementary industry-leading technology providers, the Industrial Defender Enabled Partner Program ultimately delivers a deeper level of cyber security protection for customers using real-time process control/SCADA systems.  Industrial Defender will enable program participants and customers to tap into more than 17 years of process control and SCADA industry experience and more than six years of industrial cyber security experience to fortify partner devices against cyber security threats and vulnerabilities.   "Global awareness about cyber security risks and the uniqueness of securing real-time process control/SCADA systems is driving the rapid adoption and expansion of our world-class Industrial Defender technology platform," said Brian M. Ahern, president and CEO of Industrial Defender. "This partnership of market-leading technology providers strengthens our best-in-class, Defense in Depth security solutions, and provides mutual assistance in developing new customer opportunities."   Industrial Defender has completed more than 80 process control/SCADA cyber security assessments, more than 1,800 cyber security technology deployments and more than 3,000 mission-critical RTAP SCADA deployments.  The company also provides managed security services for 160 process control plants in 21 countries.      For more information on the Industrial Defender Enabled Partner Program or the company's products and services, please visit http://www.industrialdefender.com