Symantec, Telvent partner to deliver SCADA security

Nov. 3, 2005
The partnership will provide a solution for protecting SCADA systems used for oil and gas pipelines against malicious or unintentional events that could result in downtime or a more serious incident.
Symantec and Telvent GIT S.A. have announced a strategic partnership to provide a comprehensive security solution for protecting Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems used for oil and gas pipelines. The Symantec SCADA security solution has been designed, and lab tested by Telvent, to address the increasing threat of cyber attacks and to enable oil and gas companies to meet regulatory requirements without adversely impacting performance or availability from production through transmission and delivery.

As part of the partnership, Telvent will recommend Symantec Gateway Security, Symantec Network Security, Symantec AntiVirus, and Managed Security Services to help Telvent's end customer base of oil and gas companies secure their increasingly interconnected SCADA networks, ensure business continuity, achieve regulatory compliance, and avoid service disruptions associated with information security breaches.

"Many oil and gas companies are increasingly integrating their SCADA systems with corporate systems to achieve greater efficiency and more quickly adapt to changing market demands," said Larry Stack, vice president and chief technology officer, Telvent. "While this interconnectedness can allow for cost savings, it also introduces more security risk. Our new partnership with Symantec allows us to offer our customers a trusted solution for preventing cyber attacks, while providing another layer of value-add for improving operational efficiency and compliance with industry regulations and standards."

"Whether the result of intentional attacks, accidents, or oversights, today's SCADA systems are more vulnerable to infiltration than past proprietary systems," said Gary Sevounts, director of power and energy industry strategies and solutions. "Therefore, oil and gas companies need to be increasingly vigilant to protect against malicious or unintentional events that could result in downtime or a more serious incident. This new partnership will assist both companies in that effort."

"Telvent already provides a high level of security protection as part of our standard OASyS DNA infrastructure," said Stack. "As a result of our partnering with Symantec, we are pleased to be able to offer 'best of breed' supplemental protection to our customers who operate critical infrastructures in Oil and Gas, and other industries."