Honeywell, Invensys recognized for industrial security practices

ControlGlobal.com
05/05/2006

Honeywell Process Solutions and Invensys Process Systems were recognized for their cyber security expertise at the SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security (SANS) Institute’s recently held Security Summit. The awards were presented by Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity.

“Cyber security is one of the fastest-growing concerns in the process industry because a disruption to a process can trigger a disaster that could affect every plant worker and even the surrounding communities” said Alan Paller, director of the SANS Institute. “Buyers of process control equipment need help from the vendors to protect their systems from attack.”

Honeywell was awarded the 2006 Control System/SCADA Security Leadership Award for its rapidly qualifying Microsoft security updates, as well as for using built-in control firewalls, which have helped industrial facilities protect their SCADA systems from the threat of cyber terrorism.

“The most effective method for controlling process operations is to have an open system that allows devices within a plant to communicate with each other, but an open system can be vulnerable to cyber threats” said Jack Bolick, President of Honeywell Process Solutions. “Vendors can help ensure that manufacturers can do their jobs without having to worry about their system’s security.”

Invensys received the SANS 2006 Process Control Security Leadership Award for being a difference-maker in cyber security for critical enterprise infrastructures.

According to Ernest Rakaczky, program director of process control network security at Invensys Process Systems, vendors need to work closely with enterprise and process asset owners to secure the infrastructure. “We as vendors are controlling major plants,” he said. “That becomes a lifetime arrangement. This means that our security procedures and practices are intertwined with the business operations of our customers.”

Honeywell and Invensys were among 15 recipients of this year’s awards.