Print page

Wurldtech, Exida in Cybersecurity Deal

04/03/2009

Cybersecurity testing and certification solutions vendor, Wurldtech Security Technologies, and exida, a global supplier of functional safety products, services and certifications, have agreed to integrate Wurldtech’s Achilles cybersecurity certification program into exida’s safety service portfolio and establish a foundation for joint development of future cybersecurity and safety certifications.

Launched in 2007, the Achilles Certification program boasts certified control systems from major suppliers, such as Emerson Process Management, Invensys Process Systems, ABB, Yokogawa, HIMA and others.

“By partnering with exida, we are able to expand our current program into new markets and leverage their unparalleled safety expertise to jointly evolve the program to meet the certification needs of the automation industry today and into the future,” says Wurldtech president Tyler Williams.

This partnership was formed in response to customer requests to accelerate the expansion of the current Achilles program and include new categories, such as control applications, industrial networking infrastructure, operator integration and vendor development processes.

Company spokesmen say that by combining the leading security certification criteria, technology and expertise with well-established policies, procedures and best practices from the safety industry, Wurldtech and exida will be able to offer the most comprehensive and streamlined certification process to the global industrial automation industry.

“Process control system operators want to minimize risk and maximize uptime, and suppliers want to be first to market with certified, reliable systems,” said John Cusimano, exida director of security services. “By bringing the safety and cybersecurity certification processes together, operators and suppliers have a single source for all of their certification needs, and that positively impacts the bottom line.”