Rockwell launches industrial security initiative

Rockwell Automation has launched an initiative that it says will help manufacturers better protect their control systems from cybersecurity threats. Automation and IT professionals will be able to more effectively secure their industrial processes with the initiative, which uses a combination of control system design and best practices, contemporary technologies and professional services from Rockwell and its strategic partnerships, which include Cisco.

“The rapidly evolving nature of the industrial security landscape makes it critical that today’s manufacturers view security as an ongoing business imperative, rather than a one-time investment event,” said Sujeet Chand, senior vice president and CTO, Rockwell Automation.

“A more secure network infrastructure will allow manufacturers to deploy contemporary technologies and emerging solutions, like mobility, virtualisation and cloud computing, while still performing mission-critical automation functions. Rockwell Automation is dedicated to providing the technologies and resources that will help facilitate the design and management of a secure connected enterprise.”

The initiative is designed to secure a connected enterprise using a three-pronged approach:

• Defense-in-Depth Methodology: Addressing both internal and external threats by forming multiple layers of defence which help mitigate various types of risks.
• Secure Automation Architecture: The industrial control system represents the heart of production, and the security of information used for control, configuration and monitoring is critical. From active consulting engagements to specific product offerings, such as managed switches, secure communications, user authentication and access control, and end-point capabilities for tamper proofing and tamper evidence, Rockwell Automation is continuing to make investments to bring security practices and products to its customers.
• Enterprise-Ready Industrial Security Solutions: By teaming with Cisco and other industry leaders in physical network designs and software applications, Rockwell Automation is addressing both IT and industrial automation security challenges. Leveraging open-standard technology, Rockwell Automation and Cisco are helping manufacturers build a unified, secure environment from the enterprise to the end device on the plant floor.

“Rockwell Automation and Cisco are leading the way in helping manufacturers recognise that information security spans from the plant floor through the enterprise,” said Guido Jouret, vice president and GM of the Internet of Things business unit for Cisco.

“It’s important to take what we’ve learned in the IT space and educate manufacturers on the business value associated with taking a consistent and seamless approach to security. Together we’re delivering expertise and solutions to help secure their important physical and intellectual assets in a world with dynamic security threats.”

The industrial security initiative from Rockwell Automation is based on a multilayer network design approach that combines resiliency in the infrastructure with security-enabled, end-point devices to help manufacturers establish a sustainable security culture, conduct comprehensive security assessments and deploy a robust security infrastructure across both automation and industrial IT assets. Core to the initiative is implementation of a secure network infrastructure based on the use of the standard internet protocol (IP).

More information is available in the Rockwell Automation and Cisco white paper on design considerations for securing industrial automation networks.