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Invensys announces solutions to cyber attacks

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September 23, 2009 - Invensys Operations Management unveiled a comprehensive array of technology and services designed to help clients protect plant assets from cyber attacks.

Part of the company’s I/A Series® 8.5 suite of offerings, the cyber security solution includes control system enhancements and consulting services that support compliance requirements of major new cyber security standards, such as those put forth by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is adopting NERC standards CIP-001 through CIP-009, compelling companies to become NERC compliant by the year 2010. This means having to learn the requirements, design and implement the policies and procedures and, in some cases, install additional equipment.

Through a combination of system-centric and consulting solutions, Invensys Operations Management delivers many client benefits, the first of which is a significant reduction in risk associated with cyber security threats. This enables a higher level of performance and predictability of client systems and networks, prevents possible business outages and diminishes the threat of lost revenue due to serious safety, environmental and personnel catastrophes.

Among the I/A Series technology features that support cyber security protection and compliance are the ability to create stronger passwords, such as by mixing types of characters, controlling length, managing failed password attempts and password aging; ability to reduce lock-down security vulnerability; and strengthening workstation hardware to remove unused programs, services and ports. Both of the primary control processors used in I/A Series systems, for example, have received Level 1 Achilles Certification from Wurldtech, a leading provider of cyber security testing and certification for critical infrastructure industries.

Depending on the client’s situation, a typical Invensys cyber security consulting offering includes the following services:

Gap analysis assessment against standards

Development of a plan to address shortcomings

Development of an overall security architecture

Integration with IT and other systems and procedures

vValidation of cyber security policies and procedures

Execution and implementation of security upgrades and procedures

Power companies that do not comply with new standards could face significant fines levied by NERC and FERC auditors beginning in 2010. Fines will be based on the percentage of requirements met and the number of days the plant remains non-compliant. In addition to the NERC cyber security standards, which apply only to the power industry, other standards are emerging from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), International Society of Automation (ISA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). While these do not yet have compliance deadlines, they provide manufacturers with additional guidance in protecting assets.

“Technology solutions implemented through the control system, intrusion prevention, firewall and other technology are important, but comprehensive cyber protection also involves changes in policies and practices that have little to do with technology,” said Ernie Rakaczky, principal security architect, Invensys Operations Management. “Emerging standards reflect this. We are pleased that we can offer our clients the technology they need, and to do so as a consultative partner, first to help them identify vulnerabilities in their current operations and then provide standards-compliant solutions to fill those gaps.”

“A distributed control system retrofit and implementation can increase production performance, while at the same time provide cyber security protection and compliance. We recently installed a DCS for a power industry client that helped them meet NERC standards well before the deadline, as well as increased their engineering functionality by approximately 50 percent, giving them the ability to add new displays, implement logic changes and install new parameter interlocks for better handling and management of alarms,” said Matthew DeAthos, manager of portfolio marketing for Invensys.

About Invensys Operations Management
Invensys Operations Management, a division of Invensys, is a leading provider of automation and information technology, systems, software solutions, services and consulting to the global manufacturing and infrastructure industries. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, its solutions are used by more than 40,000 clients around the world in more than 200,000 plants and facilities.

Invensys Operations Management’s offerings are delivered under several prominent industry brands, including Action Instruments, ArchestrA, Avantis, Barber-Colman, Chessell, Continental, Eurotherm, Foxboro, IMServ, InFusion, SimSci-Esscor, Triconex and Wonderware. The company’s approximately 9,000 employees and its global partner ecosystem integrate these products and services to help clients collaborate across systems and enterprises in real time, extracting critical data to make faster, better decisions and synchronize their operations from the plant floor to the executive offices, aligning production goals with business objectives. To learn more about

Invensys plc is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ISYS.L), with approximately 20,000 employees working in 50 countries.

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Phone Inquiry: 469-365-6400
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