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| Sponsor: Remke Industries |
REMKE EXPRESS
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Our Product Portals organize information by topic and include new products, company news, articles, white papers, application stories, training, resources, events, and more.
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| In this Issue |
From One Techie to Another:
Are Your Control Systems at Risk of Cyber Attacks?
Featured Article:
Winning in business
Salary Survey:
2008 Automation.com Salary Survey
Product Announcements:
-Emerson Model 6081-P wirelessHART pH transmitter
-Advantech PCI-1240U motor control card
-TURCK Sendix harsh duty absolute encoders
-Remke stainless steel liquidtight connectors
-GE Fanuc adds Proficy Maintenance Gateway
-Honeywell HG1171 Inertial Measurement Sensor
-GE Fanuc RM981RC Gigabit Ethernet Switch
-MTL HCS 8000 hybrid control system; and much more
Resources & Literature:
-Motion Resource Kit CD
-TÜVRheinland publishes paper on GS Mark
-A2 Technologies publishes Spectrometer application note; and much more
Events, Seminars & Training:
-Rockwell Automation RSTechED User Conference
-Intelligent Robotic Applications Forum
-Water and Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium; and much more
Company & Organizational News:
-Yokogawa acquires Analytical Specialties, Inc
-OPC Foundation creates program for System Integrators and Distributors
-GE Fanuc to resell Catapult Software's iPower
-Siemens gives $1.1 million in software to SME Education Foundation; and much more
Application News:
-Siemens to modernize automation at Bayer CropScience
-ABB to control bagasse cogeneration plant at sugar mill
-Honeywell to provide process control for South Korean refinery; and much more
New Job Opportunities
Humor of the Week |
| Sponsor: Software Toolbox Inc. |
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OPC DataLogger empowers you to quickly and easily with wizard driven setups, log data from OPC data sources based on time, event (i.e. alarms, tag values), or specific operating conditions to Text, CSV/Excel, Access and SQL, Oracle, MySQL, ODBC. Native drivers for SQL, Oracle, MySQL insure reliable performance. OPC Certification insures interoperability with wide range of OPC servers. Solutions for under $500 without tag count limits.
Click for complimentary demo, online training, and details |
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| From One Techie to Another |
Are Your Control Systems at Risk of Cyber Attacks?
If you answered "No" to this question, think again. According to Eric Byres, CTO of Byres Security, and Dr. Nate Kube, CTO of Wurldtech, the threats are very real and control systems are vulnerable. There are potential internal threats by employees, vendors and contractors that include accidental events as well as inappropriate behavior by disgruntled personnel. Potential external threats include those non-directed threats executed by script kiddies, recreational hackers and virus writers. Although they may not be specifically targeting your systems, they send out proliferating threats to any systems that may be susceptible. Even scarier are the external deliberate threats directed by criminal groups, activists, terrorists, and agencies of foreign states.
Kube explains the evolution of industrial cyber security by first looking back. Process control networks were isolated from enterprise networks. Because proprietary control systems and communications were obscure, they offered inherent security. Differing technologies prevented cross-pollination and most companies did not perceive any risk for outside intrusion.
Today, we have the rapid adoption of industrial Ethernet and distributed control systems. As manufacturers implement more real-time data access, the resulting interoperability introduces more vulnerability. The frequency, severity, and complexity of cyber threats are increasing. Byres can offer lists of cyber security incidents, broken down by industry segments including water, oil, chemical and power.
At present, security of control systems is not well understood. Plus, manufacturers are struggling with ownership of security. Does it belong to the IT group or the control system engineers?
In the future, Kube predicts that manufacturers will outsource security solutions. With the emergence of sophisticated, multi-vector "blended threats," manufacturers will need to rely on security providers who stay up to date on the latest threats and tactics. Kube notes that security will become a major product differentiator.
As a company that provides analysis of cyber security vulnerabilities, Kube says their biggest challenge is convincing companies that the vulnerabilities exist. Admitting you might have a problem is the first step. Kube recalls a recent assessment of an electric utility. Two previous NERC CIP evaluations resulted in physical and IT changes - and a false perception that industrial network was OK. But the CIO wanted to dig further, so he brought in Wurldtech for an assessment. Within four hours, they disabled all generation systems, caused erratic behavior on sensor networks, and interrupted communications to historians. Wurldtech was able to quickly demonstrate a theoretical attack against dam spillway management. They disabled the firewall, demonstrated bypass techniques, and exposed susceptibility to numerous malware and virus based attacks.
Kube says, "Industrial cyber security should be treated like safety and quantified by impact. The impact--financial, safety, etc--of losing control of a given process should dictate the security considerations given to the components of the process."
According to Kube, "Traditional IT governance and assessment methodologies do not expose shop floor risk. The key is to understand the resilience of each device in the control system. Device testing and vulnerability analysis can complement each other to understand the exploitable threats against the device."
Byres states, "A popular solution for industrial security is to install a firewall between business and control systems." This single point of security is just not enough and it gives companies a false sense of security. The most important devices in a control system are the PLCs, RTUs, and IEDs. Because these devices were not designed with security in mind, they are very susceptible to even simple attacks. As a result, Byres consulted with MTL to develop an industrial security appliance that protects the control devices from unauthorized contact, probing, or commands. These appliances can be placed in front of any susceptible control devices, essentially masking them from the network. The Tofino Industrial Security Appliance can be easily installed by a field technician and offers control tech-friendly remote configuration and monitoring. This is just one more tool for the control engineer’s arsenal.
Industrial cyber security requires education, assessment and testing – leading to deployment of secure control systems. The ISA Security Compliance Institute (ISCI) hopes to establish a collaborative industry-wide program that improves the security of our nation’s critical infrastructure by providing a control environment that is safer, more reliable, consistently available, consistently accurate, and more secure. The ISCI mission is to provide the automation industry with conformance testing that can be integrated into the product development life cycle resulting in products that are intrinsically secure.
Are your control systems secure?
You might also be interested in a couple more news stories this last week on the security topic:
For all the latest news, articles and resources on industrial cyber security, visit our Security Portal.
Enjoy the rest of this Automation Weekly!
Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher |
| Featured Article |
Winning in business
Winning is the lifeblood of any society. People who work in successful businesses are happier, more motivated and achieve yet more success. Here are some ideas to help you win in your business.
Read full article by Jim Pinto
Read more articles by Jim Pinto
Browse Portals for more articles, white papers and application stories by topic |
| Salary Survey |
2008 Automation.com Salary Survey
Automation.com is surveying automation professionals about current salaries. Find out how you stack up. Please take a minute to complete our survey and then pass it on to your automation friends and colleagues. Survey results will be published in early spring 2008.
Take Salary Survey
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| Product Announcements |
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Emerson introduces Model 6081-P wirelessHART pH transmitter
The transmitter’s open, standard WirelessHART digital communications provide access to process variables and essential diagnostic and troubleshooting information. |
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Advantech introduces PCI-1240U motor control card
The card has motion control functions such as a 2/3-axis linear interpolation, 2-axis circular interpolation, T/S-curve acceleration/deceleration rate, and more.
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TURCK introduces Sendix harsh duty absolute encoders
Die-cast housings, resistance to humidity and condensation and an IP 69k protection rating make these encoders exceptionally suitable for outdoor use.
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Remke releases stainless steel liquidtight connectors
For use in wet or dry locations, stainless steel Liquidtight electrical connectors seal against dust, dirt, oil, water, chemicals and other corrosive elements.
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GE Fanuc adds Proficy Maintenance Gateway
Software closes the loop between the plant floor and plant/corporate maintenance systems by using real-time production data, events and information to drive maintenance.
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Honeywell introduces HG1171 Inertial Measurement Sensor
HG1171 Series 6DF IMU sensors provide key data for automated steering, stability and vehicle controls in material handling equipment applications.
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GE Fanuc announces RM981RC Gigabit Ethernet Switch
RM981RC delivers full L-2 wire-speed Gigabit Ethernet switching, and is available as either a single slot (12-port) or dual slot (24-port) solution.
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MTL announces HCS 8000 hybrid control system
System has Elipse E3 automation software tightly integrated with MTL's MOST Process Automation Controllers and I/O. |
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Souriau releases UTS RJ45 connector
Suitable for high speed Ethernet connections in severe environments, the connector can be assembled in less than a minute.
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Baumer releases ED753 Depth Gauge
ED753 hydrostatic pressure transmitter produces an analog signal of the pressure-- respectively, the level--of the liquid in which the pressure transmitter is submerged.
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Bosch Rexroth releases IndraControl L10 PLC
IndraControl L10 PLC has unified software, scalable hardware, reusable code and pre-developed functions to help machine builders reduce engineering time.
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PREMO announces transformers for Power over Ethernet
Transformers are IEEE802.3af-compliant and available in three sizes (EP7, EP10 and EP13) for 3W, 7W and 13W applications.
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Sealevel releases PC/104 Serial Adapter
C4-104.485+I has 1,500VDC isolation and protects systems from ground loops and voltage transients that are common in remote installations and industrial environments
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For MORE of the latest product announcements, go to our Daily News Headlines page.
Product & Supplier Search
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| Resources & Literature |
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Motion Resource Kit CD
Bosch Rexroth’s new Linear Motion Resource Kit CD offers everything you need to know about linear motion technology in one convenient package. CD includes product animations, handbook, white papers and catalogs covering the structural design, operating principles and characteristics of linear motion technology components. |
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Other Resources & Literature:
Go to our Daily News Headlines page for the latest automation news.
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| Events, Seminars & Training |
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Rockwell Automation RSTechED User Conference
To help customers maximize their automation investments and use manufacturing data to fuel innovation, Rockwell Automation will host its 11th annual RSTechED, an international meeting of end users, system integrators, partners and original equipment manufacturers, June 1 to 6 at the Rosen Shingle Creek hotel in Orlando, Fla. |
Upcoming Events & Training
- Cognex Machine Vision Seminars: April - June, 2008
- 53rd Analysis Division Symposium: April 20-24, 2008
- FANUC Robotics hosts Intelligent Robotic Applications Forum: April 23-24, 2008
- ExperTune and TiPS User Conference: April 23-25, 2008
- FDT Technical Seminars: Beginning April 29, 2008
- ABB Automation World: April 29 - May 1, 2008
- Bristol User Group: May 1, 2008
- 54th ISA International Instrumentation Symposium: May 5-8, 2008
- FDT Technology Roadshow: May 6 and May 8, 2008
- SENSOR+TEST 2008: May 6-8, 2008
- Fieldbus Educational Seminar: May 8, 2008
- European Manufacturing Automation Forum: May 14-15, 2008
- IndConn - Industrial Connectivity: May 20-22, 2008
- Passion for Manufacturing Show: May 31-June 3, 2008
- Honeywell 2008 Americas Users Group Symposium: June 15-19, 2008
- ISA POWID Symposium: June 8-13, 2008
- Water and Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium: August 5-7, 2008
Go to our Calendar of Events to see other upcoming events. Add an event to our calendar. |
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| Company & Organizational News |
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Other Company & Organization News:
Go to our Daily News Headlines page for the latest automation news.
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| Application News |
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Go to our Daily News Headlines page for the latest automation news.
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| New Jobs |
Here's a list of new jobs posted on Automation.com:
To view other recent job postings, please use our Job Search Function. For recruiting and contract staffing services, please visit www.automationtechies.com. |
| Humor of the Week |
Dilbert - The most difficult part of your job is learning to cooperate with co-workers. |
I hope you enjoyed this Automation Weekly update. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the content in this e-newsletter or on Automation.com, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher
Automation.com
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