Enhanced capabilities help water and wastewater facilities proactively address cyber security issues
PITTSBURGH (Oct. 2, 2004) — Today Emerson Process Management announced it is adding new features and functionality to its Ovation® expert control system that will help its customers take additional proactive measures to enhance the security of their water and wastewater operations. “Security has always been a concern, but it has taken on increased significance in light of world events,” said Steve Schilling, vice president, product development, Emerson Power & Water Solutions. “While physical security – fences and perimeter security, guards and security procedures, for example, have been an important focus, efforts pertaining to contaminant detection and abatement, system hacking, and data integrity and verification are now taking on an increased urgency,” explained Schilling.
“We’re working with our customers to test and validate new features to ensure they meet the real-world security needs of municipalities,” he continued. Emerson is adding features to Ovation that address different types of cyber security concerns, according to Schilling. For example, Emerson is addressing security considerations for data exchange by incorporating measures such as machine authentication and data encryption for the secure transfer of information over common data links. Other areas of focus include more stringent password management, removal of unnecessary functions (often referred to as hardening) and disabling prohibited activities on certain workstations, and streamlining and formalizing user permissions.
“We understand that security is just one of many demands our customers face, and so one of our goals in developing new features is to take complex issues and make them easy to manage,” said Schilling. “We want to make it easier for our customers to be secure than not.” The enhancements to the Ovation expert control system are just part of Emerson’s ongoing and comprehensive commitment to providing customers with cyber security solutions for today’s ever-changing environment. For example, Emerson offers timely information regarding important security announcements, as well as security patch monitoring and notification on its secure Ovation/WDPF Users’ Web site.
Other security efforts in the works include expanding Emerson’s SureServiceSM customer support program to include security assessments and audits; and installation, configuration and monitoring of intrusion detection systems. “Security is of utmost importance to our customers,” said Schilling. “We take this very seriously and will continue to arm them with the product and service enhancements they need to operate their plants securely and reliably, both today and tomorrow,” Schilling concluded. The ability for Emerson customers to easily keep pace with ever-changing security issues is possible because Ovation is designed with an open systems approach that takes advantage of proven and widely adopted computing and networking technologies, standards and protocols.
This strategy enables customers to benefit from new technologies while retaining the investment in their control systems. It also allows Emerson to devote its resources to what’s important to its water and wastewater customers – developing value-added applications and solutions that translate into operational flexibility, improved reliability, increased operating efficiencies, the ability to meet operations and maintenance budgets, and maintain environmental and regulatory compliance. “We will continue to leverage the open aspects of Ovation, which enable us to utilize innovative technologies as they become available, so that we can help our customers respond to new security challenges,” said Schilling.
About Emerson Process Management Emerson Process Management
( www.emersonprocess.com ), an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the power, water and wastewater treatment, chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and other industries.
Emerson's Power & Water Solutions division( www.emersonprocess-powerwater.com ) is a global supplier of advanced distributed process control and information systems. The Pittsburgh-based company is a recognized leader in developing plant-wide process control solutions for the power generation, water treatment and wastewater treatment industries. Power & Water Solutions plays a key role in the Emerson mission of combining superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services.
Emerson brands include: PlantWeb; Ovation; SmartProcess; Fisher; MicroMotion; Rosemount; DeltaV; and AMSTM Suite.
About Emerson
St. Louis-based Emerson ( www.gotoemerson.com ) is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers in process control; electronics and telecommunications; industrial automation; heating, ventilating and air conditioning; and appliance and tools. Sales in fiscal 2003 were $14 billion.
