MANSFIELD, Mass., Nov. 1, 2005—Verano, Inc., the leading provider of security and SCADA solutions for mission-critical industries, today introduced Industrial Defender V2.0®, the latest version of its Industrial Defender security appliance suite, initially introduced in June 2003.
As the market’s first and only cybersecurity solution designed to monitor and protect the real-time control environment, Industrial Defender V2.0 features enhanced security agents, customizable reporting and analysis, and increased scalability intended specifically for power transmission and distribution, water distribution and treatment, gas and liquid pipelines, mass transit systems and power generation companies. Due to the possibility of catastrophic consequences on economic and public safety, the issue of cyber attack is reaching a new height of concern at national, industry and corporate levels.
A lapse in SCADA and DCS network security can potentially cause interruption of revenue generation, sweeping blackouts, water resource shortages and interference of major transportation systems. Growing concern for cybersecurity threats, NERC standards and the recently signed energy bill are driving companies responsible for critical infrastructure to implement greater levels of network security at the real-time control level. Verano’s Industrial Defender V2.0 enables customers to prepare for such shifts by providing all the necessary layers of cybersecurity monitoring, protection and reporting in one integrated solution.
“We believe that Verano is in tune with the unique and sensitive circumstances that surround mission-critical network security protection,” said Robert Stratman, vice president, ABB, a technology-based provider in power and automation and a world leader in both power generation and SCADA applications. “Industrial Defender V2.0 incorporates new features that take real-time control system protection to the next level.” Based on two years of extensive customer feedback, requests and market observations, Verano designed Industrial Defender V2.0 to protect the control environment against all forms of cyber attack including viruses, worms, Trojans, hackers, application exploits, rogue systems, resource starvation and unauthorized use, while assuring the highest levels of availability.
This layered approach consists of security monitoring of multi-vendor control system critical metrics, as well as perimeter protection and network monitoring to detect and prevent internal and external threats. Easy management and immediate visibility of the entire control environment enable increased efficiency and accuracy for the user. “Verano is in a position to understand how to secure existing control environments, given its 15 years experience in mission-critical control,” said Bob Mick, vice president, ARC Advisory Group. “We’ve watched Verano advance Industrial Defender as a real-time control security solution, based on evolving customer needs as well as an awareness of government priorities and standards for the nation’s critical infrastructure.
As a result, utilities faced with the challenge of protecting the nation's energy supply while addressing compliance requirements will benefit from deep engagements with companies like Verano, in addition to the protections that their cybersecurity solutions give to new and legacy systems.”In one customer example, a key player in the transmission and distribution industry recently realized it needed to boost its security measures for the sake of its more than 1.75 million customers. They selected Verano to implement two Industrial Defender systems, with host agents to be distributed to a total of 23 remote systems for its primary and disaster recovery center.
Based on successful results, Industrial Defender (upon going live) detected a previous worm infection as well as several additional vulnerabilities. The company is continuing to reap the benefits of this comprehensive security solution and plans to deploy Industrial Defender in several other SCADA environments across different geographies. With Verano’s Industrial Defender V2.0, companies gain a comprehensive security solution for their real-time control systems and applications, while still enabling optimal availability and performance. Industrial Defender’s threat-adaptive design provides the appropriate level of security based on risk management and budgetary needs.
As needs evolve, the system can easily be expanded and upgraded. Industrial Defender V2.0 features:
- Comprehensive layers of security entirely accessible and manageable via one UI
- New industrial automation security agents for critical security and performance monitoring of multi-vendor SCADA and DCS systems including: ABB 800xA, ABB Infi90, ABB Symphony/Harmony, Automsoft RAPID Historian, Emerson WDPF, Foxboro I/A, Quantum PLCs, Rockwell RSView, Schneider Momentum and Verano RTAP
- Control network specific rules to detect security issues, and errors with protocols such as DNP3 and Modbus over TCP
- Scalable unified threat management and network monitoring appliances enabling cost effective perimeter protection and immediate visibility of the entire control environment
- Unique threat-adaptive lock-down feature for immediate modification of perimeter security settings from the console
- Tunable resource usage for support of older systems to eliminate the need to upgrade existing control systems
- FERC/NERC CIP compliance enablement
- New customizable analysis and reporting capabilities simplify compliance activities and enhance operational efficiencyIndustrial Defender V2.0 is now available.
Further information can be found at www.verano.com .
About Verano
Verano, Inc. is the leading provider of security and SCADA solutions for mission-critical industries.
Verano is a trusted supplier to more than 220 industrial enterprises in power generation, utilities, energy, transportation and process manufacturing industries.
These customers represent more than 2,200 global system installations.
A privately held company founded in 1996, Verano is headquartered in Mansfield, Massachusetts, with a major operation in Calgary, Canada.
Additional information about Verano is available on the Web at www.verano.com .
