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PITTSBURGH (November 30, 2004) — Today
at POWER-GEN International 2004, Emerson Process Management announced
it has expanded its comprehensive offering of cyber security solutions and
services for users of the company’s Ovation® expert control system.
Ovation is a key technology that powers Emerson’s PlantWeb® digital
plant architecture to optimize reliability, performance and environmental compliance
for power generation customers.
Emerson’s expanded security offerings will not only enable
power industry customers to proactively address cyber security
issues, but will also help them meet the requirements of pending
security standards, such as NERC 1300, a standard put forth by
the North American Electric Reliability Council requiring the identification
and protection of critical cyber assets related to the reliable
operation of bulk electric systems. NERC 1300 builds on the concepts
and requirements found in the Cyber Security Standard 1200 by expanding
the scope to include process control and SCADA assets critical
to grid reliability.
"Security has always been a concern, but it has taken on
a whole new level of significance in light of world events,” said
Steve Schilling, vice president, product development for Emerson’s
Power & Water Solutions division.
"While physical security – fences, guards and security
procedures, for example, have been an important industry focus,
efforts pertaining to system hacking, and data integrity and verification
are now taking on an increased urgency,” explained Schilling,
who points out that Emerson is a member of the NERC Cyber Security
Standard Drafting Team. “We have also been working with our
customers to test and validate new features to ensure they meet
their real-world security needs,” he continued.
"The enhanced features, functions and services Emerson
is offering will help our customers take additional proactive measures
to minimize the risk of unauthorized use of their control systems,
ultimately making their power plants more reliable as well as secure,” said
Schilling. “Addressing these issues now positions our customers
to address the impending release of new legislation and secure
their operations in the event of a cyber attack.”
Emerson is adding features to Ovation that address various aspects
of cyber security, 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, as well
as developing recommendations (standards) for exchanging data at
the network level. Other areas of focus include more stringent
password management, workstation hardening (removal of unnecessary
functions) and disabling non-essential activities on key workstations,
and streamlining and formalizing the tedious job of developing
user permissions.
"We understand that security is just one of many demands
our customers face, and so one of our primary goals in developing
new security solutions 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.”
Enhancements
to Ovation are just part of Emerson’s on-going
commitment to providing comprehensive security solutions. An Ovation
System Security Assessment module has also been developed as part
of the company’s SureService SM customer support program.
SureService security assessments are designed to help customers
identify, collect and document key system parameters relating to
Ovation system security. Security assessments include a thorough
inventory and characterization of current system hardware and software,
a review of current system configuration for cyber vulnerabilities,
and identification of the “electronic security perimeter” as
defined in NERC 1300, including all access points to the perimeter.
The ability for Emerson customers to easily keep pace with ever-changing
security issues is possible because Ovation is designed to take
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 power industry 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.
"Security is of utmost importance to our customers. 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,” said Schilling. “Furthermore,
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.”
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®; Daniel®; DeltaV™ ; and AMS™ 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 2004 were $15.6 billion.
# # #
Ovation, SureService, SmartProcess, PlantWeb, Fisher, Micro
Motion, Rosemount, Daniel, AMS™ Suite and DeltaV™ are
marks of Emerson Process Management. Other marks are the property
of their respective owners.
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