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Rockwell Automation Introduces Comprehensive Industrial Security Initiative

Rockwell Automation today announced a broad initiative to aid manufacturers in the relatively new issue of protecting control systems from security risks and cybersecurity threats. According to the company, this three-pronged initiative will help automation and IT professionals more effectively secure their industrial processes.

Milwaukee, Wis. (Manufacturing.net) — Rockwell Automation today announced a broad initiative to aid manufacturers in the relatively new issue of protecting control systems from security risks and cybersecurity threats. According to the company, this three-pronged initiative will help automation and IT professionals more effectively secure their industrial processes with a combination of control system design and best practices, contemporary technologies and professional services from Rockwell Automation and its partners, including Cisco.

The three-pronged approach combines defense-in-depth methodology, secure automation architecture and enterprise-ready industrial security solutions. The defense-in-depth approach, which includes forming multiple layers of defense to mitigate various types of risk, can help establish more comprehensive processes and policies. Rockwell says that a new automation architecture, including managed switches and secure communications, is necessary to reduce risks and better protect industrial control systems from attacks, including the means for better control, configuration and monitoring. And with the security solutions, Rockwell and Cisco, along with the other partners, are utilizing open-standard technology ti advocate for a common network architecture approach that helps decrease inconsistencies in network protocols, security practices and training.

Sujeet Chand, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Rockwell Automation, said: “The rapidly evolving nature of the industrial security landscape makes it critical that today’s manufacturers view security as an ongoing business imperative, rather than a one-time investment event,” said Sujeet Chand, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Rockwell Automation. “A more secure network infrastructure will allow manufacturers to deploy contemporary technologies and emerging solutions, like mobility, virtualization and cloud computing, while still performing mission-critical automation functions.  Rockwell Automation is dedicated to providing the technologies and resources that will help facilitate the design and management of a secure connected enterprise.”

Guido Jouret, vice president and general manager of the Internet of Things business unit for Cisco, added: “Rockwell Automation and Cisco are leading the way in helping manufacturers recognize that information security spans from the plant floor through the enterprise. It’s important to take what we’ve learned in the IT space and educate manufactures on the business value associated with taking a consistent and seamless approach to security. Together we’re delivering expertise and solutions to help secure their important physical and intellectual assets in a world with dynamic security threats.”

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