Combat cyber-threats with specialist training!

SolutionsPT is continuing its proactive response to the growing threat to cyber security in British manufacturing by becoming an authorised training provider for Tofino® Security Products, (now part of Belden.)

Earlier this year SolutionsPT became a Certified VAR Gold Partner for Tofino’s Industrial Security Solution. Tofino, as our readers will know, is renowned in the industry for cyber security protection within control networks. Tofino’s flexible architecture enables users to create security zones – Zone Level Security – throughout their control network to protect critical system components. (See more on our ICS & SCADA Page on Tofino's part in the battles against Stuxnet and its siblings!)

SolutionsPT is now helping fight the battle against cyber-threats by providing training aimed at maximising the potential of Tofino’s Industrial Security Solution, which includes the EAGLE20TM Tofino Hardware.

The one day course is designed to deliver a fundamental and in-depth understanding of the Tofino Industrial Security Solution by equipping users with the knowledge to install and configure Tofino within a manufacturing network to enable users to extend Cyber Security down to the control network and securely track network devices and easily create firewall rules.

Mike Lees, Hardware Manager at SolutionsPT said: “We are dealing with specialist security solutions designed specifically for the industrial IT market. It is therefore important that we educate our customers to use them effectively and ensure best practice is met, to make certain they are getting the best return on their investment, especially as security is such an ever-increasing issue in our industry”.

Courses will deliver a fundamental and in-depth understanding of the Tofino solution to users in IT, system administration, operations and engineering departments.

Delegate numbers are kept purposefully low so that individual needs and specific industry and company issues can be addressed fully.

New position to focus on security business

Byres Security, now part of of Belden, has strengthened its organisation with the appointment of Frank Williams as Senior Product Manager. Williams has 30 years of senior management experience in bringing new technologies to market in the process automation industries. In his new role, Williams will focus on strategy, platforms and sales channels for growing the Byres’ Tofino Security line of business.

During his career, Williams has been a key player in taking new technologies like industrial computers, industrial-grade human machine interface (HMI), fieldbus devices and industrial wireless from early to mainstream adoption in the automation industries. His most recent positions were chief executive officer of ELPRO Technologies Pty Ltd., a world leader in industrial wireless products (ELPRO is now part of Cooper Bussmann Wireless) and president and chief executive officer of Action Instruments, a global supplier of single conditioners, measurement and data acquisition solutions for industrial and process businesses (Action Instruments is now part of Eurotherm, a division of Invensys). Williams also brings his extensive industry network to Byres Security.

“Industrial cyber security is the next major impactful technology to hit the automation and process control industries,” he said. “Realising this, I reviewed and searched the security landscape and decided to put my energy behind the Tofino Security suite of solutions. I believe it has the best technology available for protecting industrial networks from the rapidly growing threat of industrially-focused malware.”

“We are very excited to have Frank join our team,” commented Joann Byres, vice president and general manager of Byres Security. “He adds a wealth of automation industry business and management experience into our group, and he will be invaluable as we ramp up development and sales channels as part of Belden.”

• See Frank Williams first contribution on the Tofino Blog Site: Industrial Data Compromise – the New Business Risk (11/1/2012)

Network switch supply agreement

Yokogawa has signed a supply agreement with Belden, a global manufacturer whose products include the Hirschmann brand of industrial network switches: components that are used to connect the different components of a control network. This new agreement will allow Yokogawa to provide a long-term and stable supply of Hirschmann's highly reliable Industrial Ethernet switches to its customers for use with the Yokogawa Vnet/IP® high-speed control network. Under the terms of the agreement, Yokogawa will sell these network switch products to its customers and provide maintenance services that facilitate the configuration of highly reliable control networks.

Overview of Vnet/IP Communications

The construction of reliable plant control networks requires high performance network switches that are reliable and have strong resistance to hostile environments with extreme ambient temperatures and corrosive gasses. In addition, the continuous supply and maintenance of switches must be ensured at each stage of the plant lifecycle. Yokogawa will offer Hirschmann brand network switches from Belden, the global leader in this market, because customers value a low failure rate and high environmental resistance. In addition, Hirschmann's Industrial Ethernet switches are the perfect choice for configuring control networks in plants in demanding environments that must operate with long-term stability.

Yokogawa is committed to providing its customers with highly reliable plant control systems and the long-term support required to guarantee stable operations over the entire plant lifecycle.
The Yokogawa Vnet/IP® high-speed control network allows control information to be transmitted between the devices such as human interface stations and controllers that comprise a control system. The Vnet/IP control network is used in Yokogawa's CENTUM® VP integrated production control system and ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system.

(We recently reported the acquisition of Byres Security by Belden!) 

Network design seminar

Belden Inc. will present the Hirschmann™ 2010 Mission Critical Network Design Seminar, September 19-22, 2010 in Orlando, (FL US)

Seminar topics include: • Introduction to Ethernet Networking • Network Design I: Fundamentals & Best Practices • Network Design II: Implementing Redundancy • Network Design III: Managing Multicast Traffic • Network Design IV: Isolating Network Traffic • Network Design V: Wireless Best Practices & Applications • Network Security, The Hirschmann Way • Network Management • Physical Layer Cabling & Testing: How to test and troubleshoot a reliable Ethernet network • Switch Selection: Choosing the right product for your application • Cool things your switch can do that you don’t know about • Migrating legacy devices to Ethernet • Industrial Connectivity: Passive Product Technology • Industrial Connectivity: Active Products • Ethernet Cabling: Your Questions Answered • Fiber Optic Cabling • Industrial Automation Cabling (Non-Ethernet Applications) • HSI Forum • Distributor Forum • Intro to HSI - Hirschman System Integrator Program Hands-On Labs • Managed switches “Out of the Box” • Network Management • Network Redundancy • Layer 3 / Routing • Network Security • Wireless

In today’s highly competitive markets, training is essential to establish and maintain the technical competencies needed for success and advancement. This seminar provides a multitude of high quality training options to fit specific levels of expertise. Unlike other seminars, the Mission Critical Network Design Seminar is focused on just one particular area of technology: Industrial Ethernet Networking.

Expertise in designing, implementing and maintaining industrial Ethernet networks will be critical as intelligent use of data becomes the difference between market leaders and also rans. This seminar will position attendees at the forefront of industrial Ethernet networking, now and in the future.

The seminar is intended for system integrators; network design engineers (with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) or Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) firms); and anyone involved with the design, implementation and maintenance of mission critical Ethernet networks. During the seminar, attendees will learn how to effectively reduce costs and installation time by implementing a highly resilient network design.

Presenters with a combined experience of over 150 years will speak on technical topics including Isolating Network Traffic, Implementing Redundancy and Network Security. Each presenter has the experience and technical background to address current technology trends for designing state-of-the art mission critical industrial Ethernet networks in a variety of industries including petrochemical; automotive; and power generation, transmission and distribution.