IT in Manufacturing


Honeywell proactively manages risk for industrial sites

June 2015 IT in Manufacturing

Honeywell Process Solutions has launched the first digital dashboard designed to monitor, measure and manage cyber security risk for control systems for refineries, power plants and other automated production sites throughout the world that are at increasing risk of cyber attacks.

The Honeywell Industrial Cyber Security Risk Manager is designed to simplify the task of identifying areas of cyber security risk, providing real-time visibility, understanding and decision support required for action. It monitors and measures cyber security risk in multi-vendor industrial environments.

The threat of cyber attacks on industrial targets is a major concern according to a global survey on cyber security conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs in September 2014 on behalf of Honeywell. More than 5000 adults in 10 countries were surveyed about the threat of cyber attacks on critical industries in their countries. Three quarters of respondents said they were fearful that cyber criminals could hack into and control major sectors and elements of the economy. Two-thirds of those surveyed thought that the oil and gas, chemicals and power industries were particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks.

“Industrial processors are increasingly challenged to understand their cyber security risks,” said Jeff Zindel, global business leader cyber security, HPS. “And many times, they don’t know what to do with the data they are provided or what to do if an incident occurs. Risk Manager changes that. It gives guidance on the potential impact of threats and vulnerabilities as well as possible resolutions, making it easier to manage cyber security risks.”

Risk Manager uses advanced technologies that translate complex cyber security indicators into clear measurements and key performance indicators (KPI), and provides essential information through an easy-to-use interface. The intuitive workflow allows users to create customised risk notification alerts and perform detailed threat and vulnerability analysis so they can focus on managing risks that are most important for reliable plant operations.

“Industrial facilities have clearly become targets for cyber attacks. Safety and operational continuity demand a clear understanding of these serious, dynamic risks and a program to ensure that they remain within acceptable levels. While most organisations recognise this need, operational people often lack the expertise to assess and manage cyber risks,” said Sid Snitkin, vice president, ARC Advisory Group. “So, we applaud Honeywell’s development of the Industrial Cyber Security Risk Manager. From what we’ve seen, it is a comprehensive, yet understandable, solution that should meet the needs of operational, automation, and manufacturing IT personnel.”

“With Risk Manager, industrial customers don’t need to be cyber security experts,” said Zindel. “The easy-to-use interface allows users to prioritise and focus efforts on managing risks that are most important for reliable plant operations, protecting against vulnerabilities and threats such as insecure network and system configurations, rogue devices, intrusion attempts, malware, and the list goes on.”

Honeywell has included proprietary cyber protection software for more than 10 years with its leading process automation solutions including Experion process controls, which are used at industrial sites such as refineries, chemical plants, gas processing units, power plants, mines and mills around the world. During that time, the Honeywell Industrial Cyber Security group has delivered more than 1000 industrial cyber security projects globally.

Risk Manager monitors plant assets within and across all security zones of a plant, including third-party systems. By understanding security zones, Risk Manager is aligned with ISA 62443 and is able to calculate accurate risk scores. Risk Manager’s real-time measurement of risk is in line with industry standard risk management methodologies so that risk scores can be used consistently and accurately throughout a corporation’s risk and governance efforts. Risk Manager is the latest addition to Honeywell’s end-to-end portfolio of professional and managed services for industrial environments.

For more information contact Boni Magudulela, Honeywell Southern Africa, +27 (0)11 695 8000, [email protected], www.honeywellprocess.com





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Enhancing cyber security for industrial drives
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
The growing connection between production networks and office networks as part of IT/OT integration and the utilisation of IoT have many benefits for industrial companies. At the same time, they also increase the risk of cyber threats. Siemens ensures that your know-how and plants are protected at all times.

Read more...
Immersion cooling systems for data centres
IT in Manufacturing
The demand for data centres in Africa is growing. The related need for increasing rack densities brings with it escalating cooling requirements.

Read more...
Transforming pulp and paper with automation and digitalisation
ABB South Africa IT in Manufacturing
The pulp and paper industry in South Africa is undergoing a significant transformation from traditional manual processes to embracing automation technologies. Automation in pulp and paper mills aims to improve various production stages, from raw material preparation to final product creation.

Read more...
New world of process control: A completely web-based process control system
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Control technology is crucial for gaining a competitive edge in the process industry. That’s why there’s SIMATIC PCS neo - the innovative ground-breaking process control system by Siemens.

Read more...
Protecting industrial networks with resilient defence
RJ Connect IT in Manufacturing
Network security is no longer just about preventing hacking or data breaches. For operational technology networks, resilient defence and consistent uptime are crucial. They are the core tenets that underpin Moxa’s guarded uptime and resilient defence (GUARD).

Read more...
The metaverse is now: are you ready to reimagine your business?
IT in Manufacturing
The convergence of the digital and physical worlds, driven by spatial computing and the metaverse, is rapidly reshaping business landscapes. This transformation extends beyond the mere novelty of virtual reality headsets and augmented reality filters, signalling a fundamental shift in how organisations operate, collaborate and innovate.

Read more...
AI and cyber security: South Africa’s next battleground
IT in Manufacturing
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a double-edged sword in the world of cybersecurity. In South Africa, where cybercrime is on the rise, AI presents both an opportunity and a threat.Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a double-edged sword in the world of cybersecurity. In South Africa, where cybercrime is on the rise, AI presents both an opportunity and a threat.

Read more...
Technology won’t save your business from cyber threats
IT in Manufacturing
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the landscape of information security, presenting both unprecedented opportunities and significant new threats.

Read more...
Addressing the cooling needs of the modern data centre
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
The rise in hardware density in data centres is gaining speed and is largely driven by the demands of artificial intelligence and machine learning, requiring more powerful servers and specialised hardware.

Read more...
South Africa’s next cyber security frontier
IT in Manufacturing
AI-powered agents are rapidly transforming how South African businesses operate, from chatbots managing customer inquiries to automated systems processing financial transactions. While these AI-driven assistants increase efficiency and reduce operational costs, they also present a new, and often underestimated, cybersecurity challenge: identity management.

Read more...