Ferranti Computer Systems Announces Partnership with Verano Inc, to Sell industrial Defender, First Real-Time Security Suite for Industrial Operations
- PRESS RELEASE -
Antwerp, Belgium – February 2004 – Ferranti Computer Systems, a leading ICT system integrator and services provider, has partnered with Verano Inc., the leading provider of cyber-security management and control solutions for mission-critical industrial operations, to sell Industrial Defender™—the first real-time security software and services suite designed specifically for industrial control environments. The security solution is targeted for use by mission-critical industries, including power generation, energy distribution, water treatment, process control waste handling and transportation markets. Verano Industrial Defender safeguards control networks and mitigates business risk, while providing regulatory compliance.
“We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Verano. With already unmatched security expertise at the enterprise network level, we are convinced effective cyber protection at the control system level constitutes a considerable added value to both our SCADA and network security offering,” said Franky Baert, Managing Director of Ferranti Computer Systems. “Control systems deliver mission critical operations. Ferranti and Verano are helping utility and transport companies discover where potential vulnerabilities exist, enabling personnel to protect and manage critical infrastructure.”
“Mission critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities are a worldwide concern. Ferranti Computer Systems is addressing these concerns by offering Verano’s Industrial Defender, providing industrial operators access to local expertise, installation and support to monitor, detect, notify and protect against cybersecurity threats at the control network level,” said Brian Ahern, president and CEO of Verano. “The unique combination of Ferranti’s control system experience and cyber-security expertise enable their clients to fully benefit from Verano’s comprehensive tool set.”
Ferranti Computer Systems also offers a comprehensive vulnerability audit and assessment of existing control systems by service engineers, to compliment Verano’s Industrial Defender Watch, a real-time security monitoring, detection and notification system built on National Security Agency (NSA) Security Enhanced version of Linux.
About Verano Industrial Defender Watch:
Watch is designed to consolidate all industrial operations monitoring and detection of potential security breaches to existing control system applications and servers, firewalls, as well as other security devices, while also monitoring system performance. Upon detection of a potential security breach, Watch provides configurable notification mechanisms to alert appropriate personnel of the security violations.
Verano Industrial Defender Watch Features:
- 24×7×365 real-time monitoring, detection and notification of security threats for both network assets and plant applications
- Vulnerability audit and assessment by service engineers
- Real-time alarm and event management to view and acknowledge cyber security or system performance incidents
- “Intelligent Agents” that detect patterns and symptoms on control devices, passing only the needed information across the network to the Watch server never using more than one percent of your control network resources
- Real-time database and calculation engine built on over 12 years of field proven industrial real-time technology provides for centralized storage for all security information
- Network Intrusion Detection (NIDS) application that can detect more than 1,800 signatures
- Email incident notification, enbling instant notification of an incident by wireless PDA, pager or cell phone
- Pre-built reports show cyber-security incidents by alarm levels, device category or date and time for compliance with security procedures and policies
- Delivered as an appliance, utilizing the security extensions from NSA
About Verano
Verano, Inc. is a leading provider of cyber-security management and control solutions for mission-critical industrial operations. 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
About Ferranti Computer Systems NV
Ferranti Computer Systems was founded in 1976 as a subsidiary of Ferranti International. Since 1994, Ferranti Computer Systems has been a member of the Netherlands-based Nijkerk Group. Besides their headquarters in Antwerp, the company also has an office in Amsterdam. As early as 1994, Ferranti was one of the first IT companies to attain ISO 9000-3 certification.
In this world of new technologies advancing at an ever-increasing pace, Ferranti builds on more than 25 years of experience in system integration, e-business applications, network technology and custom projects for a number of specific markets, including energy and utility companies, public transport, industry and service providers.
The clients of Ferranti include names such as Monsanto, UCB Belgium, Opel Belgium, Huntsman, KPN Telecom, Connexxion, Essent, Cogas, Nutsbedrijf Westland, Eneco, Reliant Energy, Electrabel, Indexis, Mobistar, Schiphol Airport, Hyplast, Vandemoortele, Kraft Jacobs Suchard, Koffie F. Rombouts, Plastiflex…