.svg?width=300)
A US company has developed an unusual way to link the “operational technology” of industry to the information technology of business without compromising the security of the industrial processes – by hiding them from all untrusted users.
Securing operational technology devices is considered by many the key to the Industrial Internet of Things, in which industrial controllers and other devices are connected to the same network as computers, printers, servers and, potentially, domestic appliances.
By letting their industrial and corporate technology share the same computer network, businesses should be able to gain a clearer insight into business activities and any potential opportunities to generate extra revenue.
Security on a conventional IT network is implemented by assuming that all users are trusted, and then attempting to manage what isn’t trusted. However, Tempered Networks in the US has taken a different approach: by initially assuming all communications are untrusted and allowing only those that are on a “whitelist”.
Tempered Networks has developed a physical and virtual appliance called an HIPswitch that is positioned next to industrial devices on the network. HIPswitches are managed centrally, and communications from elsewhere on the network are ignored unless they have a “peer HIPswitch identity”.
The system administrator sets trust relationships between HIPswitches si protected devices can communicate. Addressing of the HIPswitches is independent of the addressing on the main network, so malicious communications on the corporate network cannot affect protected devices.
The company says its system allows secure and efficient machine-to-machine and Industrial Internet of Things communications, and cuts running costs.
Visit www.temperednetworks.com for more information.