Page 111: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Sep/Oct 2014)

110 112

less). Running old, out of date software among others, but they can also suffer or littering it with such complicated happening and quickly assessing the coupled with more interconnected from the weaknesses. The real challenge tools, taps, appliances and so on that risk of any cyber incident or indication networks, often indirectly connected to is how to prevent unwanted malicious the cure becomes almost as bad as the thereof, so that corrective action can be the Internet, is exposing these systems software from affecting the critical sys- disease. Many engineers are now staring taken quickly,” Knapp said. to more and more risks which is likely tems offshore. glaze-eyed at new technology that just a to result in off shore platforms expe- “When computing systems are new couple of years ago was totally out- Gregory Hale is the riencing security issues and potential they are ideally secure and we can side the scope of their knowledge and Editor and Founder unexpected outages.” supplement that security with anti-virus, responsibility,” says Dan Schaffer, busi- of Industrial Safety whitelisting, among others,” Knapp ness development manager, network- and Security Source

Dollars can add up says. “But over time vulnerabilities are ing and security at Phoenix Contact, in (ISSSource.com) and

One highly likely effect of a malware discovered, and patched. It’s hard enough Pennsylvania. is the contributing infection offshore is unplanned down- deploying patches in a production ICS. As always with security, vigilance Automation Editor at time. As it is in any industry, downtime When your system is offshore it is com- remains a key thought. “The biggest thing Offshore Engineer.

means money, and offshore the millions pounded. You need to have regular visits is visibility; staying on top of what’s add up fairly quickly. or a reliable and secure network connec- “Even something that could be con- tion to the platform. And then you need sidered ‘minor’ in business IT could to apply the patches. have signi? cant cost impact offshore. A “That’s one reason why application dropped packet could skew visibility and whitelisting is well suited for these envi- impact automated systems to where pro- ronments: It only needs to be updated

Need reliability duction slips from its optimal state,” says when a system update or new applica-

Eric Knapp, director of cyber security tion is installed, which keeps the system solutions and technology at Honeywell better protected for longer periods of time and innovation?

Process Solutions. “Worst case, of course, than traditional AV,” Knapp says.

there is a loss of visibility or a broader

Taking control impact that halts production altogether.

Regardless, to address any issue is more That all means offshore platform opera- expensive when it’s miles offshore on a tors need to start working to identify controlled facility.” weaknesses and take a proactive stand

We bring proven

As communications systems advance, against possible infections.

companies reap the bene? ts of real-time “One challenge is not making your project execution analysis and quicker decision making process control system so convoluted and creativity to a risk assessment and associated failure creates a mesh network interconnect- your projects.

modes and e