Kazio Networks

We are pleased to announce our newest partner – Network Vision. Network Vision is the brains behind Intravue and AutoIP (a tool that automatically assigns fixed IP addresses to replacement equipment avoiding the complexities and hardware specific requirements of DHCP Option 82). (more…)

A major milestone announced today, the ISA100 committee has approved the wireless industrial standard ISA100.11a, “Wireless Systems for Industrial Automation: Process Control and Related Applications.”

Before being officially published, the standard has to be further reviewed by the co-chairs (Wayne Manges of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Pat Schweitzer of ExxonMobil), the ISA Standards and Practices Board and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). It is expected to be published in August.

ISA100 official page

Be aware that Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has issued an alert on the circulation of counterfeit Systimax Cat 6 cables. It bears a counterfeit SYSTIMAX® Solutions logo, print message, label and UL Mark for the Untied States and Canada. It has the following descriptions: “SYSTIMAX® SOLUTIONS, GigaSPEED® XL Cable, Communications Cable, 1000 Feet, No. 1069.”

The quantity currently in circulation is unknown and is distributed by Ke Jie Electronic Appliance Store, Booth G241, Zone B, Pacific Computer Market, Tianhe District, Guangzhou B G241 CHINA.

We can’t stress enough the importance of using cables that conform to particular category specifications. The criticality of using counterfeit cables within Industrial environments is a definite show stopper. It could result in catastrophic occurrences as the cables may not withstand or perform within its category specifications.

Systimax® is the flagship brand of Commscope.

(Image Source: http://www.ul.com)

I would like to take this opportunity to give a shout out to our partners. They complement our industrial network services with their excellent products.

The global leader in secure communication technologies that simplify remote access, management, and control of virtually any electronic device regardless of location.

The leading manufacturer of switches, routers and more. Cisco Systems designs, manufactures and sells Internet protocol (IP)-based networking and other products related to the communications and information technology (IT) industry, and provides services associated with these products and their use.

Net Optics is the global leader in passive monitoring access for security and network management applications. Their innovative family of hardware products enables companies to access and monitor their network using the latest Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems, Protocol Analyzers, and Network Probes.

Provider of Industrial Grade Fiber Optic Converters and Ethernet Switches. Formerly called Weed Instruments, they provide data interface options for Industrial Ethernet, ControlNet, DeviceNet, Profibus, Modbus, Modbus Plus, Data Highway Plus, DH-485, Genius, Remote I/O, RS232/484, Reliance R-Net, 4-20mA and 0-10V.

Black Box Network Services is the world’s largest independent provider of communications, infrastructure, and product solutions. They offer over 118,000 technology products to fit your communications and infrastructure networking needs.

Transition Networks, Inc. offers networking connectivity solutions that make networks perform better, faster and more reliably while helping companies leverage their existing networking infrastructure. The company’s Transition Networks brand of media converters makes conversion between disparate media types possible; providing conversion technology solutions that offer the necessary adaptations without affecting the performance, nature or appearance of the network. These media conversion technologies are offered across a broad spectrum of networking protocols including Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit, T1/E1, DS3, ATM, V.35 and many more. They have an extensive range of Industrial Ethernet products for hardened and extreme environments.

Shop for Lantronix, Transition Networks and Cisco products at our online store. Alternatively, you can contact us by phone or through our online form for any of the above brand specific quotes/ quantities.

Browsing some discussions and references on twitter, here are recent articles emphasizing the fact that Security in Control Systems is something not to be taken lightly.

Hackers Penetrating Control Systems (PC World)
Hackers Penetrating Industrial Control Systems (Computer World Security)
R&D work vulnerable to cyber threats (Federal Computer Week)
Control Systems Cyber Security – The Current Status of Cyber Security of Critical Infrastructures (Joseph Weiss’ testimony to the Members of Congress dated March 19, 2009)

Around the web

Cyber Security Procurement Language for Control Systems Version 1.8 (MSISA)
Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MSISA)
Research Challenges for the Security of Control Systems (University of California, Berkeley)
Advances Needed in Control System Cyber Security (ControlGlobal.com)
Guide to Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security (NIST)
A Summary of Control System Security Standards Activities in the Energy Sector (Department of Energy)

Any other links that you want to share, let us know in the comments and we will add it to the list.