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Remote telemetry units (RTUs) help prevent cyber-attacks against critical infrastructure

According to Forbes, 2020 broke all records for data lost in breaches and sheer numbers of cyber-attacks on companies, individuals and governments. These threats are also becoming more sophisticated with emerging technologies like machine learning, artificial intelligence and 5G. Fortunately, remote telemetry units (RTUs) allow for better control and visibility when accompanied by advanced development and deployment techniques. Here, Matthew Hawkridge, chief technology officer at Ovarro, the supplier and manufacturer of remote monitoring technologies, explains why secure RTUs can mitigate threats against critical national infrastructure.

But why the rise in incidents? One explanation is that the increased move towards digitalisation and Industry 4.0 has raised cyber-security risks.

Cyber-attacks can also affect critical network infrastructure (CNI) like energy, water or oil and gas networks — the UK Government’s National Cyber Security Council (NCSC) is always concerned about the prospect of Russia or China hacking into Britain’s water supply chain. Cyberthreats to CNIs include espionage, targeted attacks from malicious actors, such as hostile states and criminals, and accidental data loss. All have the potential to disrupt our lives and damage the economy.

But how can CNI operators embrace digital transformation and all its benefits without inviting cybersecurity risks? The answer lies in RTUs and deployment with the latest NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF).

Secure ease-of-access

For decades, telemetry unit systems have been used for remote monitoring of power consumption and battery backup in networks for energy, water and telecommunications by gathering information about critical assets. They work on the simple premise that, if the condition of an asset is understood, then it can be managed efficiently and respond quickly to change. There is immense value in being able to optimise operations and to detect and respond faster to impending issues.

These systems are also equipped for Wi-Fi and the advent of 5G — for example, for process plants with servers in the cloud or in a nearby, air-conditioned control room, the RTU gathers information about critical assets. RTUs are emerging as one of the drivers for the IoT because they can gather and manage large volumes of data for analysis. Also, they are secure against cyber-attacks.

Ovarro’s TBox RTU is equipped with a Firewall with four levels of authority, HTTP session authentication and SSL/TLS & X.509 certificates. It also meets the IEEE802.1X standard for devices that connect with other devices on local area networks (LANs). Ovarro also works with highly qualified “CHECK” approved third party penetration testers,  cybersecurity experts that help us investigate and discover potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses in our products’ defences. We also  publish security advisories on new discoveries upon patching for complete transparency..

Going forward, Ovarro is committed to  meeting the IEC-62443 standard to secure industrial automation and control technology systems. But how are these efforts applied in a real-world setting, and where do RTUs fit in?

Better Industry 4.0

PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gas Field Company approached Ovarro to support with a digital upgrade project at its Chongqing Gas Mine. The mine is located in the jurisdiction of 277 industrial gas wells with a daily production capacity of 20 million cubic meters. Specifically, the customer wanted to improve remote monitoring of all its key gas wells with a better use of data. A key feature of this digital transformation would be the installation of an internet protocol (IP) camera at each site, giving regular images of the well head. But how could this be achieved securely?

Ovarro’s solution was to install a total of 70 solar-powered TBox RTUs within a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. The RTUs have the responsibility of capturing and transmitting an image snapshot each hour, or upon an alarm. In the case of a communications outage, the historian capabilities of the RTU can store months-worth of historical data on pressure, process shut-off valve position and more. This can be backed-up and transmitted to the central control station later, helping protect against data loss.

PetroChina has praised the TBox’s built-in cyber security suite with authentication and encryption technology, which provides state-of-the-art protection of the customer’s assets and data. This example shows that CNI managers can embrace the advantages of Industry 4.0 without compromising cybersecurity. With the right technology like RTUs in place, let’s hope that 2020’s cyberattack records remain unbroken in the future.

About Ovarro

Ovarro is the new name for Servelec Technologies and Primayer. Ovarro's technology is used throughout the world to monitor, control and manage critical and national infrastructure.

Our connected technology is always there, always on. Secure, proven, trusted; integrating seamlessly with our clients’ assets. Collecting and communicating data from some of the most remote locations and harshest environments on the planet. Enabling businesses to work smarter and more effectively.

Ovarro works with customers across water, oil & gas, broadcast and transportation to help monitor, control and manage their assets.

The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) has been named to Forbes’ inaugural “JUST 100: America’s Best Corporate Citizens in 2016” list – recognizing the Company’s strategic vision and actions to deliver long-term value to society as a whole while earning the right to operate.

“As the world leader in combining the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress, corporate citizenship and sustainability are at the very essence of who we are and why team Dow comes to work every day,” said Andrew Liveris, Dow’s chairman and chief executive officer. “This is the passion that drives everything we do. It truly is the Human Element at its very best.”

The list, which was developed by Forbes in conjunction with Just Capital, an independent, unaligned non-profit organization, scored and ranked approximately 1,000 publicly traded companies according to ten metrics. The metrics include: worker pay and benefits, worker treatment, supply chain impact, community well-being, domestic job creation, product attributes, customer treatment, leadership and ethics, environmental impact and investor alignment.

“We’re honored that Forbes and JUST Capital have recognized Dow’s commitments to education, inclusion, sustainability and economic development that lead to socially healthy and resilient communities,” said Rob Vallentine, Dow’s director of global citizenship and president of The Dow Chemical Company Foundation. “Through our global citizenship efforts, we put into action the company’s commitment to advancing human progress by striving to create sustainable communities.”

Dow has a variety of initiatives aligned with the metrics used by Forbes and Just Capital. For example, Dow’s work in diversity and inclusion have earned it recognition from leading voices in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities for its efforts to champion equality in the workplace.

Dow strives to be a good neighbor and valuable partner through its global citizenship strategy. This includes efforts to promote science, mathematics, engineering and technology (STEM) education that is largely made possible by Dow’s network of employee STEM Ambassadors. In 2015, the company unleashed more than 1,600 ambassadors across the world.

Dow is also committed to philanthropic efforts. Since 1983, Dow has had a strategic collaboration with Habitat for Humanity that has turned Dow’s sustainable products and employee passion into positive community impact – the company recently celebrated its 50,000th Habitat for Humanity home. This partnership contributes to the availability of affordable housing for families in the state and across the nation, along with 31 other countries around the world.

Dow’s commitment to enhancing its position as a leading corporate citizen is evidenced by the company’s seven 2025 Sustainability Goals. Through these goals, Dow collaborates with like-minded partners to advance the well-being of humanity by helping lead the transition to sustainable planet and society.

The complete list of winners can be found at www.forbes.com/just100. The inaugural list will appear in Forbes magazine’s December 20, 2016 issue. JUST Capital’s full methodology is available online at www.justcapital.com/methodology.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from material, polymer, chemical and biological science to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2015, Dow had annual sales of nearly $49 billion and employed approximately 49,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 6,000 product families are manufactured at 179 sites in 35 countries across the globe. On June 1, 2016, Dow became the 100 percent owner of Dow Corning Corporation’s silicones business, a global company with sales of greater than $4.5 billion in 2015, 25 manufacturing sites in 9 countries and approximately 10,000 employees worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

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