By Greentech Lead America: S&C Electric Company,
a provider of electric power systems equipment, has collaborated with McAfee to
bundle application control software from McAfee into S&C’s PC-based control
platforms. This bundling will help S&C enhance the security and protection
of its control platforms.
“Cybersecurity is a concern in the deployment of
smart grid technology. By integrating advanced security features like those
provided by McAfee, S&C is helping to address one of the hurdles to
deploying a modern smart grid,” said Rohit Khera, S&C cyber security
architect.
McAfee Application Control software and change control
technology ensures that only trusted applications run on devices after they are
deployed at an enterprise or remote location. The solution prevents
unauthorized changes to the control device and issues alerts in the event of
unwanted change attempts.
McAfee Application Control software protects devices
from zero-day attacks, reduces in-field breakage, eliminates the patching
cycles typical of other security approaches and keeps devices compliant with
security standards.
“McAfee’s work with S&C represents an important
step towards advancing the protection of electric control platforms. This
bundle augments traditional signature-based detection technologies with
whitelisting, memory protection, and change control functions,” said
Jennifer Byrne, senior director of vertical markets at McAfee.
S&C announces new smart grid products
Recently, S&C unveiled new solutions to help
utilities realize a self-healing smart grid, at IEEE PES T&D Conference and
Exposition. These products help reduce outage time and give utilities better
grid management capabilities, improving the reliability and efficiency of power
delivery for customers.
The new product advancements integrate automatic
restoration with grid optimization solutions. Also, enhanced communications
system tools help simplify the management of distribution automation solutions
for utilities.