Schneider Electric and Fortinet have joined in a strategic partnership to provide cybersecurity solutions that address the unique needs of OT networks. Under the terms of the agreement, Schneider Electric will integrate Fortinet’s firewalls, secure access and other device protection solutions into its own cybersecurity solutions to help customers secure and protect their increasingly digital operations.
According to FortiGuard Labs’ latest Threat Landscape Report, the dangers organizations face now also include cyber-attacks on consumer devices used by employees working from home. The increasing frequency with which attackers are targeting old and new vulnerabilities in consumer IoT products could suggest cyber criminals are seeking to gain a foothold in enterprise networks by exploiting devices that WFH employees might be using to connect to the enterprise network.
During the first six months of 2020, 68.3% of organizations in the Middle East detected traffic related Mirai, a malware that primarily targets online consumer devices such as IP cameras and home routers, or one of its many variants. Another 58% of organizations detected traffic related to Gh0st, a remote access botnet that allows an attacker to take full control of the infected system, log keystrokes, provide live webcam and microphone feeds, download and upload files, and other nefarious activities.
“Businesses must address cybersecurity at all levels of their operations and continuously throughout the lifecycle, especially as they continue to take advantage of new digital technologies to extract more value from their operations,” said Jay Abdallah, vice president, Cybersecurity Services, Schneider Electric. “Today, more than ever, it is critical for owner-operators to address cybersecurity risks upfront and then implement the best cybersecurity solutions for their specific needs and environments. By combining our technology, experience and expertise with Fortinet’s products, we are better able to develop and implement custom, holistic solutions that not only enable our customers’ digital transformations, but improve their ability to manage their cybersecurity risks across the operations lifecycle.”
As a panelist in Fortinet’s free webinar Securing the Future of Industrial Controls: Insights from an Operations Leader Survey, Abdallah will join Fortinet experts and other industry leaders to discuss the
ongoing IT-OT convergence, how the growing number of IoT devices impacts plant environments and how applying best practices will address the challenges of securing the digitally transformed landscape. The webinar takes place on August 20, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. EDT. Visit the website for more information and to register.
With threat vectors changing practically by the hour and with the critical infrastructure and global manufacturing industries under increasing threat, cybersecurity is not a one-time thing. Because risks are dynamic, the approach to managing and mitigating cyber risks must also be dynamic. Different operations require different solutions, and their needs will change over time. By bringing together Schneider Electric’s technology, domain expertise and experience managing mission-critical IT and OT systems with Fortinet’s cybersecurity offers, the partnership promises to deliver stronger cybersecurity and threat-prevention solutions that fit the unique and changing needs of businesses in almost every industry.
The agreement is structured to allow the companies to jointly develop cybersecurity solutions for specific industries and applications, meaning customers will have more access to leading products and customized, flexible cybersecurity solutions, with Fortinet applications integrated with Schneider Electric offers.
“As a leader in OT security, we’re pleased to join Schneider Electric to enable organizations adopting digital innovation to unlock the advantages of the Internet and connected IIoT devices,” said Rick Peters, CISO – Operational Technology, Fortinet. “By delivering leading cybersecurity solutions tailor-made for OT environments, we are able to protect organizations by reducing cybersecurity risk across multi-vector threat landscapes. This partnership highlights two industry-leading companies with a deep understanding of the needs, requirements and constraints of OT environments working together to provide unique cybersecurity solutions. We look forward to collaborating with Schneider Electric to bring together the best technology and expertise available.”
