Honeywell opens new cybersecurity research lab

Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS) has announced the opening of the Honeywell Industrial Cyber Security Lab to advance its development and testing of new technologies and software to defend industrial facilities and operations such as refineries and manufacturing plants from cyber attacks.

According to the US Department of Homeland Security’s Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT), reported cyber incidents on industrial targets in 2014 continued to increase and were up more than 25% since 2011. ICS-CERT’s latest report also states that in 40% of incidents that were reported, experts did not know how hackers intruded the system because of a lack of detection and monitoring capabilities. Similar concerns were reflected in a global survey on cybersecurity conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs in September 2014 on behalf of Honeywell. In that survey, more than 75% of respondents from 10 countries said they were fearful that cybercriminals could disrupt major sectors of the economy and identified the oil and gas, chemicals and power industries as particularly vulnerable.

For more than a decade, Honeywell has developed and provided proprietary cyber protection software and technology for its leading process automation solutions, including Experion process controls, which are used at hundreds of industrial sites such as refineries, chemical plants, gas processing units, power plants, mines and mills around the world. During that time, the Honeywell Industrial Cyber Security group has delivered more than 1000 industrial cybersecurity projects globally.

“We have a successful history of providing cyber defence solutions for our industrial customers and this new cyber lab expands our capabilities,” said HPS Global Business Leader for Cyber Security Jeff Zindel. “We will be able to validate new solutions faster in a variety of scenarios and increase our customers’ defences against the growing threat of cyber attacks.”

The new Honeywell Industrial Cyber Security Lab, located in Duluth, Ga., includes a model of a complete process control network that Honeywell cybersecurity experts will leverage for proprietary research and hands-on training, and to develop, test and certify industrial cybersecurity solutions. This lab will help accelerate development time of new cyber protection technologies and speed availability to customers.

In addition to its new lab, Honeywell’s Industrial Cyber Security group has also added a number of cybersecurity experts to increase the bench strength of its development and business teams.

“Many of our customers have come to us looking for cybersecurity solutions to defend their industrial facilities, operations and people from damage, disruption and misuse,” said Zindel. “They understand the very real threat that is out there, and they want to be more proactive in guarding against it. Honeywell is building on its leading industrial cybersecurity expertise and experience with this new research and development lab as well as adding highly regarded cybersecurity experts around the globe to support our customers’ growing needs.”

More information about Honeywell’s industrial cybersecurity solutions is available at BeCyberSecure.com.