ISA NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Infantino
(919) 990-9287
jinfantino@isa.org
ISA Leads the Way in Manufacturing and Control Systems Security Standards
Research Triangle Park, NC (13 October 2005) -- To facilitate the more rapid and effective development of critical consensus industry standards, ISA has made its published reports and draft standards on manufacturing and control systems security available free of charge until the end of 2005. ISA is taking this unique step to encourage understanding and application of the approved guidance in its two ANSI approved technical reports, and to obtain even broader input to the next generation of standards that are well underway in development.
"While today's more interoperable and standardized automation and communication systems bring significant business efficiencies, they also bring greater risk of unauthorized access with attendant disruption to business and safety," said Bob Webb, Managing Director for ISA-SP99 Standards Committee on Manufacturing and Control Systems Security. "ISA has recognized the need to address this issue, developed consensus guidelines, and presented information on the subject at numerous industry venues over the last three years. ISA is collaborating with many other organizations working on security matters, including the US National Laboratories, NIST's Process Control Security Requirements Forum, (PCSRF), the Chemical Industry Data eXchange (CIDX), DHS's Process Control Security Forum (PCSF), the American Gas Association (AGA), the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), and others. While many automation professionals are aware of security issues, relatively few manufacturers or users, and their architects, engineers and systems integrators, have adopted secure automation practices."
ISA is striving to enhance awareness of security practices that can be employed now and to assure that broad-based input is obtained for the standards that are in development. By making the approved documents available together with the most current drafts of standards under development by the ISA SP99 committee, ISA intends to significantly expand the network of automation professionals, IT professionals, and business executives that will contribute to the application and refinement of best practices.
The two published guidance documents and the two draft standards can be accessed at www.isa.org/securitystandards. Comments, suggestions, questions, and offers to help can be submitted to ISA at ISASP99@isa.org.
About ISA
Founded in 1945, ISA (www.isa.org) is a leading, global, nonprofit organization that is setting the standard for automation by helping over 30,000 worldwide members and other professionals solve difficult technical problems, while enhancing their leadership and personal career capabilities. Based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, ISA develops standards; certifies industry professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; and hosts the largest conference and exhibition for automation professionals in the Western Hemisphere. ISA is the founding sponsor of The Automation Federation (www.automationfederation.org).
About WBF
WBF provides an open forum for the exchange of information related to the management, operation, and automation of manufacturing processes. Created in 1994, members of the non-profit, professional organization include end-users, vendors, consultants and academics. WBF provides organization, management, and structure to facilitate networking among its members and sharing of knowledge and information related to manufacturing processes. WBF documents best practices and guidelines for implementation of standards that apply to batch control and the exchange of batch data, as well as conducting technical conferences and technical training programs. WBF is a founding charter member of The Automation Federation (www.automationfederation.org). More information about WBF is available at www.wbf.org.
About OMAC
OMAC–The Open Modular Architecture Controls Users’ Group (www.omac.org) is an affiliate organization of ISA- The Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society- and works to collectively derive common solutions for both technical and non-technical issues in the development, implementation, and commercialization of open, modular architecture control (OMAC) technologies, and to facilitate the accelerated development and convergence of industry and government developed OMAC technology guidelines to one set that satisfies common use requirements. OMAC has about 500 member representatives from end-user companies, OEM's, and technology providers and integrator companies. OMAC currently operates three Work Groups: Packaging Machinery, Manufacturing Infrastructure, and Machine Tool. OMAC is a founding charter member of The Automation Federation (www.automationfederation.org).
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