DHS gets involved with critical asset cyber security

SUBNET Solutions Inc | Friday, August 24, 2012

Yet another cyber security debacle is unfolding in the U.S. that is threatening the country's critical infrastructure, and this time the Department of Homeland security is weighing in on the issue, Greentech Media reports.

According to the news source, the DHS announced on August 21 that it was investigating a vulnerability that could be used to decrypt data from grid and industrial router company RuggedCom, which sends the information across a network between the end user and its routers.

The vulnerability could allow cyber attackers to launch denial-of-service attacks, or take control computer systems that run power generation plants, smart grid technologies and other industrial plants all over the world.

"If you can get to the inside, there is almost no authentication, there are almost no checks and balances to stop you," said security expert Justin Clarke. All it would take to gain access to RuggedCom's network, he said, would be to extract the software key used in encryption.  

SUBNET has developed several products that help utilities comply with NERC CIP regulations, which if violated, can result in millions of dollars in fines. 

Tags: Substation Automation & Remote Access