FoxGuard Solutions Provides Patch and Update Solution for Energy Delivery Systems

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va., Jan. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FoxGuard Solutions is excited to be presenting our collaborative Cybersecurity for Energy Delivery Systems (CEDS) project with the Department of Energy at Distributech this week.

Patching and updating equipment and networks for cybersecurity is time intensive and can be risky because updates can stop system processes. FoxGuard's patch aggregation solution reduces the risk to energy delivery providers. Centralized patching simplifies compliance, resource and scope burdens.

The Patch and Update Management Program accommodates third party and legacy components supporting both traditional Information Technology (IT) found in industrial control system environments and Operational Technology (OT) devices.  FoxGuard researched a variety of options and opted to partner with TDi Technologies to use their existing toolset to collect baseline asset information from OT devices found in the electric industry.  Traditionally collecting baseline information (vendor, version, model number) from devices such as programmable logic controllers (PLC's), relays, remote terminal units (RTU's) and sensors was completed through the manual curation of the data from plant or substation floor walk downs. Using TDi's asset information gathering tools, the end user can now collect information from these devices in a safe and reliable way without impeding service.  The information collected is stored on within the utilities premises and the anonymized asset data is shared with FoxGuard's Asset Analysis Tool; allowing the consolidation and normalization of large amounts of data for patch reporting.  Security patches, along with vendor provided hash files, are reported out of the data aggregator service. Together with TDi, FoxGuard has automated Patch Gap reporting, providing an efficient process to notify end users which security patches need to be installed in order to bring a device up to date.  Lastly, FoxGuard also built a Validation Training Program for end user utilities modeled after similar successful programs that have been executed for more than ten years for OEM partners. 

This work was enabled by a $4.3 million Cooperative Agreement awarded in 2013 as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Cybersecurity for Energy Delivery Systems (CEDS) program.

Who is FoxGuard?
Founded in 1981, FoxGuard Solutions' team of engineers and developers design, manufacture and integrate innovative cyber security, computing and regulatory compliance solutions used in critical infrastructure markets. FoxGuard offers a complete Patch and Update management system – keeping customers secure and compliant.

Media Contact:
Marcie Killen
Marketing Manager
p: 540.382.4234 x152

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SOURCE FoxGuard Solutions