Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition

AXIOMTEK launched an advanced 5.7” fanless HMI solution, the VTA-7570T, equipped with powerful Windows CE-based SCADA software, the WinPC32 Pro. The VTA-7570T can work with different types of PLCs and PC-based I/O modules in the market. Based on the platform of Windows CE, it greatly improves problems that traditional HMI have, such as OS compatibility, hardware expansion, operating function and storage performance. The VTA-7570T is a new generation SCADA HMI solution for factory automation, machine makers and semiconductor industry.

Web-enabled HMI Software – WinPC32 Pro
The WinPC32 Pro, Web-enabled human machine interface software, is a Windows-based monitoring solution which runs Windows CE operating system. Its interface facilitates developing GUI, implementing logic and flow control, and applying commonly used components, such as trend, historical trend, alarm log and security. Drivers library has the communication drivers of all major brands such as Rockwell, Siemens, GE Fanuc, Modicon, Omron, Mitsubishi, Panasonic and Fuji PLCs, DCS, temperature controller, etc. The WinPC32 Pro has built-in OPC client to link with equipment with the OPC server. Additionally, the WinPC32 Pro is Web browser enabled that operators may monitor, upload and analyze the status of the entire application through Internet. Moreover, the WinPC32 Pro provides users with a convenient way to build their own application programs, and it allows users to import GIF, flash and Active-X graphic objects and even composes their own custom components as a standard one for future use.

Read more

According to the suppliers, ClearSCADA, equally at home in a wide range of industrial and utility environments maintains the efficiency and ease-of-use that customers expect throughout the entire scada system life cycle. Whether users are designing, building, operating or maintaining critical scada infrastructure, the ClearSCADA architecture and online object database provide a state-of-the-art, third-generation scada platform.

Reliability

Based on industry-standard open interfaces and protocols, ClearSCADA systems scale easily from a single client/server to a large installation of dedicated servers and dispersed clients. Built-in system redundancy and data-backfilling features assure the highest degree of data reliability, without the need for code development.

Read more

ONGC has awarded a contract to ABB to integrate information systems across all installations of the oil and gas major at a total cost of Rs 430 crore.

Company chairman and managing director R S Sharma said, “The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system will empower decision makers by providing them with real-time data, analysis and trends to plan timely interventions.”

“ONGC will be able to integrate 247 onshore production installations, group gathering stations, central tank farms and central processing facilities, processing plants at Uran and Hazira, 11 offshore process complexes catering to 157 offshore well-head platforms, 65 onshore and 9 offshore drilling rigs,” said a senior ONGC official.

Read more

Semaphore, a CSE Global company, has added an array of access control devices to its T-BOX line of SCADA system products. The access control products are compatible with the T-BOX Lite compact RTU and the T-BOX MS Modular System.

The five devices accommodate the most common access control technologies, including digit keypads for passcode entry, a Dallas badge reader, a magnetic card reader, and a proximity reader for key fobs. Semaphore has emulated the device-specific communications protocols to allow simple interfacing using an RS 485 serial port.

Used in conjunction with such access control devices, the T-BOX RTU provides functions including alarm management, automation, and data logging. Using an integral web server, T-BOX can provide information on local conditions via the Internet or an Intranet. T-BOX can also initiate messages to multiple recipients via e-mail, including attached files, and SMS text.

Read more

BlueTree Wireless Data Inc. will announce its new generation BT-6000 series cellular modem product line, which is designed specifically for fixed cellular data applications for the Telemetry, SCADA, Business Continuity and Landline Replacement markets. The modems in the new BlueTree BT-6000 series have been designed to meet the needs of the specific fixed cellular data applications in which they serve. Each modem has application specific functionality to fulfill the demands of the market, and will allow BlueTree to offer its customers the most appropriate cellular modem for their specific application requirements.

Both BlueTree and its parent company, SIXNET, have a strong footprint in the manufacture of rugged modem products used in harsh fixed, mobile, industrial, commercial and military applications. SIXNET and BlueTree have been working to integrate their respective technologies into powerful products that will be unparalleled in the M2M market, and the new BT-6000 series is the first commercial representation of jointly developed products. BlueTree is committed to generating technology benefits for its customers, and will work to develop next generation modem products to fulfill market demand. Customers will be hearing more from BlueTree in the coming months as new product plans are communicated.

Waterfall Solutions Ltd., the leading provider of secure unidirectional connectivity for IP based Surveillance Infrastructure, SCADA systems and Segregated Networks announced today that Waterfall Solutions will be in attendance at the 2008 ISC WEST conference at the Sands Expo and Convention center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Waterfall Solutions will display its new WF-ISE Plus with PTZ capabilities at the conference. Demos of the WF-ISE will be available for select OEM and carrier partners to evaluate. Waterfall Solutions will exhibit at booth # 15125 during the three-day conference from April 2nd to April 4th. Additionally, both the CEO and CTO of Waterfall Solutions will be available for separate one-on-one meetings with interested partners.

“ISC West is the perfect venue for us to present the first security solution that enables companies and organizations to enjoy the advantages of IP-based surveillance without suffering from the dangers inherent in network connectivity.” said Esti Peshin CEO of Waterfall Solutions.

Read more

As a nuclear engineer who has worked inside and outside of the nuclear industry, I have my thoughts on why nuclear plants are so far behind non-nuclear facilities in securing control systems. I spent 5 years managing the EPRI Nuclear Plant Instrumentation and Diagnostics Program. Even though EPRI’s purview is R&D, I did not do “bleeding edge” research on new instrumentation and controls technologies because it would not be useable in nuclear plants until demonstrated elsewhere. I then spent 5 years managing the EPRI Fossil Plant Instrumentation & Controls Program. Here, I was able to do “bleeding edge” research in instrumentation, controls, and communications (I received 2 patents on instrumentation and controls technologies). What became obvious to me was non-nuclear facilities would implement new technologies such as Internet access and modern telecommunications if they thought it would be financially prudent while nuclear plants could not implement new technologies until it was well-proven elsewhere. This means the non-nuclear community has vastly more experience and expertise than the nuclear community in cyber security. Yet, the nuclear community refuses to take advantage of these resources. Why???

Read more

Research Co. released preliminary findings and observations from its multi-month study of transmission and distribution monitoring and control systems used in international electric power utilities.

Early highlights of the international 2008 study of mission critical, real-time electric utility operational systems including energy management, supervisory control, and distribution network management include the following:
* Outage management: Nearly one half of the international utilities surveyed so far this year have implemented a separate outage management system (OMS). This reflects a strong increase from 2005’s 30 percent of responding utilities reporting having a separate OMS at that time.

* Power generation management: Generation management systems (GMS) are also experiencing an increased level of activity this year, at least among the early international respondents. In the 2005 study, only a handful of participating international utilities had reported use of, or plans for, a separate GMS. The percentage this year has risen to 21 percent thus far into the study.

Read more

Raoul Chiesa, founder of the Italian security consulting firm mediaservice.net and the hacker site blackhats.it, will present on SCADA security next month at HITBSecConf Dubai. His presentation is titled “Penetration Testing SCADA and National Critical Infrastructure: Real-Life Experiences and Case Studies“. This is a continuation of a trend that Dale pointed out last year in the Top Ten SCADA Security Stories of 2007.

Read more at digitalbond

Uniloc USA Inc., the technology leader in device-based authentication, today announced that the need for bullet-proof security technology is more acute than ever due to hackers blackmailing cities by threatening to shut off power. The threat from hackers is so great that the CIA has launched a global hunt for the hackers who are running a huge extortion plot, according to reports.

?Hackers have already proven that they can disrupt the utilities by causing blackouts in several cities outside the United States? said senior CIA analyst Tom Donohoe in an interview this month with UK-based newspaper, The Daily Mail.

Terrorists don’t have to use bombs to attack us. They can cripple the economy and disrupt lives with the click of a mouse. In a report1 by CNN regarding the impact of a large cyber attack on U.S. infrastructure, Scott Borg of the U.S. Cyber Consequences Unit said, ?It?s equivalent to 30 to 50 large hurricanes striking all at once. It?s greater economic damage than any modern economy has ever suffered.

Read more