Control Global

Resource guide: Data analytics context and toolbox

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 16:34:00 -0500

Statistics summer schoolThis one-hour video, “Tutorial: Statistics and data analysis” by Ethan Meyer of Hampshire College and MIT, is a Brains, Minds and Machine summer course that provides some useful background for many data analytics and statistics concepts.Center for Brains, Minds+Machinescbmm.mit.edu/summer-school

How to eliminate pipeline vibration noise

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 15:59:00 -0500

Also, more on the polar vortex process

Meet Control magazine's new editor Len Vermillion

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 08:08:00 -0500

Meanwhile, you might be asking yourself, 'Who is this guy?'

Many OT cyber security experts don’t understand the systems they are trying to secure – the square peg in the round hole

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 23:35:00 -0500

There is an old saying about not forcing a square peg into a round hole. The square peg is IT and OT network security. The round hole is the insecure ICS field device. September 8, 2022 RSA held the RSAC 365 Virtual Seminar & Innovation Showcase: OT & ICS Security. The session was focused on the square peg of IP network cyber security. September 11, 2022 (9/11), Top Cyber News issued their September issue which focused on the round hole of control systems and devices. Without the ICS devices working properly, facilities cannot operate reliably and safely whereas facilities can operate without the IP networks as demonstrated by the recovery from the 2015 Ukrainian power grid cyberattack. The approach for offensive cyber operators when they attack an industrial or manufacturing system is to identify the impact they want to achieve and then study the systems to find out the best way to accomplish the goal. The approach of OT cyber security defenders is to assume that what needs to be defended are the OT networks and therefore it is not important to understand how the systems they are trying to protect work. In order to defend and optimize the plants, buildings, facilities, and transportation, one needs to understand how the systems and components work. It doesn’t make sense that the approaches attackers have used to successfully compromise physical infrastructures continue to be ignored by the cyber defenders.

Festo expands US-based automation system manufacturing, R&D to mark 50th anniversary

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 13:26:00 -0500

To celebrate its 50th anniversary year, Festo U.S. announced expansion plans for its 47-acre campus in Mason, Ohio. A new production facility and the expanded research and development (R&D) center will be dedicated to U.S.-centric automation components, systems and solutions.

How I spend my spare time – trying to help eradicate MS

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 22:56:00 -0500

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease, in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This damage disrupts the ability of parts of the nervous system to transmit signals. My mother-in-law was a healthy, vibrant woman into her late 40s. She then contracted MS and eventually lost all use of her legs and arms. This resulted in her being confined to a wheelchair for more than 40 years. Her physical activities were limited to the use of her fingers for activities such as typing at a keyboard and writing notes, yet she maintained her rosy outlook to the end of her life. As someone who has always been active, her situation is just unfathomable to me. Because MS has been an important issue to our family, this weekend, September 17-18, 2022, I am participating in the MS Waves (San Francisco) to Wine (Sonoma) bicycle ride to raise money for MS research. If you would be interested in supporting me, please go to https://mssociety.donordrive.com/participant/102506. Thank you for your consideration.

Belden data acquisition and transmission devices

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 16:56:20 -0500

Belden has released a number of data acquisition and transmission solutions for Q3 2022. Among them are DataTuff Fiber Optic Renewable Grade Cables, FiberExpress ECX Single Cassette Holders, Gel-Free Fiber Optic Cables, RemoteIP Cables, Lumberg Automation M8/M12 Field-Attachable Connectors with IDC Termination.

Data orchestration and management devices from Belden

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 16:52:37 -0500

For Q3 2022, Belden has released several new data orchestration and management products. These include macmon NAC Network Access Control, Hirschmann OpEdge-8D Industrial Edge Gateway Devices and ProSoft Technology Universal QuickServer Two-Port Building Automation Gateways. Belden macmon NAC Network Access Control tracks which devices are connected to a network—and where...

21 new network connectors, accessories you need to see

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 16:58:00 -0500

Adapters, gaskets, bushings and other devices help cables build network infrastructures

Advantech accelerating edge innovation

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 16:23:00 -0500

Beginning with its pioneering work some four decades ago to bring the IBM PC architecture to industry and other “non-desktop,” embedded applications, Advantech has long innovated at the converged intersection of IT and operational technology. Today we call it the edge, where a combination of pervasive connectivity and powerful compute...

Is the PERA model still pertinent?

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 16:26:00 -0500

Complex data and information flows can confound functional diagrams

Speed design, verification with 3D simulation

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 16:12:00 -0500

Build and run production lines before physical installation

ABB expands partnership with Hydrogen Optimized

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 09:58:00 -0500

ABB and Hydrogen Optimized Inc. (HOI), a Canadian technology innovator unlocking green hydrogen production at scale, signed an agreement to expand the companies’ existing strategic relationship. This includes an investment by ABB into Key DH Technologies Inc.

Simultaneous switching from autonomous to manual control?

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 16:36:00 -0500

Also, suggestions for troubleshooting thermocouples

Critical infrastructures cannot be secure when critical equipment isn’t

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 20:55:00 -0500

August 25, 2022, I received a call from an insurance specialty insurer who had received an Operational Technology (OT) Supplemental Application from a global control system supplier to the aerospace industry, industrial operations, and the US Department of Defense. I am personally aware of at least some of the company’s products because of their use in nuclear and fossil power plants, oil and gas facilities, and renewables. The OT Application had twenty-four questions with some having multiple parts. This Application demonstrates the culture and technical gaps between the IT, OT, and and control system communities. The form was signed off by the supplier’s Senior Director of IT Security. How can IT think it is OK not having OT cyber security experts involved? I, and others “in the know”, do not believe this vendor’s approach is unique and that other critical equipment suppliers are taking the same or similar approaches. How could any nuclear power plant with this vendor’s equipment (this is most, if not all, US nuclear plants) pass an NRC cyber security audit? Even worse, this equipment is out-of-scope for a NERC CIP compliance audit. The responses to the Application raise questions about the validity of CISA’s 100-day approaches when this vendor’s equipment is an integral part of electric, water, oil/gas, pipelines, and chemical facilities.

How digitalized tools can help overcome supply chain challenges

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 14:48:00 -0500

Digi-Key reports that artificial intelligence (AI) and similar tools can enable flexibility and improve planning to help mitigate supply chain issues

Shop local and consider refurbished devices

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 14:34:00 -0500

AVG’s Uticor division reports buying from fewer, closer suppliers saves steps and time; TrustClarity starts online excess equipment platform

Overcome logistics hurdles, reduce lead times

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 14:16:00 -0500

System integrator Interstates reports, even if some products are more available, getting them delivered requires creative solutions

OPC Foundation, FieldComm Group cooperate to develop device profile for OPC UA Field eXchange

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 09:16:00 -0500

The OPC Foundation and the FieldComm Group are collaborating to drive multi-vendor interoperability of instrumentation devices based on OPC UA and the extensions for the field level, named OPC UA FX (Field eXchange). This development will incorporate preliminary work by both organizations and is designed to ensure that the market...

Another process sensor incident that has killed people

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 14:14:00 -0500

I am being featured in the September issue of Top Cyber News Magazine regarding critical infrastructure cyber security. Process sensors and other control system field devices continued to be ignored by the IT and OT cyber security communities. Consequently, in preparation for the magazine issue, I had a discussion with an OT cyber security expert about my concerns with process sensor cyber security. The OT expert told me that recently two people died in an oil and gas facility because process sensors were not working correctly. It’s not that either the accident or the fatalities are concealed, but their origin as a cyber incident is systematically overlooked. This systematic gap in identifying safety incidents as being cyber-related is prevalent throughout process safety journals and accident investigations. It is not just the process industry as this systematic gap also is prevalent throughout the electric industry. There is a need for appropriate training, development of control system field device cyber forensics, and the use of machine learning of raw unfiltered sensor data such as demonstrated by JDS Operational Technologies to identify cyber incidents that cannot be identified from the Windows-based HMI or other network security monitoring.