Whether you refer to it as your “Operational Technology” (OT) or your “Industrial IT” (IIT), Tetranex has the skills necessary to design, implement and maintain the digital infrastructure around your Industrial Control System (ICS). The network hardware integrated into the ICS is continually growing in complexity to meet the demands of performance, cyber security and the quest for the “Internet of Things” (IoT). This infrastructure now requires a high degree of IT skills as well as a heightened awareness of the unique demands and requirements related to ICS hardware and software. Our innovative Digital Infrastructure discipline is trained and certified to handle your network, systems, virtualization and security.
Network Infrastructure
Managed layer 2 and layer 3 network switches are becoming common place in the ICS network. In addition, advanced network management concepts like Network Address Translation (NAT) and Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) are becoming more relevant in OT. Tetranex has training and expertise to design your network architecture, specify the proper hardware and execute the configuration of the network components to ensure that your OT network operates with highest availability, integrity and scalability. The implementation will include setting up network system security (integrity) and distinct operating levels through the proper use of routers, firewalls, DMZs and VLANs. Tetranex is a registered partner with Cisco and has certified Industrial Network Specialists to guide and implement this effort.
Systems Infrastructure
The systems infrastructure component of the digital team is responsible for ensuring all operating systems involved with the OT infrastructure are installed and configured in a manner that meets the requirements from an IT perspective while not undermining the demands of the ICS infrastructure. The design of your system infrastructure will make sure you have the right servers, configured with the right roles for your ICS software. The execution is scalable from single HMI implementations through to multi-tiered DCS implementations.
Virtual Infrastructure
For typical IT infrastructure, server virtualization has become the de-facto deployment standard but in terms of OT platforms, server virtualization is still a burgeoning paradigm shift. Due to the numerous advantages, Tetranex recommends the use of virtual platforms for all of our greenfield installations and brownfield upgrades where appropriate. Tetranex is a Professional Solution Provider for VMWare, the industry leader in bare-metal virtualization.
Security Infrastructure
A solid network security infrastructure (aka. cyber security) involves more than just a hardened network. A security infrastructure involves a life cycle around components and personnel that must be properly implemented and maintained to remain effective. A high level overview of the implementation of a secure infrastructure involves the following:
- Assess the current (or proposed) infrastructure
- Determine your security requirements based on risk assessment driven by your risk tolerance
- Define policies, procedures and security targets
- Review and modify the system integrity (segregation, component hardening, protocol review)
- Review and modify the authentication, authorization and auditing schemes
- Monitoring and maintaining the system (log reviews, patch management)
Whether you feel your risks are foreign government backed hackers or simply the ever expanding lineup of self propagating malware, your ICS needs protection and this protection needs to be built into every component of your Digital Infrastructure.
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