Honeywell, Intel Team on IoT Security Technology

The Internet of Things—in which myriad devices, sensors, appliances and systems connect and communicate with each other to form a cohesive network—is still in its early stages of adoption. But that doesn’t mean it’s too early to try to keep it secure, especially in critical solutions like the manufacturing space.

To that end, industrial automation provider Honeywell (HON) and Intel (INTC) have teamed up to protect IoT solutions as they’re being deployed in the industrial sector, where the Industrial IoT (IIoT) is having some initial traction.

The two companies are integrating Intel Security’s McAfee technology with Honeywell’s Industrial Cyber Security Solutions, providing industrial customers that use Honeywell’s systems advanced security software to protect control systems from malware or other intrusion or misuse, they said in a press release.

“The threat of cyberattacks on industrial and critical infrastructure targets is growing rapidly and our customers are demanding effective cybersecurity to assist them in protecting their assets and people,” said Jeff Zindel, global business leader for Honeywell’s Industrial Cyber Security Solutions group, in the release. “Working with Intel Security expands our capabilities to enhance the availability, reliability and safety of customers’ industrial control systems and plant operations.”

The first step in the partnership will be for Honeywell to qualify Intel Security’s Application Whitelisting and Device Control with its own proprietary cybersecurity for its Experion Process Knowledge System. Experion is Honeywell’s advanced automation platform for integrating industrial applications. The Whitelisting solution allows only authorized code to run on a system to maintain its integrity, while Device Control allows users to specify and categorize what data can and cannot be transferred to various plug-in devices.  

Honeywell also will offer Intel Security’s Enterprise Security Manager and Next Generation Firewall to its customers, supporting them with Honeywell’s Industrial Cyber Security Risk Manager, which provides a continuous evaluation of cybersecurity risks within industrial environments, according to the companies.

Honeywell cited a report the company commissioned in September 2014 as a good reason to shore up industrial networks against intrusion through IIoT applications. That global survey on cyber security conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs found that more than 60 percent of those surveyed thought that the oil and gas, chemicals and power industries were particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks.

“Protecting our critical infrastructure and the emerging IIoT from cyberthreats is a priority, and the collaboration of two industry leaders will go a long way toward that goal,” said Raj Samani, vice president and CTO, Intel Security, in the release.

The companies said the benefits from their collaboration will include the following: