Automation vendors team up with US-CERT

To have a forum that lets competitors work together toward greater security of critical infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Control Systems Security Program has, since fall 2005, been facilitating monthly teleconferences with control-system vendors and equipment manufacturers.

"What makes this forum unique is its ability to bring together a group of vendors traditionally in a very competitive market to openly share approaches and requirements," says Ernest Rakaczky, a program director with automation vendor Invensys. "Through the actions of the forum we have established a level of trust among vendors that can only provide a stronger critical infrastructure—one able to address cyber security concerns."

Government participants include the Department of Homeland Security, Idaho National Laboratory, and the US-CERT (United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team).