ABB and GlobaLogix have formed a partnership to provide a new SCADA Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that is based on ABB’s SCADAvantage product. The partnership is aimed at providing a robust and open SCADA service to reduce operation risks and maintenance burden, while also lowering upfront costs.
As the industry demands more security and reliability from SCADA systems, the architecture and maintenance of a system has become increasingly important. Some of the largest and most robust SCADA installations have been compromised recently and continue to operate without adequate protection.
GlobaLogix has built a highly secure and redundant cloud-based infrastructure to host ABB’s SCADA platform. The infrastructure provides access to 53 data centers in North America with 2,048 bit encryption that exceeds the current Department of Defense standards. The infrastructure also complies with the most stringent Tier 4 data center standards from the Telecommunications Industry Association and American National Standards Institute for mission-critical computer systems. The standard requires fully redundant subsystems and compartmentalized security zones.
Additional security is provided by Citrix authentication installed on each of the client’s laptops, desktops and tablets that provide access to the cloud-hosted SCADA system. Field operators can optionally be provided with password protected web access to read-only data and key information to reduce exposure to malicious attacks and prevent operator errors.
For more information, visit www.globlx.com.
