Pipeline Cybersecurity Risks What happens if a hacker takes control remotely of a pump station and spoofs the pressure indicator, so the logic controller does not shut-down the booster pump, and then closes a discharge valve – blocking the pump in and over-pressuring the downstream piping? When you are focused on designing safety requirements for [...]
We are please to announce that Kenexis was chosen by Enterprise Security as one of the top 10 SIEM solution providers recently. This was based on our work over the last few years implementing SIEM solutions in highly regulated industries on legacy control system environments with mediocre network architectures. Enterprise Security saw us filling a [...]
Industrial Control Systems or Operational Technology cybersecurity risk calculations are typically based on threat, vulnerability, and consequence in an equation similar to the one below: risk = threat x vulnerability x consequence If we assign numbers, like 1 to 5, and define each number in the range for each variable, we can probably solve the [...]
A month ago I was on my way into Istanbul from the Middle East. I filled out the online form for a Visa to enter the country and received an email that had malware attached to the link for my Visa. That one got me and took down my email for a couple hours why [...]
Earlier this week, we enabled a powerful function in Open PHA™ Premium that allows you to translate all of your work or a site's work into almost any language. This makes it easy for someone at headquarters to read a HAZOP from a site even though the site performed the work in their local language. Now [...]
We are pleased to announce the addition of the Safety Instrumented Systems Overview and Awareness to the Kenexis Online Training Center. This course provides an online self-paced overview and awareness level of SIS design that is appropriate for all personnel that interact with SIS in any way. The course includes informative examples that highlight [...]
Network appliances like firewalls and switches, have software (commonly referred to as firmware) on them that monitor and log security events. Unfortunately, the logs are rarely read by anyone. In fact, most people have never logged into their home router to look at the logs or change the administrator password. If the firmware was compromised, [...]
In todays oil and chemicals market, time and budgets are strained to remain operational with a slight profit. Many facilities are making difficult operational and turnaround decisions to survive while possibly putting their operation at risk at the same time. There might be a significant way to reduce time and cost during operations and [...]
Kenexis is pleased to announce that is has joined the Purdue Process Safety and Assurance Center. The Purdue Process Safety and Assurance Center is deep in research and education for fire and gas detector placement, and process safety. The Purdue Process Safety and Assurance Center and Kenexis share common goals in preventing unnecessary loss of [...]
New US CSB video summarizing the events that led to the FCC unit explosion. New Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JplAKJrgyew Reuters Article: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-refinery-blast-exxon-idUSKBN0LM1VR20150218
Today, we remember the 1947 Texas City industrial accident. The picture in our office, reminds us daily that Kenexis exist to prevent these. Learn more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_City_disaster
The team at Kenexis has further embraced distance learning and launched a dedicated portal for learning about functional safety and industrial control system cybersecurity. There are currently two courses available on the portal, with several more coming soon. Kenexis had been offering an online course directly on its website. The new architecture will give Kenexis [...]
Achilles JQS Registered Supplier Kenexis Consulting Corporation is pleased to announce that it is a registered, verified, and compliant supplier on Achilles Joint Qualification System (JQS) for the Oil and Gas Industry in Norway and Denmark. Achilles creates and manages a global network of collaborative industry communities, allowing trading partners to share high quality, structured, [...]
Kenexis is pleased to announce our newest business partner, Shevat Engineering and Training in Campinas, Brazil. Shevat partnership extends Kenexis services and engineering tools to the South American markets including Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. We are pleased to announce this relationship that signals the start of an exciting time for Kenexis in [...]
Where it Leaks, Accumulates, and Migrates The process industries are starting to adopt performance-based design techniques for fire & gas detection systems versus prescriptive models. This is increasingly important after recent fire & explosion events have caused major loss of life and asset damage. Meanwhile, some continue to use methods for layout of gas detection based [...]
Make sure to check out the cover article in ISA’s InTech publication. In the article, Ed Marszal explains: “Even though cyber-threats are not adequately addressed with existing process hazard analysis (PHA) methods, there is no reason to abandon everything that we know about process risk assessment and start from scratch. Instead, industry is extending tried-and-true [...]
It is important to note the difference between ‘patching’ and ‘hardening.’ It is also important to note the importance both functions play in protecting your computer systems. Patching a computer system (whether it is a computer or an embedded controller like a PLC) takes care of critical vulnerabilities (holes where malware might be able to get [...]
You may not have noticed some of the changes to the Kenexis website. It is now converted to new web technologies making it much easier to use on your smart phone, tablet or computer. Another usability enhancement was the addition of translation services provided by Microsoft Bing. This enables you to read many of [...]
We have developed the Effigy (Fire & Gas Detector Mapping) and Vertigo (SIS Lifecycle Management) software tools in Kenexis Instrumented Safeguard Suite to support language switching through your browser. While we still have work to do to translate the help files, the application is already translated into Chinese and Portuguese. This is done through the [...]
It appears the US is going to blame Iran (ink to the New York Times article) for the cyber attack on the NY dam.
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA (03 March 2016) –The International Society of Automation (ISA) announced today that Kenexis, an independent engineering consulting firm providing technical safety and industrial cybersecurity services, is an ISA Promotional Partner. Through the partnership, Kenexis and ISA will work together to share Kenexis’ capabilities and technical knowledge with ISA members and customers. [...]
Attached is a presentation on how to analyze hazardous process situations for cybersecurity risks during a HAZOP or an interim review. We would be pleased to assist you in facilitating this type of review with a HAZOP expert and an Industrial Control System Cybersecurity expert. https://youtu.be/DcOAycWNgIE
SPRING-BASED CYBERSECURITY for SCADA, PLC, and all other Industrial Control Systems in Process Plants & Manufacturing The Problem We have become very comfortable using advanced controller technology and in some cases, we are not thinking through the potential problems the technology might cause. Just this week, a news story [1] surfaced where white-hat hackers (good guys) were [...]
We are pleased to announce that our book is being published by the ISA and is available for pre-order now. Performance-based Fire and Gas Systems Engineering Handbook By Austin Bryan, Elizabeth Smith, and Kevin Mitchell Copyright 2016 ISBN: 978-1-941546-45-1 Length: 186 Pages Format: Softbound Book Publisher - International Society of Automation - See more [...]
ISO 9001 Registration Certificate in Lobby of Kenexis Headquarters Kenexis, a company dedicated to providing independent engineering consulting services to ensure the integrity of instrumented safeguards and industrial networks, has been successful in gaining ISO 9001:2008 accreditation after an audit of the company’s business practices by Performance Review Institute. ISO (International Organization for [...]
