Schneider Electric embeds Nozomi Arc for better RTU security
Nozomi Networks and Schneider Electric have announced security sensor technology embedded in remote terminal units used in industrial environments.
The integration of Nozomi Arc Embedded within Schneider Electric's SCADAPack 47xi Smart Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) is set to provide new visibility for security and operations teams managing distributed field assets and industrial control systems. This development is aimed at enabling greater analysis and deterrence of malicious user activity at the device control layer.
Industrial automation focus
RTUs serve as vital components in industrial automation, responsible for collecting, processing, and relaying data from sensors and actuators at remote or distributed locations. Commonly deployed across industries such as oil and gas, water utilities, and energy infrastructure, RTUs enable real-time monitoring and management of industrial assets, often in locations with limited on-site supervision, such as rural water pumping stations or electrical substations.
According to the companies, this new feature is designed to give operators detailed insight into their industrial networks down to the control device level, enhancing both threat detection and operational resilience.
Enhanced visibility and response
With Nozomi Arc Embedded now integrated directly within Schneider Electric RTUs, teams are for the first time able to access data on endpoint status, including software and hardware inventory, vulnerability information, and resource usage without additional polling protocols. The system can also extract process variable data directly from the RTU, providing what is described as Level 0 visibility into physical processes and device states.
The sensor is also equipped for threat and anomaly detection. It can alert operators to suspicious activities such as the connection or removal of USB or SD cards, changes to control logic, firmware updates, time manipulation, and other operational adjustments. This real-time alerting capability is intended to support rapid response to potential cyber security issues affecting unmonitored or remote assets.
"As cyber threats to the world's energy resources rise, we're working with Nozomi Networks and our customers in critical infrastructure to double down on effective defences," said Jay Abdallah, Vice President of Cybersecurity Solutions and Services at Schneider Electric. "Nozomi Arc Embedded in Schneider RTUs transforms remote terminal units into secure assets, giving operators the visibility they need to respond to threats before they can do harm."
Collaborative security approach
The partnership between Nozomi Networks and Schneider Electric has spanned over eight years and focuses on enhancing protection of energy management and automation processes. Through the embedding of Arc Embedded technology, the companies aim to extend security measures directly to the field assets and control systems that are vital in industrial environments but often difficult to monitor continuously due to their remote locations.
"We're honored to team with Schneider Electric to bring Arc Embedded to their RTUs," said Nozomi Networks Co-founder and CPO Andrea Carcano. "For more than eight years, our partnership with Schneider has allowed us to collaborate to find better ways to protect energy management and automation processes around the world. This latest effort with Arc Embedded extends security to and through industrial control systems, down to the highly remote field assets they manage, which are often left unmonitored and at greater risk."
Industry-specific application
The SCADAPack 47xi Smart RTU from Schneider Electric is described as a cost-effective and secure platform, enhanced with features intended to improve cybersecurity for field-to-central control system data sharing. The direct embedding of the security sensor is positioned as a means of transforming these devices into secure-by-design assets, providing protection for what are described as in-production systems already operating in critical environments.
Availability
Arc Embedded is available for the Schneider SCADAPack 47xi Smart RTUs through a subscription-based model, with distribution available from Schneider Electric, Nozomi Networks, and the Nozomi Networks channel partner network worldwide.
