DHS S&T, Volpe Center Develop Telematics Cyber Security Primer for Fleet Managers
In response to an Obama administration executive order in March 2015 on environmental sustainability across federal agencies, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate contracted the Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center to develop a primer for vehicle fleet managers on cyber security for vehicle telematics. “DHS has one of the largest civilian vehicle fleets, with primarily law enforcement vehicles, and this project has provided a great opportunity to help improve our cyber security posture and safety of our officers and agents in the field,” says Chase Garwood, program manager for Cyber Physical Systems Security at S&T. The primer was developed based on work done by cyber experts at Volpe and Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute’s CERT division. The primer will guide fleet managers in securing telematics systems.
The Carlyle Group Negotiating Majority Stake in HGH Infrared Systems
France’s HGH Infrared Systems says that the private equity firm The Carlyle Group has entered into exclusive discussions to acquire a majority stake in the company alongside management. The transaction is expected to close in the third or fourth quarter of 2018 and is subject to employee consultations and regulatory approvals. HGH develops and manufactures optoelectronic and infrared systems and software for the security, defense, oil and gas and energy industries. The company operates two research and development and assembly sites near Paris and in California. The partnership with Carlyle “will also help HGH move to the next level and to build on our strong international growth trajectory,” says Thierry Campos, CEO of HGH. He adds that “Carlyle’s global footprint and scale as well as its experience and networks in the aerospace and defense, oil and gas and energy markets will help us to further develop the company’s international presence and to broaden our blue-chip customer base.” Carlyle says that HGH has generated sustained double-digit growth the past few years and expects it to expand across different commercial end markets.
Kymeta, Microsoft Demonstrate On-the-Move Communications Solutions
Flat panel satellite antenna provider Kymeta and Microsoft [MSFT] are jointly demonstrating end-to-end communications and network on the edge with Microsoft’s patrol and tactical vehicles featuring hardware, software, Windows Apportals, Azure Cloud integration, and connectivity to the Internet of Things, all connected using a Kymeta KyWay satellite terminal. “Microsoft’s Azure cloud-based services can be locally replicated in a deployed environment such as a patrol vehicle, firehouse or command post, and can significantly enhance the capabilities of first responders and defense users, especially when using drones, robots, and IoT devices,” says Scott Montgomery, senior Industry Solution Manager for Microsoft. David Kervin, general manager and senior vice president Kymeta Solutions, says “Our ability to move communications, video, audio, and other sensor data to the Azure cloud, via Kymeta satellite terminals, provides an always connected experience, regardless of how remote the location, or how congested or unavailable a terrestrial cellular network may become.” The companies demonstrated their solution at the SOFIC and Connect(X) conferences.
Cyber Security Firm Fishtech Group to Acquire Haystax
Fishtech Group, a provider of cloud-based cyber security services, has agreed to acquire Northern Virginia-based Haystax Technology, in a deal that would give it a security analytics platform. Missouri-based Fishtech says the acquisition will further its “data-driven security solutions” and extend the reach of Haystax beyond clients in the homeland security and public safety markets. Fishtech says it plans to “invest heavily in taking the new venture to market in the commercial enterprise space while enhancing its presence in federal, state and local government.” A spokeswoman for Fishtech says the company’s primary customers are mid-market and enterprise organizations, primarily in health care, finance, retail and telecom. Terms of the pending deal were not disclosed. Fishtech says that Haystax will remain in McLean, Va. Haystax’s Constellation Platform provides advanced security analytics and risk management solutions. The company markets the platform for insider threat protection, continuous evaluation, and account compromise.