CenturyLink Adds DHS Cyber Intrusion Prevention Product to GSA Contract
Communications provider CenturyLink [CTL] has added its cyber intrusion prevention product that is supported by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the General Services Administration’s IT Schedule 70 contract, making it easier for state and local governments to acquire the cyber security services. CenturyLink is an approved commercial services provider under the DHS Enhanced Cyber Security Services (ECS) program, which is an intrusion prevention capability that helps public or private sector entities in the United States protect their computer systems against unauthorized access, exploitation, and data exfiltration. Through the ECS program DHS shares sensitive and classified cyber threat information with the accredited ECS providers, which are called Commercial Service Providers (CSPs). The CSPs in turn use the cyber threat indicators to block certain types of malicious traffic from entering customer networks. Tim Meehan, senior vice president and general manger at CenturyLink, says “Adding ECS to our IT Schedule 70 contract underscores our commitment to help state and local governments defend their networks against cyber attacks.” Other approved CSPs are AT&T [T], Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Verizon [VZ].
Building Protection Systems Installs Sentry One Chem Detector in Manhattan
Building Protection Systems, Inc. (BPSI) says it has brought online its Building Sentry One Chemical Detection System at an undisclosed downtown Manhattan landmark building. BPSI says the multi-sensor Sentry One platform was engineered as a retrofit project and plugged into the existing Building Management System and security platform without major changes in the existing infrastructure. “There is mounting and sustained drive by thought-leading building owners to add protections against huge risks associated with a Targeted Industrial Chemical Attack or Radiological Dirty Bomb release,” says Greg Eiler, president of BPSI. “We are also seeing a security shift to include physical fixed detection at potential target locations alongside the focus of cyber threats to protect data. The basis of this shift is the very real awareness of the vulnerability of a building’s air handling system and the lone wolf scenarios targeting innocent people via an airborne toxic release into the HVAC.”
Morpho Detection Introduces Remote Management Capability for Itemiser ETDs
Safran Group’s Morpho Detection business has launched Remote Connect, a new remote management application for its latest generation of Itemiser 4DX explosives trace detectors (ETDs). Remote Connect software networks the company’s 4DX ETDs through out an airport, enabling true central station capabilities including remote monitoring, programming, system maintenance and the seamless storing and retrieval of data. The company says the eventually Remote Connect will be expanded across Morpho Detection’s full line of desktop, handheld and walkthrough portal ETD systems. “Adding value throughout system live by the development of leading-edge networking solutions helps airports grow security capabilities with passenger traffic,” says Karen Bomba, president and CEO of Morpho Detection. Morpho Detection has supplied more than 27,000 explosives and narcotics trace detectors to airports, air cargo facilities, law enforcement agencies and secure locations worldwide.
First Ship-to-Shore Drone Delivery Occurs
Simulyze, Inc. says its Mission Insight mission platform was part of the first U.S. ship-to-shore drone delivery conducted by unmanned aircraft system manufacturer Flirtey on June 22 in North Cape May, N.J. Simulyze says the test demonstrated the potential use of drones in disaster relief and humanitarian responses. Mission Insight was deployed to provide real-time processing of telemetry data from the Flirtey drone, and augmented geospatial and dashboard views of operational data to provide the air boss with situational awareness to support a safe flight both within the National Airspace and the local area airspace, among other functions. In the demonstration Flirtey and Dr. Timothy Amukele, assistant professor of pathology at Johns Hopkins Univ. School of Medicine, showed the potential use of UAS to deliver medical supplies during a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis. For the demonstration the UAS flew round-trips from a ship located about a half-mile offshore to the Cape May Ferry Terminal. “The ship-to-shore delivery is a template for how to integrate data from drones into existing data flow and make it possible for drones to operate safely in U.S. airspace,” says Kevin Gallagher, CEO of Simulyze.
Port Everglades Piloting Automated Passport Control Kiosks
Port Everglades says it is working with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and cruise line partners Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International on two pilot programs, one with Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks and the other Mobile Passport Control, to expedite secure entry into the U.S. after a cruise. The port says it is the first cruise port to test these programs, which are available in a number of U.S. airports and for cruise passenger preclearance in Vancouver, Canada. Port Everglades is using two Vancouver International Airport Border-developed BorderXpress APC kiosks for the three-month pilot. The kiosks allow passengers to provide their travel documents and customs declaration forms prior to speaking to a CBP officer. The mobile passport application allows U.S. citizens leaving a cruise ship to complete their customs declaration using their phones, expediting their clearance process in the terminal.
Amazon Web Services, CSRA, Microsoft Achieve FedRAMP High Baseline Accreditation
Amazon’s [AMZN] Web Services cloud serve, CSRA, Inc. [CSRA], and Microsoft’s [MSFT] Azure cloud service, have all achieved a Federal Risk Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Federal Information Security Management (FISMA) High Baseline accreditation for security controls. AWS says the new authorization includes more than 400 security controls and gives U.S. government agencies the ability to leverage the company’s cloud for highly sensitive workloads, including personal identifiable information, sensitive patient records, financial data, law enforcement data, and other controlled unclassified information. CSRA says it participated in a pilot program for the new accreditation, which was managed by the General Services Administration, and the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. CSRA says its cloud service offerings were reviewed by an approved third-party assessment organization. “We are the only pure-play next-generation IT services provider to achieve the FedRAMP FISMA High Baseline accreditation,” says Larry Prior, president and CEO of CSRA. “Our ARC-P infrastructure-as-a-service cloud is one of the most security compliant clouds available for our federal customers.”
Israeli Firm Developing Cyber Protection for Vehicles
Israel’s ProtectivX is developing a hacker detection system that helps reduce the threat of a vehicle collision caused by hackers. The company says it is develop a devices that sits on a vehicles’ internal CAN-BUS and monitors all electronic control units (ECUs) looking for any unusual behavior. ECUs may include the infotainment system, vision safety devices, cruise control, electronic keys, remote engine starters and more. Ziv Hadad, ProtecivX’ CEO, says “it may say ‘Intel Inside,’ but if it has not been certified safe by ProtectivX, then its not protected from the outside.”
Bayshore Networks, PTS Data Center Solutions in Alliance
Bayshore Networks, Inc., and PTS Data Center Solutions have formed a strategic alliance to market a bundled cyber security solution for data centers. PTS DCS is offering the secure Bayshore IT/OT Gateway software product as part of its cyber threat protection services for data center industrial controls. The IT/OT Gateway protects data center elements that could provide cyber attack apertures, such as building automation systems, HVAC, power, fire suppression equipment, machine sensors, and card access readers. Bayshore’s IT/OT Gateway provides IT departments with visibility into operational technology infrastructure, networks, applications, machines and workers.