New Fortinet “Rugged” Devices Protect Industrial Networks in Harsh Environments

Network security firm Fortinet has launched four new “Rugged” products that the company said were purpose-built to meet the demanding standards of public utilities, oil and gas, mining, manufacturing and the transportation industries that operate in harsh physical environments.

The new industrially-hardened appliances include the FortiGate Rugged 60D, FortiGate Rugged 90D, FortiAP 222C and FortiSwitch 112D-PoE, which deliver enterprise-class connectivity and security for critical control systems facing malicious attacks, as well as extreme weather and other demanding physical environments.

The devices support popular protocols used across industrial networks, including BACnet, DNP3, ELCOM7, EtherCAT, EtherIP, ICCP, IEC.60870.5.104, IEC.61850, Modbus, OPC, and PROFINET.

“The dangers to our critical infrastructure from foreign and domestic cyber-attacks have increased dramatically in recent years. No sector is without exposure. Electric power generation and distribution, transportation, water, oil and gas just to name a few,” said Steve Keefe, president of Patriot Technologies. “Fortinet’s ‘Rugged’ line makes it possible to apply enhanced levels of security in some of the most demanding environments, enabling better visibility, manageability and control to our countries critical assets and security.”

Distributed critical infrastructure is often located in places that are physically inaccessible, lack connectivity, subject to intemperate climate or otherwise constrained by limited space, Fortinet said, noting that traditional security solutions intended for indoor environments are often ill-equipped to operate under duress or in harsh conditions.

Fortinet’s rugged and outdoor security appliances combine to meet the demanding security requirements and environmental conditions for customers and offer features including

• Industrial control-specific capabilities, such as application awareness and protocol support, in form factors designed in accordance with international substation automation standards, IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613, and fan-less, cable-less design.

• Integrating switching and wireless access that delivers connectivity as well as security for automated systems anywhere in the world.

• Strong remote configuration and management, as well as central monitoring and reporting to ensure high availability and demonstrated compliance capabilities.

“Vital systems such as utilities and manufacturing face harsh conditions and a proliferation of new attacks that pose numerous threats to public well-being and safety,” said John Maddison, vice president of marketing products for Fortinet. “Addressing these unique problems, Fortinet’s new Rugged products enable customers to reduce the risk of catastrophic security incidents to critical infrastructure that could put public health and safety in jeopardy.”

The FortiGate Rugged 60D and FortiAP 222C are currently available. The FortiSwitch 1112D-PoE and FortiGate Rugged 90D are expected to be available later in Q4, Fortinet said.