New SCADA Advanced Threat Protection Included In WatchGuard NGFW And UTM boxes

PRESS RELEASE

SEATTLE - July 12, 2011 - WatchGuardR Technologies, a global leader of business security solutions , today announced that its next-generation firewalls and UTMs with Application Control now include protective supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) signatures.

These SCADA signatures now enable WatchGuard XTM security appliances to provide advanced threat protection for industrial control systems that monitor and control industrial, infrastructure or facility-based networks. Major market trends are driving the need to extend enterprise network security and protection to operational technologies. Many operational technology (OT) networks are converging with information technology (IT) networks. For example, as infrastructure power grids become "smart," they also stand exposed to similar vulnerabilities that target IP-based business networks.

"Historically, OT networks ran autonomously or were completely disconnected from IT protection and control," said Tim Helming, Director of Product Management at WatchGuard. "However, as OT and IT networks converge, legacy OT networks become vulnerable to hackers and viruses. Now, WatchGuard is providing the same levels of advanced intrusion prevention, malware protection and granular management used in enterprise environments to secure key industrial and infrastructure networks."

Stuxnet - Denotes a New Era in Targeted Malware Malware is nothing new, and by itself, Stuxnet does little harm to typical PCs and business networks. It is a worm that targets industrial software and equipment that falsifies industrial process control sensor signals. Extremely sophisticated, the Stuxnet code installs a rootkit, which hides it and masks changes made in monitoring systems.

Generally, this type of malware functionality is not unique. What makes Stuxnet stand out is the level and sophistication of which it targets its victims. Stuxnet marks a new era of highly sophisticated, extremely targeted malware, and in this case, specific to a small group of industrial systems. It portends a new wave of attacks targeted to OT networks, ranging from citywide electrical power grids, traffic monitoring systems down to individual facility HVAC systems. As OT and IT networks converge, WatchGuard predicts next-generation firewalls will become the predominate solution of choice for protecting legacy OT networks.

WatchGuard Application Control - Redefining Next-Generation Firewalls WatchGuard Application Control makes it simple to create and enforce acceptable use policies for business and enterprise environments. With Application Control, administrators can selectively block, allow or restrict access to more than 1,800 web and business applications based on a user's department, job function, time of day and more. Application Control allows businesses to see in real-time what applications are running across the network and by whom. Having this level of granular insight helps businesses maintain compliance, demonstrate employee activity and refine acceptable use policies.

The new SCADA signatures are available in the latest WatchGuard XTM series appliances with Application Control. With it, administrators can monitor, manage and protect OT networks side-by-side with their existing IT networks. This helps reduce cost, eliminate redundancies and streamline OT and IT security management.

About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. Since 1996, WatchGuardR Technologies, Inc. has been the advanced technology leader of business security solutions, providing mission-critical protection to hundreds of thousands of businesses worldwide. The WatchGuard family of wired and wireless unified threat management appliances, messaging, content security and SSL VPN remote access solutions provide extensible network, application and data protection, as well as unparalleled network visibility, management and control. WatchGuard products are backed by WatchGuard LiveSecurityR Service, an innovative support, maintenance, and education program. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle and has offices serving North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. To learn more, visit http://www.watchguard.com/.