GarrettCom Expands Security Offerings for Substations

TAMPA, Fla., March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- GarrettCom®, Inc., rolled out a series of hardware and software products designed to deliver its promise to provide "Security for the Smart Grid" here at DistribuTECH 2010, in booth 521. The new products enhance cyber security in the large substations—the heart of any Smart Grid—and include

• GarrettCom's Magnum™ DX940, an industrial router configurable with both cellular wireless and a full range of wireline ports,
• Extended IPSec and VPN security capabilities in the company's MNS-DX router software that includes cellular and radio wireless support and provides interoperability with the broadest possible range of Enterprise routers,
• The SCP substation-hardened computing platform for running mission-critical industrial and process control software applications such as security systems databases and local access control in harsh environments such as large substations,
• A new release of CrossBow™ Client and Server Software that extends the power and flexibility of the Secure Access Manager, a proven secure access management solution designed to provide NERC CIP compliant access to Intelligent Electronic Devices in substations, and
• Distribution rights for GE MDS wireless LAN extension products and backhaul to support solution systems for secure wireless transmissions among Smart Grid substations, distributed power generators and power transmission.

"IEC 61850 and other initiatives identify IP/Ethernet™ as the basic networking technology upon which to build an integrated substation network architecture, and facilitate data exchange between substations operations and other groups or organizations within a power utility's infrastructure that form the system basis for the Smart Grid," said Frank Madren, GarrettCom President, in a paper included in the DistribuTECH 2010 Conference proceedings. IP-based hardware and related software provide "the necessary tools for efficient, integrated and secure operation of utilities across the US, and… [particularly] for increasing the reliability and security of the networks in substation operations that are at the heart of the Smart Grid," he concluded.

Madren also observed that secure wireless connectivity is critical to allow data from both commercial and residential users at the edge of the grid to be effectively delivered to and utilized by Smart Grid operations centers.

GarrettCom offers one of the broadest selections of substation-hardened switches and routers, with associated cyber security networking and solutions software, available to power utilities around the world. All hardware products are IEC 61850 compatible and IEEE 1613-rated for power utilities.

About GarrettCom

GarrettCom, Inc., Fremont, Calif., is an industry leader in providing networking solutions for challenging industrial environments, including power utility substations, video surveillance, transportation, industrial automation, telecommunications, and water treatment facilities. The company's products provide a comprehensive industrial network architecture encompassing a switched Ethernet core, distributed edge devices for both Ethernet and Serial protocols, and secured connections to various WAN services. This year GarrettCom celebrates 20 years of providing quality products, and superior service that is recognized as "Industrial Networking at its Best".

Visit www.garrettcom.com for more information on GarrettCom and its products.

GarrettCom is a registered trademark and Magnum is a trademark of GarrettCom, Inc. CrossBow is a trademark of Bow Networks Inc. Ethernet is a trademark of Xerox Corp. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE GarrettCom, Inc.