Owl Computing Technologies Announces Secure Software Update Service

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., July 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Owl Computing Technologies, Inc. announces the release of a new software product, Secure Software Update Service (SSUS), which enables the secure transfer of software updates and antivirus signatures into secure industrial control system networks.

Electrical utilities, water treatment plants, oil and gas-production facilities, and other industries that rely on critical IT infrastructure networks are uniquely challenged in their cyber maintenance programs.  They need to maintain an electronic security perimeter around their critical assets while allowing both data and software updates into their critical infrastructure. 

Current security practices use "walk-nets" and other less-than-ideal transfer methods that cause update delays and overall business inefficiencies.  For instance, the use of removable storage devices such as USB memory flash drives to move data and software updates significantly increases the exposure of the secure domain to infection by a virus, bot, or other forms of malware.

To combat this problem, Owl developed the Secure Software Update Service (SSUS) – a software filtering solution designed to complement the Owl Perimeter Defense Solution (OPDS) family of products.  The SSUS is installed as a software security application at the electronic security boundaries to provide a path for safely and securely transferring selected files from outside the critical infrastructure to highly secured industrial control system (ICS) networks. The SSUS software augments existing hardware-enforced data diode security products to provide the following features: enhanced software security controls to ensure all files and software updates are subject to content inspection, file extension checks, antivirus examinations, hash code validations, and other checks before the files and updates are allowed across the perimeter boundary. SSUS permits implementation of a two-person authentication approval and release process.

In brief, the SSUS enables the reliable and auditable transfer of software patches and executable files, such as anti-malware signature updates, which are otherwise blocked by the most frequently used anti-malware filtering techniques. Dr. Ronald Mraz, Owl President and CTO, commented, "This next generation technology improves upon current best practice antivirus filtering techniques by securely automating the transfer of information to ICS networks. Furthermore, I believe this product is in line with NEI guidance regarding software update security controls."

ABOUT OWL COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Owl Computing Technologies is the leading source for next generation network security.  Owl's
DualDiode® Technology, a proprietary data diode, has been successfully deployed in over 1500 solutions across government, military and critical infrastructure networks.  Owl's hardware-enforced technology enables secure, reliable and robust information sharing for all files sizes and data types.

38A Grove St. Ste. 101
Ridgefield, CT 06877 USA
www.owlcti.com
(203) 894-9342

CONTACT: Erica Taguiam, [email protected], 646-710-5098

SOURCE Owl Computing Technologies, Inc.