Nexant Inc., the global energy software and consulting firm, and Promia, Inc., a developer of Enterprise Cyber Security and Asset Monitoring products, today jointly announced a partnership to deliver products and services supporting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) Critical Infrastructure Protection Standards (CIPS) for energy companies.
Nexant offers end-to-end CIPS compliance solutions based on the best-in-class and award-winning Promia RavenTM network appliances developed by Promia. Nexant's methodology for efficient and robust CIPS compliance includes risk assessment, operational cyber monitoring and management, policy definition and monitoring, electronic perimeter identification and protection, security breach reporting, insider threat and sabotage alerting, and training related to cyber assets and activity.
Promia Raven tools are hardened appliances that monitor all traffic from all devices operating on a network. Promia IASM and Raven products are deployed globally by the US Navy, continuously protecting key sections of the U.S. Department of Defense Global Information Grid (GIG). Raven appliances identify all connected network devices and provide 3-D views of all monitored segments, allowing operators to "fly" through the inside of their networks. In-built proprietary tools provide accurate and consistent detection, validation, and blocking response to internally and externally generated network and host computer intrusions. The devices are interconnected in a global grid allowing real-time and forensic views of network activity.
Nexant and Promia developed Raven tools specially adapted to meet CIP standards by automating and securing the data and records necessary to meet FERC CIPS audit requirements. Mandatory audits come into full force by 2010 and Raven tools enable authorized personnel to document and maintain the necessary compliance evidence and provide automatic updates to include operational cyber events as they occur on the network. Raven tools also include an integrated "cookbook" to facilitate the self-compliance efforts of network managers and compliance professionals.
"This partnership represents major step forward in our strategy of expanding Nexant's cutting-edge IT-based solutions for the energy sector," said Hugh McDermott, Nexant Senior Vice President and CIPS Program Director. "We selected Promia because of its exceptional reputation within the U.S. military and because the security features that its products offer are un-matched in the energy industry. We look forward to rapidly deploying this proven technology to utilities and energy asset owners to meet the vitally important mission of increasing the security of the nation's electricity infrastructure."
"Promia is proud to be working with Nexant to protect our critical national networks in the energy area," said John Mullen, CEO of Promia. "Nexant's reputation for excellence in the energy industry and its preeminence as a provider of IT solutions for transmission systems is further complimented by its deep technology expertise and asset management offerings. We believe that our partnership provides a CIPS compliance offering that is unique in the power sector and immediately positions us an industry leader."
About Nexant
Nexant, Inc. is a premier global provider of intelligent grid, renewable energy, green energy, carbon management, biofuel, petrochemical, oil, gas, and clean coal solutions"”developing and delivering strategic, technical, economic, financial, and master planning consulting services to Fortune 500 companies, utilities, transmission and distribution system operators, chemical and petroleum majors, financial institutions, government agencies, and development banks. Nexant is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, with 20 corporate, project, and representative offices around the world. The company is owned by a select group of investors and Nexant management and employees. Nexant® is a proprietary trademark of Nexant, Inc. For more information on Nexant's CIPS compliance solution, please contact Hugh McDermott at +1 415 369 1108 or hmcdermott@nexant.com. For additional information about Nexant, please visit www.nexant.com or contact Bob Burdett (Nexant, Inc.) at +1 415-369-1114.
About Promia, Incorporated
Promia, Incorporated is a leading developer and supplier of security tools, based on open standard components with advanced analytic capabilities, to the energy sector, the banking sector, other Fortune 1000 companies, and government markets. Its products are used in environments requiring high security, reliability, performance, and scalability. Based in San Francisco, Promia has offices in Princeton, NJ, Davis, CA (University of California), and Linthicum, MD. Promia, IASM, and Promia RavenTM are proprietary trademarks of Promia, Inc. For more information regarding Promia, please visit www.promia.com or contact Pamela Boles (Promia, Inc.) at +1 415-536-1600.