Today’s societies rely on critical network infrastructure (CNI) that underpins government and military operations, the stability of their economy, and the health and safety of their citizens.   Included in CNI are the networks of communications, emergency services, energy, utilities, finance, health, and transport. Communications and our dependence on CNI have become so intertwined that these elements now touch our lives in every way and every day. New ventures, such as smart grid, emphasize the importance of understanding, managing, and protecting this unique bond. 

 
The State of the Industry

While new approaches and improvements to CNI systems—such as smart grids, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, and aviation transportation networks—continue to develop, the risk and vulnerability of these systems pose significant challenges. For example, SCADA systems monitor, coordinate, and control the processes and operations of many utilities, especially water, gas, and electricity. While these systems are purported to be “closed,” one concern is that they were originally implemented more than 20 years ago when security issues were not as complex or as prevalent. The recent Stuxnet virus, for example, uncovered potential vulnerabilities in the control system of a nuclear plant.

Therefore, organizations must plan on implementing new security measures for SCADA systems and the entities that operate them because both remain vulnerable to modern Internet-borne as well as social threats. Employees may inadvertently compromise a CNI system if they fall prey to malware by, for example, spear phishing or unwittingly import malicious code by using corrupted flash drives. CNI architectures are evolving and increasing in complexity: 

•  Many CNI systems were designed more than 20 years ago and are in need of replacement or upgrades
•  Globalization means no major entity or institution can operate in isolation
•  Cloud-based architectures require a more holistic approach to security
•  Firewalls, anti-virus, IPS/IDS software, and other signature- and policy-based approaches to cyber attacks are necessary but not entirely sufficient
•  Cyber crime organizations are more seasoned and aggressive in exploiting known weaknesses of legacy systems, as well as uncovering vulnerabilities that may still be unknown or unexplored

The Challenge

As the world’s dependence on critical network infrastructure has grown, so too have the opportunities for hostile attacks, in variety, volume, and potential impact.

•  Protecting critical network infrastructure is a priority, especially given our dependence on these networks in virtually all aspects of life and business, from e-commerce and communication, to personal health and safety, to
    national security
•  CNI entities face an increasing variety of attacks, ranging from DDoS and viruses to the more disruptive Advanced Persistent Threats and Zero Day attacks
•  CNI entities perceive the need to employ advanced warning systems, harness reliable intelligence about the threat landscape, and employ methods to prioritize threats and vulnerabilities
•  The mission and business goals of these institutions require quick, effective ways to address and resolve cyber threats, regardless of size, scope, or intent

The Solution

NarusInsight™ is the foundation for the industry’s most advanced dynamic network traffic intelligence and analytics software. The system includes these solutions:

•  NarusInsight™ Solution for Cyber Protection
•  NarusInsight™ Solution for Intercept
•  NarusInsight™ Solution for Traffic Management

Benefits

NarusInsight provides complete situational awareness and continuous monitoring in real time, enabling operators with a 24/7, total view of all traffic throughout the network. NarusInsight complements existing signature-based approaches. This combination empowers CNI entities with the ability to take quick, decisive action to neutralize current or imminent threats.

•  The Solution for Cyber Protection uses dynamic network monitoring and patented analytics to run a deep scan of the “digital DNA” (i.e. the behavior) of the network to detect deviations and anomalous traffic patterns
•  The Solution for Intercept can help CNI entities precisely target suspicious and criminal activity, and prevent exfiltration of intellectual property
•  The Solution for Traffic Management provides a complete view of the total IP traffic environment and enables the CNI entity to monitor, capture, analyze, and correlate traffic in real time; this not only enables the organization to  
   comply with regulatory requirements, but also minimizes misuse of network resources and ensures information assurance, network optimization and a high quality of service for its customers

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