Industry experts focus on industrial security at ISA EXPO 2009

Industrial security takes center stage at ISA EXPO 2009 on Oct. 7 featuring presentations by security experts with U.S. Department of Homeland Security experience, as well as a groundbreaking hack and defend tutorial and demonstration on wireless security.

Sean McGurk, DHS Director, Control Systems Security Program (CSSP), will present the ISA EXPO 2009 Keynote Presentation. In his presentation, entitled "Securing the Nation’s Industrial Control Systems Infrastructure", he will discuss the current threat landscape, common vulnerabilities and security issues facing critical infrastructure control systems, and mitigation strategies being developed to address these challenges. He will also discuss current program efforts including how to become directly involved in securing the Nation’s critical infrastructure control.

Greg Garcia, President, Garcia Strategies, will deliver the featured presentation, entitled "Industrial Security and the Political Control System: A View from Washington". He served as the nation’s first Presidentially-appointed Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Communications (CS&C) for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, from 2006-2008. During his tenure, the U.S.Department of Homeland Security affirmed the urgency of cyber security across the nation and embarked on a comprehensive cyber initiative that will measurably strengthen the security of our nation’s networks against domestic and international threats.

Wednesday’s security spotlight will also feature a live "Hack and Defend Industrial Wireless Systems" demonstration. The never-been-done-before wireless hack and defend tutorial session will give attendees the chance to learn techniques about breaking and defending wireless systems, as well as pose questions to the experts.
ISA Security Lounge

The ISA Security Lounge will offer meet-and-greet opportunities with ISA EXPO keynoters — including Sean McGurk and Greg Garcia, industry leaders, recognized professionals, presentations, and running demonstrations of cyber security related topics of interest featured during the technical conference.

The ISA EXPO 2009 conference will feature six Exchange Conference Tracks centered on key issues facing instrumentation, automation, and control professionals, including a dedicated track on industrial security. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss best practices, lessons learned, and potential solutions to specific automation problems as part of the conference’s technology exchange format.

For more information about ISA EXPO 2009, and registration, visit www.isa.org.