CHANDLER, ARIZ., November 3, 2015 - Today MESA International opens its Cybersecurity Working Group to global manufacturers/producers and solution providers. The not-for-profit industry association has set the framework to address one of the world's toughest issues as it relates to Industrial Systems Cybersecurity.
The purpose of the working group is to clarify some of the technology-related information businesses must deal with today while providing practical and useful guidance, specifically as it pertains to manufacturing or production-related operations. This requires broad input and a non-commercial focus, as is customary with MESA International.
This group expects to provide consistent messaging in cybersecurity-related topics internally and externally, interacting with other industry organizations to drive common understanding for all.
Potential topics for the Working Group include:
- Compare and contrast manufacturing system security with IT security
- Roadmap or guidelines for managing cybersecurity programs in manufacturing
- Case studies of past manufacturing cybersecurity incidents
- Convergence of IT equipment in the manufacturing dynamic
- A summary of the current state of the ICS cybersecurity industry
"There is a tremendous amount of disparate information on cybersecurity, and our goal at MESA is to identify high-priority, manufacturing-centric concerns then bring clarity to related practices," said Eric Cosman, co-Chairman of the group with John Poffenbarger. Cosman is a career veteran of The Dow Chemical Company and Principal Consultant at OIT Concepts, and Poffenbarger is the founder of Definitive Data Security.
Poffenbarger added, "Though there is in general a rising awareness, there too exists an escalation in the threat landscape. Our challenge is to consolidate these dynamics into a focused set of principles that offer measurable value the community has come to expect from MESA International."
MESA is looking for additional competent contributors to help evaluate, steer, and drive selected opportunities. Priority consideration will go to subjects that can offer unique contributions. To apply please visit the working group page: http://www.mesa.org/en/committeeactivities/cybersecuritywg.asp
About MESA International:
MESA (Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association) International is a global, not-for-profit community of manufacturers, producers, industry leaders and solution providers who are focused on improving Operations Management capabilities through the effective application of Information Technologies, IT-based solutions and best practices. To accomplish this, we:
- Enable members to connect, contribute, cultivate understanding, and exchange strategies to drive operations excellence.
- Collect, share, and publish best practices and guidance to drive greater productivity and the overall profitability of the manufacturing enterprise.
- Educate the marketplace on manufacturing operations best practices through the MESA Global Education Program.
For more information about MESA, visit www.mesa.org.
