Now in its 10th year, the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Program honors companies and individuals that are shaping the future of global manufacturing. The 2014 ML Awards panel of expert judges concluded that Automation Federation has demonstrated excellence in promoting “Cybersecurity for Operational Technology in Industry Advocacy Leadership,” one of the awards program’s most competitive categories. (View all categories and winners by clicking here.)
The Manufacturing Leadership Council, on its website, refers to cybersecurity as one of the critical issues facing manufacturing: “Both small and large manufacturing enterprises are becoming increasingly technology-enabled, and technology-dependent, in the way they run their businesses. All face rising challenges in understanding and responding to a host of new digital vulnerabilities and national regulations. Such cyber threats may take the form of internal disruption, accidental or deliberate, partner network security breaches, and outright external hacking and attack. Protecting a manufacturing company’s most valuable physical, digital and intellectual assets from cyber disruption is now essential to operational continuity and corporate security in today’s digital business world.”
Throughout 2013, The Automation Federation, the umbrella organization of the International Society of Automation (ISA), has been a strong and vocal advocate for the use of ISA’s industrial automation and control systems (IACS) cybersecurity standards (ISA/IEC 62443) in better protecting industry and critical infrastructure from cyberattack.
The Automation Federation has played a critical role in the development of the US Cybersecurity Framework, a how-to guide for American industry and operators of critical infrastructure to strengthen their cyber defenses. In fact, ever since President Obama called for the formation of the framework just over a year ago, representatives of the Automation Federation have been advising the Obama administration—at the White House’s request—on the value of ISA’s industrial cybersecurity standards and the importance of incorporating them as core framework guidelines.
The Automation Federation is currently co-sponsoring a series of seminars throughout the US that are designed to better educate manufacturing and industrial leaders about the US Cybersecurity Framework and encourage their assistance in the plan’s implementation.
Cybersecurity experts across the globe regard ISA’s IACS security standards as essential safeguards because they focus on proper control system functioning, plant protection and operations, and time-critical systems response. Without these safeguards in place, industrial cyberattack can result in plant shutdown, operational and equipment impairment, significant economic and environmental damage, and public endangerment.
“The Automation Federation is honored to be recognized for its efforts in raising awareness around the need to better defend America’s critical assets from the serious risks posed by cyberwarfare,” says Michael Marlowe, Automation Federation Managing Director and Government Relations Director. “While no one can prevent industrial cyber attacks, you can significantly reduce your vulnerabilities. That’s why ISA cybersecurity standards are so valuable. They’re proven to mitigate and minimize the consequences.”
All recipients of the ML100 Awards will be honored during an awards ceremony at the 2014 Manufacturing Leadership Summit, which will be held 3-5 June 2014 in Palm Beach, Florida, USA.
About the Manufacturing Leadership Council
The Manufacturing Leadership Council is an exclusive, invitation-only executive network designed to define and shape a better future for manufacturers worldwide. Through exclusive events, conference calls and online resources, members exchange strategic insights and practical day-to-day advice to advance their careers, their companies and the industry at large.
Events, meetings, and online resources are driven by a revolving Critical Issues agenda of the industry’s most important opportunities and challenges. Council members exchange vision, strategic insights, and practical day-to-day advice to member companies and individuals.
The Manufacturing Leadership Council is composed of accomplished executives with a wealth of experience and a passion for change. The Council combines the insights of executives from all sectors of manufacturing and academia as well as other influential sectors such as research and analyst organizations, and the technology community.
The Manufacturing Leadership Council is managed by Manufacturing Executive, a division of Frost & Sullivan.
For more information, visit www.MLCouncil.com.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best in class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company’s Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO’s Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies.
Frost & Sullivan leverages over 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 40 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com.
About the Automation Federation
The Automation Federation is a global umbrella organization of sixteen (16) member organizations and six working groups engaged in automation activities. The Automation Federation enables its members to more effectively fulfill their missions, advance the science and engineering of automation technologies and applications, and develop the workforce needed to capitalize on the benefits of automation. The Automation Federation is the “Voice of Automation.” For more information about the Automation Federation, visit www.automationfederation.org.
