Global oil equipment supplier secures industrial assets with Trend Micro
OVERVIEW
A global manufacturer, distributor, and servicer of equipment, hardware, and software for oil and gas drilling operations needed to evaluate the security of its remote assets around the world—and chose Trend as its partner.
Industry
Energy and utilities
IT Environment
Oil and gas drilling operations worldwide, Microsoft Windows and Linux devices
Solutions
CHALLENGES
The company’s personnel regularly visit remote client sites, both onshore and off, to maintain and service industrial equipment. Part of that involves ensuring equipment is malware-free before introducing updates or new operational technology (OT). For years, the company lacked a standardized approach to anti-malware protection—with field service technicians often using free virus scanners. It saw the need for a more robust and consistent solution that would be compatible with various operating systems, since many of its customers rely on legacy technologies. At the same time, it needed to comply with strict governmental regulatory requirements for real-time reporting, marine oil spill prevention, and more.
WHY TREND
The company’s product security lead learned about the Trend Micro Portable Security™ 3 malware scanning and cleanup tool at a conference he was attending. An easy-to-carry enhanced USB flash drive requiring no installation, Portable Security 3 stood out as a key example of Trend solution innovation.
According to the company’s product security lead, “Trend’s portable security solution is a game changer for us. I was happy that Trend Micro came prepared with an easy solution.” He also liked that Portable Security 3 worked well on industry-specific legacy operating systems, and that Trend representatives were eager to ensure Portable Security 3 would work for the company.
“Other divisions already had a relationship with Trend, and I could see why,” says the product security lead. “They engage you when you have a specific use case or need, and have a reputation as a solution partner that can help you get the job done.”
Trend’s portable solution is a game changer for us. I was happy that Trend came prepared with an easy solution.
Product security lead, Oil Equipment Supplier
SOLUTION
The company’s field service technicians were impressed by Portable Security 3 and so were its customers. Teams use the Portable Security 3 devices to conduct quick security pre-scans when working with customers on site. Before connecting to a customer’s network or assets, field service technicians plug in a Portable Security 3 device and follow the intuitive on-screen instructions to scan and secure equipment seamlessly.
Portable Security 3 devices are easy to read and interpret. Built-in LED lights indicate if malware has been detected or eliminated and if further investigation is required.
The scan itself is only one of many benefits. “The main thing our customers like about the portable security is after a scan is completed, the field service tech can download or save a report of the scan. It’s proof that the scan was done, with a date and time stamp. The downloadable part of that report is probably the most critical thing for us,” says the company’s product security lead.
RESULTS
“Portable Security 3 devices have allowed us to standardize malware scanners globally while ensuring customers have the latest protection, which helps further position us as an innovator in industrialized services,” says the product security lead.
Because Trend is one of the few providers with a cybersecurity solution that works across widely distributed and industry-specific assets, the company can offer the latest malware protections to customers who use legacy operating systems no longer supported by their respective manufacturers.
“Portable Security 3 is one of the few scanners that still works with Linux, Windows, and even Windows XP. That was just huge for us. It supported all the versions of operating systems out there,” says the product security lead.
He adds, “The Portable Security 3 devices also empower our field service technicians to be proactive during incident response. If malware is found during a scan, we can use the device as a billable tool to verify and fix a compromise.”
Other parts of our company already had a relationship with Trend, and I could see why. ...[They] have a reputation as a solution partner that can help you get the job done.
Product security lead, Oil Equipment Supplier
WHAT'S NEXT
The company plans to shore up its identity-verification processes, as phishing is one of the biggest threats in its OT environment. It also wants to enhance passive monitoring so the security team can be alerted quickly to any changes in the OT environment. The company likes that Trend offers application safelisting. “I would love to see that on all OT equipment as the industry matures. It’s great to be partnered with a solution provider that sees application safelisting as a viable solution,” says the product security lead.
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