Nation's Leading Traffic Control Equipment Supplier Unveils Unprecedented Protection against Cyber Security Threats to Worldwide Arterial Traffic Systems
Anaheim, CA - March 4, 2008 - Econolite and Uniloc USA Inc., the technology leader in device-based authentication, today announced StrongPointTM for Transportation Networks. StrongPoint is a powerful security appliance for advanced traffic management system (ATMS) network protection, which uses device recognition to create 'device-locked' secure private networks between a StrongPoint Server at the traffic operations center (TOC) and StrongPoint appliances in traffic cabinets in the field. Econolite, the leading transportation technology provider with more than 100,000 traffic intersections under management and over 45 ATMS systems deployed, will deliver StrongPoint's superior identity access management capabilities to protect against unauthorized insider access and cyber security threats to arterial traffic networks throughout the world.
Traffic control networks contain computers and applications that conduct essential operations in the command and control of transportation systems. As such, they are a part of the critical public infrastructure, which demands protection against threats that exist from unauthorized internal network access or as a result of cyber security attacks. Properly operating traffic control networks is essential for safe travel and for efficient commerce. Security of these pervasive systems is often less than optimal because emphasis has been placed on performance, reliability, and safety - leaving these networks prone to system resource manipulation and cyber attack.
StrongPoint is a field-hardened appliance for securing transportation field controls such as intersection signal controllers, variable message signs (VMS) and traffic cameras. StrongPoint uses Uniloc device recognition to restrict field control access to designated PCs at the TOC, and designated computers used by field engineering staff logging into the TOC Virtual Private Network (VPN). With StrongPoint, an unauthorized user must be on an authorized PC to impersonate an authorized user. StrongPoint also provides notification and location of unauthorized VPN connection attempts at the TOC. StrongPoint is designed specifically to provide security and hack resistance in the rapidly evolving world of ATMS, shielding field control systems against malicious code threats, insuring against network vulnerabilities and monitoring field security status conveniently from the TOC.
StrongPoint capabilities include:
- Protection of traffic management field controls from the effects of cyber attack;
- Unprecedented hack-resistance - significantly improves upon traditional router, switch and firewall security;
- Uncompromising security on any platform - including open standards, wireless and public Internet;
- Bi-directional security - prohibiting network access from breached field substations.
- Cross-platform compatibility with any and all operating systems and field control hardware devices;
- Notification and location of unauthorized StrongPoint VPN connection attempts; and
- Virtually no impact on network performance - an essential requirement for sensitive ATMS networks.
"Uniloc's device-based authentication is the cornerstone of StrongPoint which is a tremendous complement to our product offerings," said Persephone Oliver, Vice President of Marketing Communications at Econolite. "By pairing our experience in the transportation management industry and products designed for longevity in the field, with Uniloc's strength in security, we are helping to protect transportation networks against internal and external threats to maintain safety for drivers and pedestrians using our transportation arteries."
Physical Device Fingerprinting is the core technology behind StrongPoint and is based on the fundamental principle that no two digital devices are identical. The process of physical device recognition starts by generating a digital identity for a device, known as its "Physical Device Fingerprint." A Physical Device Fingerprint is made up of a combination of machine characteristics and properties that are generated using a set of proprietary algorithms. The Uniloc Physical Device Fingerprinting algorithms allow the unique, reproducible identification of a device with an accuracy greater than 3.4 * 10^38, allowing Uniloc to identify devices with more comparable accuracy than human DNA. When applied to StrongPoint, the stage is set for this device-based authentication to stand as the leading access control solution for infrastructure security.
"Our partnership with Econolite will help organizations managing transportation networks to proactively defend against potential threats by requiring access credentials more exact than human DNA," said Casey Potenzone, CIO, Uniloc. "We are pleased to be working with Econolite, which has a deserved reputation as the leading provider of traffic control systems."
About Econolite
In business since 1933, Econolite is a leading transportation solution provider and manufacturer of advanced traffic controllers (NEMA & ATC/2070), Aries®, icons®, and PYRAMIDS® traffic management systems, Autoscope® video vehicle detection systems, arterial systems masters, vehicle and pedestrian signals, traffic control cabinets, data collection and management services (DCMS.2), Intelligent Intersection(TM) technology, and a full line of transportation maintenance services. Econolite is committed to employing advanced technologies that reduce traveler time, ease congestion, enhance transit operations, provide safer mobility, and improve quality of life.
About Uniloc USA
Uniloc USA is the technology leader in electronic physical device recognition for software copy control and information security. The core technology platform driving Uniloc innovation is Physical Device Fingerprinting, the Company's patented method of uniquely identifying a user device, such as a PC, game console, smart phone or cell phone, by the naturally occurring, inherent physical imperfections of that device, and then incorporating that physical device fingerprint into licenses or access credentials. Uniloc's technologies can identify devices with more comparable accuracy than human DNA. Uniloc is the inventor and holder of the seminal physical device locking patent (U.S. 5,490,216) and has 15 related patents pending. Uniloc has applied its Physical Device Fingerprinting technical expertise to several vertical markets, including software publishing, network authentication, transportation, social networking and DVD retailing.