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A fast-growing market like India is more willing to innovate

Venugopal Pillai ,  Friday, June 22, 2012, 16:34 Hrs  [IST]

Jeremy Butcher— Jeremy Butcher, CEO, FOX-IT

FOX-IT has partnered with Mumbai-based High-Tech Technologies (HTT) to launch Data Diode and other products in India. In an interaction with Electrical Monitor at the National Seminar on Cyber Security for Crucial Power Networks organised by HTT, Jeremy Butcher spoke to Venugopal Pillai and Jibran Buchh about cyber threats and how Fort Fox Data Diode by FOX-IT can offer unmatched protection against cyber attacks. Butcher sees a big market in India and views with favour the country's willingness to go in for innovative products.

Can you explain the extent of cyber threat in the power sector?
I think we are beginning to see cyber threats in the power sector. Apart from deliberate attacks, we also have "accidental" attacks on power distribution control systems. "Back doors" have also been found, for example, in power generation infrastructure in the US. Nobody really knows what the back doors are intended to do, but they do open up possibilities of cyber attacks. We are just at the tip of the iceberg in terms of cyber threats.

Do you think the Smart Grid culture that India is trying to imbibe should factor in cyber security as its basic quality?
In fact, Smart Grids create a new opportunity for cyber attacks. There have been worms developed in the form of self-replicating software. In fact, there are worms that can replicate a single smart meter into multiple smart meters. It can have a very large (adverse) impact on the power distribution companies. Smart meters are particularly vulnerable because they are near peoples' homes. In the case of power generation plants, there is a lot of physical security unlike in a smart meter.

Apart from power, what other sectors do you need cyber security?
Many of the infrastructure process control sectors are some areas. Defense is a big area that needs protection from cyber threat. We at Fox-IT have other products that are specific to sectors like the one for the banking sector.

How important is the Indian market for Fox-IT?
We are based in Europe so most the countries that are nearby and easy for us to reach have very little economic growth. So, we have to look at other countries that are growing very fastlike India. We also observe that countries that are growing very fast have more willingness to innovate. This thinking suits us as we have products that are "ahead of the curve". We need customers that are willing to accept innovative solutions.

Apart from Data Diode, what other products are you planning to market in India?
Data diode will be our main product. We also have products for online banking security, apart from products specific to communications, for example mobile telephony communication, radio communication used by police, etc.

What is the status of your mandatory STQC certification to enter the Indian market?
We have applied for certification and have gone through all technical audits. We have complied with all the documentation. All the formalities are expected to be completed in the next few weeks or a month.

What is the competition to Data Diode?
We find that many people are using firewalls without realizing the risk of using them. Those that realize the vulnerability of firewalls prefer to disconnect their networks. This can be secure but it is very inefficient.

Are there other data diodes?
Yes, there are data diodes being used, mainly in military. The basic idea of data diodes came from the military world. There are few data diode companies that focus on other critical infrastructure.

Are you working on other projects in India?
We are at the "proof of concept" stage with respect to several projects. We are partnering with High Tech Technologies (HTT) for our operations in India.

How is your partnership with HTT coming along?
It is a great partnership. For a product like Data Diode, it is more of creating awareness. HTT has been organizing national seminars that are helping spread awareness and knowledge about our products. These things take much long, but we are pleased that HTT is willing to put in the effort and also invest time.

How do you see Fox-IT five years down the line in India?
Our core values have been excellence and innovation. We believe we will have lot of new products by then. India is a big market and we hope to introduce more products apart from our flagship Data Diode.
 
                 
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