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Bechtel Establishes Cyber Security Lab for Industrial Control Systems

  • 01 March 2017
    RESTON, Virginia
  • Americas, Defense & Nuclear Security, Nuclear, Security and Environmental , Press Release

Lab and Collaboration with George Mason University Represent Bechtel’s Latest Effort to Address Growing Infrastructure Security Challenges

Responding to increasing cyber threats to industrial controls and supervisory control and data acquisition systems, Bechtel today announced the opening of a new cyber security lab aimed at protecting equipment and software that control complex government facilities, power plants, chemical plants, and other large-scale critical infrastructure. The lab will also leverage Bechtel’s proven experience in designing and implementing National Institute of Standards and Technology Risk Management Framework (NIST-RMF) solutions for its government customers.

“The ability to access and control these systems over the Internet, while increasing efficiency, has also exposed some vulnerabilities. There is a dark side to the Internet of Things,” said Chad Hartman, program director in Bechtel’s government services business. “By using innovative solutions, this lab will give us the ability to test and secure critical systems in a safe environment, which translates into more secure, and resilient equipment for our customers.”

Research agreement with George Mason University

Bechtel also today announced a research arrangement with George Mason University to enable access to the laboratory for Mason students.

“These partnerships are critical for universities and for companies,” said Robert Osgood, director of Mason’s Computer Forensics program and a former FBI supervisory special agent in cyber-crime and counterterrorism. “The laboratory will provide research and internship opportunities for our students and open up a potential talent pipeline for Bechtel in a rapidly growing field.”

Patrick Fredericks, program manager for the Strategic Infrastructure Group (SIG) for Bechtel said “Whether we are talking about control systems or telecommunications infrastructure, there is a real need to develop innovative solutions that address the current world environment. The merging of technology in both of these areas requires a new approach that supports global deployment of integrated technology solutions on a large scale, while also addressing the threats that we see now and in the future.”

Hartman added, “Bechtel has been designing and engineering these large-scale infrastructure projects for decades, and because we know how to build them, we also have unique capabilities to protect them.”

Bechtel’s Nuclear, Security & Environmental global business unit has completed many large, first-of-a-kind projects in highly secure government site management, construction, environmental restoration, defense, space, energy, and national security. 

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Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers’ objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world's infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place.  

Bechtel serves the Energy; Infrastructure; Manufacturing & Technology; Mining & Metals; and Nuclear, Security & Environmental markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. www.bechtel.com

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