What have the results of Garrison’s engagement with ProArch been?
“Today, I feel that we have a very secure system,” Kissel says. “Not only do I control access through vendors, but I also have automated monitoring, and ProArch is always there to assist us.”
Additionally, ProArch continues to provide the following services:
- Take care of network health, security patches, and antivirus updates
- Assist with third-party vendors including adding any new hardware or software
- Ensure hardware is compatible with the network
- Act as an IT service desk (“You put a ticket in, and within the hour, someone will respond to you, and it’s usually resolved by the end of the day,” Kissel says.)
Control
On the plant side, Kissel has more control over the network and a better understanding of what’s going on at a corporate level. Everything is set up in such a way that Garrison’s IT is prepared for any change.
“If we ever transition to another IT service or are sold again, we won’t have a scramble,” Kissel says. “We will just unplug a couple of wires and put a new service provider in charge. That’s about it. Even if the new company didn’t want to go with ProArch. it would be easy to transfer to another service because ProArch was so professional and meticulous about setting everything up.”
Peace of Mind
With best practices in place, Kissel doesn’t have to worry about compliance regulations or cyberattacks.
“Compared to other plants in our NERC category, we’re ahead!” Kissel says. “ProArch is helping us implement security best practices to stay compliant and ensure our cybersecurity is very locked down.”
And having their IT and OT security locked down means that cyberattacks aren’t nearly as troubling as they once were.
“When the E-ISAC [Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center] was sending out a lot of alerts about cyberattacks, I wasn’t that worried about it because I knew that SCADAfence would pick up any threat as soon as somebody tried to get in, and ProArch would shut it down with their firewall rules,” Kissel says. “So it really wasn’t a concern like it would have been for me in the past.”
ProArch has become a part of Kissel’s team.
“They’re integrated like employees,” he says. “The people who have worked with us from the beginning are still with us. It’s been a nice relationship with ProArch.”
