Westermo and Eviden announce strategic partnership to develop security solutions for industrial data communications

Joint project set to develop crypto-secure switches for railway applications

Mainz (Germany), 7 September 2023 – Westermo Eltec has announced that Westermo Network Technologies, a leading industrial data communications specialist, and Eviden, a leading European provider of managed security services (MSS), have entered into a partnership to develop high-level security solutions using crypto-agile operational technology (OT) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices for securing critical data communication in railway systems. Westermo's latest generation of Ethernet switches offers additional hardware support for protecting critical data. In highly interconnected systems, this enables the secure exchange of sensitive information through end-to-end encryption. In times of constantly changing threats, the solutions offer rapid adaptability to ward off cyber-attacks and protect the investments of critical infrastructure operators. First project to develop crypto-agile switch range Westermo and Eviden are launching a joint development project in Germany in which managed industrial gigabit Ethernet switches from Westermo's Lynx 3510 series will be equipped with pluggable hardware security modules (HSM) from Eviden. Special crypto software installed on micro-SD memory cards will add an additional layer of security to the switches, whilst also preparing them for future cyber threat scenarios. Through this partnership, Westermo and Eviden are responding to the growing demand for crypto-agile solutions in the railway sector and other industries. Rail industry certification of the first joint product is expected by the end of 2023. Thomas Riechmann, Vice President COO Cybersecurity Services at Eviden, says: "The IIoT market is an exciting sector with huge economic potential. At the same time, the security risk here is very high due to multiple attack vectors in the communication between devices, companies, and the cloud. For this reason, we are delighted to partner with Westermo, contributing our cybersecurity expertise and comprehensive security portfolio, to enable end-to-end security for critical data communications." "Growing cyber threats and regulatory requirements will pose increasing security challenges for critical infrastructure operators in the coming years," says Jenny Sjödahl, CEO of Westermo. "As a trusted provider of industrial data communication solutions, we are committed to ensuring that our customers' networks remain secure and can be operated over the long term. By partnering with Eviden, we can provide crypto-agile solutions that will help our rail customers safeguard their mission-critical communications in both the short and long term."

About Westermo Eltec GmbH Westermo Eltec GmbH, headquartered in Mainz, Germany, offers digital networking and communication solutions for mobile applications in harsh environments. Since April 2021 Eltec has been part of Westermo – a business unit of the Swedish Ependion Group and a high-tech company specialized in data communication products for mission critical systems. About Westermo Westermo provides a full range of industrial data communication solutions for demanding applications in the transport, water and energy sectors. For more than 45 years, Westermo has been at the cutting edge of technological development, often pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible. Westermo has a local presence in more than 40 countries to provide the best possible support. Further information at www.westermo.com. About Eviden Eviden is a next-gen technology leader in data-driven, trusted and sustainable digital transformation with a strong portfolio of patented technologies. Holding global leadership positions in advanced computing, security, AI, cloud and digital platforms, Eviden provides in-depth expertise across all industries in over 47 countries. Bringing together 55,000 world-class talents, Eviden is advancing the capabilities in data and technology across the digital continuum, today and for generations to come. Eviden is an Atos company with annual revenues of approximately €5 billion. www.eviden.com