Waterfall CEO Emphasize Critical Need For Offshore Cybersecurity Investment
By Stephanie Odiase
Experts at the recently concluded 2023 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) held in Houston, Texas, has underscored the critical need for offshore cybersecurity education and investment.
Speaking at a Panel session on the theme “Together We Can: Fortifying Offshore for Cyber Resilience” Waterfall CEO and Co-Founder, Lior Frenkel, said lack of education around cyber risks is a major obstacle to widespread adoption of strong cybersecurity programs.
Frenkel further shared critical insights, along with the other panelists, as they discussed the greatest cyber risks facing the offshore value chain and how companies can strengthen their cyber defenses.
Frenkel commented on how some companies recognize the risks of insufficient cybersecurity measures “but are still hesitant to proactively invest in essential protection.” According to Frenkel, “The most important thing is to find ways to educate and make people understand and appreciate the risk for the company.”
Government and societal expectations for cybersecurity are fast-changing and are forcing many critical industries to be prepared to respond. For example, the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently issued directives that focus on IT/OT interface protection for pipelines and rail systems.
Extractive360 learnt that in March, Waterfall launched the WF-600 Unidirectional Security Gateway, the world’s most powerful Operational Technology (OT) security protection against remote cyberattacks. The revolutionary WF-600 product line is a state-of-the-art blend of hardware and software, enabling unbreachable protection at IT/OT interfaces with unlimited visibility into OT networks, systems and data, the company said in an email.
“The new platform represents an enormous investment in streamlining every aspect of installing, using and managing Unidirectional Gateway products. The strongest network security has never been simpler,” Frenkel stated at the time of the launch, according to the email sent to Extractive360
For more than 15 years, some of the most important industries and infrastructure have trusted Waterfall to guarantee safe, secure and reliable operations. The company’s growing list of global customers includes national infrastructures, power plants, nuclear generators, onshore and offshore oil and gas facilities, refineries, manufacturing plants, utility companies, and more.
Extractive360 reports that 1,300 companies from 104 countries showcased their technologies and equipment on the exhibition floor of the 2023 OTC. This year’s conference welcomed more than 31,000 participants, a 30 percent increase from last year’s conference. There were 49 technical programs including 25 executive dialogues and keynote speakers, 14 panels, five networking events and six countries showcased through the Around the World Series.
