Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

John C Wilkinson

Brian Alan Batke

Glenn B Schulz

David Dale Brandt

Michael A Bush

Ramdas M Pai

Steven J Scott

Craig D Anderson

Bryan L Singer

Michael D Kalan

Clark L Case

Robert A Brandt

Kenwood H Hall

Taryl Jon Jasper

Jack Michael Visoky

Kevin Michael Tambascio

James B Vitrano

James A Meeker

Nicholas L Perrotto, Jr

Tary J Jasper

Techniques to facilitate protecting control programs used in an industrial automation environment are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, control system content provided by a primary entity is received along with a primary security authority provided by the primary entity, wherein the primary security authority defines primary usage rights for the control system content granted to a secondary entity. A secondary security authority provided by the secondary entity is received, wherein the secondary security authority defines secondary usage rights for the control system content that further restrict the primary usage rights. A request is received from a user associated with the secondary entity to perform an action associated with the control system content, and the request is processed with the secondary security authority to determine if the user is authorized to perform the action associated with the control system content based on the secondary usage rights.

Secondary security authority

Selectively enabling communication of dual protocol packets from a source device directed to a service of an object class at target devices is provided. Steps can include providing an access control database including an entry correlating a source device, an object class and a service of the object class; from a source device, receiving a dual protocol packet including a frame and a field according to a first network communication protocol and an encapsulated packet of a second network communication protocol; obtaining from the frame, an identification of the source device; obtaining from the encapsulated packet, an identification and a service of an object class to which the encapsulated packet is directed; comparing the identification of the source device, the identification and service of the object class, and the entry of the access control database; and selectively transmitting the dual protocol packet as a function of the comparison.

Firewall method and apparatus for industrial systems

Techniques to facilitate controlling access to objects associated with an industrial automation environment are disclosed. In at least one implementation, a policy set associated with an object type is created, wherein the policy set defines one or more actions that are allowed for at least one user group to perform with respect to the object type. An object of the object type is identified for security configuration, and a selection of the policy set associated with the object type to apply to the object is received. In response to the selection of the policy set, security is configured for the object by applying the policy set associated with the object type to the object.

Custom security policies for multiple objects

Method and apparatus for use with systems including networked resources where communication between resources is via dual packet protocols wherein a first protocol includes a frame that specifies a destination device/resource and a data field and the second protocol specifies a final destination device/resource and includes a data field, where the second packets are encapsulated in the first protocol packet frames, the method including specifying access control information for resources, for each first protocol packet transmitted on the network, intercepting the first protocol packet prior to the first protocol destination resource, examining a subset of the additional embedded packet information to identify one of the intermediate path resources and the final destination resource, identifying the access control information associated with the identified at least one of the intermediate path resources and the final destination resource and restricting transmission of the first protocol packet as a function of the identified access control information.

Systems and methods are provided for issuing unique identification credentials to a plurality of devices, and their constituent components, in an industrial control system. Identification credentials are granted by an identification authority and conveyed to each of the credentialed devices and/or component through an identity token. The identification credentials include (1) a unique device identifier, (2) an identification authority component identifier, and (3) an indication of the location of the identification authority component. To secure the issued credentials, such credentials are encrypted and the identification token can be embedded with biometrics features. Identification credentials provide for the following prominent features: (i) Secure access to a device form a client and (ii) determination a topology of a set of credentialed devices in an industrial control system. The topology is network agnostic and facilitates organizational modeling of processes in the industrial control system.

Unique identification of entities of an industrial control system

An industrial automation system is provided. This includes at least one license component that is granted by a third party to permit access to a portion of an industrial control component. At least one protocol component that is based in part on a private key exchange facilitates authentication and access to the portion of the industrial control component.

Authentication for licensing in an embedded system

The invention includes a method including the steps of specifying access control information for resources, for each first protocol packet transmitted on the network, intercepting the first protocol packet prior to a first protocol destination resource, examining embedded packet information to identify at least one of the intermediate path resources and the final destination resource, identifying the access control information associated with the identified at least one of the intermediate path resources and the final destination resource and restricting transmission of the first protocol packet as a function of the identified access control information.

Techniques for system wide analysis of industrial protocol traffic are provided to determine an optimal location of a security device and/or to dynamically and automatically create rules for security devices, communication modules, and/or proxy devices, including replacement devices. Intrusion detection and/or prevention can be provided for an system utilizing mechanisms for an industrial protocol space. Automated configurable security rule combining can maintain a rule set that is simple and manageable. Configuration and maintenance of industrial protocol devices, communication devices, security-enabled devices, security proxies, and intrusion detection and/or prevention can be simplified within unique industrial environment architectures.

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Hudson, OH, United States of America

John C Wilkinson