News

Utility company using new software to protect kiosk networks

February 14, 2011

OPSWAT and ZIVELO are working together to provide the largest utility company in Missouri, Ameren Corporation, with anti-malware solutions. Ameren recently received three media scanning terminals manufactured by ZIVEL powered by OPSWAT's MetaDefender for Media (MD4M) anti-malware software, according to a company press release.

OPSWAT, a developer of software management SDKs, interoperability certification and multiple-engine scanning solutions, has partnered with ZIVELO, a terminal and digital-signage hardware manufacturer, to create media-scanning terminals. The terminals provide antivirus scanning of USB drives, memory cards, CDs and DVDs. These media devices are multi-scanned with up to nine leading antivirus engines, optimized to provide a quick and thorough scan.

About 25 percent of threats are spread through portable media, said OPSWAT's Chief Technology Officer, Tausheet Antani, in the press release.

"MD4M offers our customers an easily implemented and secure method to protect against threats on those devices," he said.

ZIVELO packages the MD4M software in a stand-alone kiosk, creating a complete terminal equipped with multiple ports for connecting USB drives, memory cards and CDs or DVDs and features a simple and intuitive user experience. ZIVELO is also offering the turnkey package under the GSA schedule, according to the press release.

"Highly visible and intuitive ZIVELO kiosks running MD4M provide a way for administrators to increase end user awareness of and compliance with malware scanning requirements," said Tom Mullen, vice president of business development at OPSWAT. "Placing the kiosks at designated checkpoints within an organization establishes control over portable media entering restricted areas."

Ameren uses the terminals from OPSWAT and ZIVELO at its facilities to scan removable media before it is allowed to be used. These kiosks allow Ameren employees and visitors the self-service ability to scan their offline media without recruiting the help of IT support.

"Industrial system threats, such as Stuxnet, have increased our need to protect our networks from threats originating from removable media," said Ed Koeller, Security Analyst at Ameren. "These kiosks give us added confidence in our ability to help keep our network malware-free.