OMRON Field Engineering and Macnica Begin Collaboration to Strengthen Security for Manufacturing OT Networks - Providing Total OT Solutions from Planning and Design to Product Implementation, Operation, Monitoring, and Response -

OMRON Field Engineering Co., Ltd. (Head office: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Taisuke Tateishi; hereinafter "OFE") and Macnica (Head office: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Kazumasa Hara; hereinafter Macnica) announced today that they have begun collaborating to strengthen the security of OT networks for the manufacturing industry, and will provide total OT solutions to protect Japan's manufacturing industry from cyberattacks.

1. Purpose and background of the collaboration
In recent years, with the advancement of IoT and digital transformation, opportunities for on-site equipment and systems to be connected to networks have increased in the manufacturing industry, expanding the risk of cyberattacks. In the OT (Operational Technology) field, in addition to the risk of production lines coming to a halt, damage could also affect employee safety, the environment, and product quality, so more extensive measures than those for IT are required.
However, OT environments present technical and operational challenges unique to OT, such as the inability to easily install current security software due to the large amount of old equipment that has been in operation for many years, the difficulty of applying patches and restarting systems due to the inability to stop production lines, and the significant economic risk that system downtime poses to production. Furthermore, OT network security measures require a different understanding and approach to OT environments than IT, making highly skilled specialist personnel essential. Therefore, the hurdles for implementing security measures are high, and while some companies are making progress in introducing products, it remains difficult to implement comprehensive measures that also include clarifying operational structures and rules, and objectively understanding the current situation and risks.

2. Details of the collaboration
OFE has accumulated skills and know-how specific to manufacturing sites through providing consulting, assessment, design, construction, maintenance and operation of OT networks at major Omron Group factories, while Macnica has extensive cybersecurity intelligence, expert personnel and a lineup of cutting-edge solutions that it has cultivated over many years.
By combining the strengths of both companies, we will provide a total solution for the difficult-to-address issue of OT network security, covering everything from planning and design to product implementation, operation, monitoring, and response. This will enable us to realize realistic security measures and contribute to protecting Japan's manufacturing industry from the latest cyber attacks.

OFE's Strengths
● Network building skills based on hands-on approach, based on many successes and failures
● Planning support tailored to both the information systems department and the manufacturing department
● We support not only the introduction and maintenance of equipment but also the advancement of organization and operations.
Macnica 's Strengths
● Japan's top-class expertise and recruitment record in cybersecurity
● Providing the world's most advanced OT threat intelligence, advanced technical capabilities, and solutions
● A track record of supporting security at manufacturing sites and responding to security incidents

OFE x Macnica collaboration vision

Cyber threats in the manufacturing industry are becoming more sophisticated every day, and responding to them requires a comprehensive approach that combines on-site problem-solving capabilities with advanced security knowledge and cutting-edge solutions. Going forward, OFE and Macnica will support security measures that can flexibly respond to new attack methods and risks, tailored to the different OT environments of each company.

For more information about OFE's OT Network business segment, please visit:
https://socialsolution.omron.com/field-engineering/solution/sensing_security/solution/ot/
For more information about Macnica 's OT security business, please click here:
https://www.macnica.co.jp/business/iot_security/products/142792/

Contact Information
OMRON Field Engineering Co., Ltd.
Solutions Strategy Department Network business segment Promotion Division
Tokyo Diamond Building No. 5, 6th and 7th floors, 28-23 Shinkawa 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0033
For further information, please contact: Inquiries about ICT solutions | Omron Field Engineering

Macnica
OT Security, DX Solutions Division, Networks Company
Macnica 2nd Building, 1-5-5 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, 222-8563
For further information, please contact: dragos-sales@macnica.co.jp