Company News


Cyber Security Warning: Water and Sewage-Treatment Municipalities

December 7, 2023 | Company News

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Attacks on American infrastructure show no signs of abating. Various threat actors have expressed intentions to undermine the American way of life by targeting crucial infrastructure components. The recent breach of a water treatment pump station in Western PA underscores the urgent need to refocus our efforts on enhancing security measures.

Security stands as the cornerstone of every controls project that NSI has consulted on. While “security” is commonly mentioned as a buzzword, few grasp the intricacies of the complex devices that implement protection right down to the packet level.

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Outlined below are some fundamental aspects of security implementation:


Password Management

Infiltration often starts with the basics. The default password remains the easiest gateway for unauthorized access. Failing to change the default to a more robust password exposes vulnerabilities to threat actors. Managing user access as they transition within an organization can significantly reduce    potential vulnerabilities in your control architecture.

Network Isolation

Does your network truly need constant connectivity to the global internet? Have you explored the use of virtual private networks or private APNs for remote assets to shrink the network’s surface area? Evaluate the necessity of connectivity. Consider the open ports on the network’s edge and their essentiality.

Support and Updates

Are you consistently updating your network’s software to the latest versions? Has your SCADA system addressed critical vulnerabilities in recent updates? Threat actors continually adapt their attack methods. Software that was secure last year may now be vulnerable. It’s crucial to stay ahead and ensure ongoing updates for your most critical assets.

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Are you consistently updating your network’s software to the latest versions? Has your SCADA system addressed critical vulnerabilities in recent updates? Threat actors continually adapt their attack methods. Software that was secure last year may now be vulnerable. It’s crucial to stay ahead and ensure ongoing updates for your most critical assets.

Ask yourself the following questions. If any of your answers make you nervous then NSI Neal Systems can offer assistance:

1. Do you truly understand your network and is there a diagram showing all device make / model plus all connections? 

2. Have you reduced or eliminated your exposure to the outside world i.e. Internet connections, remote access ports, allowance of USB sticks, cell modems and radios?

3. For the access that is available, have you reduced the number of people that can use it and do you support multi-factor authentication?

4. Do you have a firewall at the edges of your network?

5. Do you have a dedicated Industrial cyber security device that understand Modbus TCP, EtherNet IP and DNP3 and can examine each data packet as it passes through?

NSI works with hundreds of water facilities, private and municipal, from PA to NY to NJ to DE to MD to VA.  We help with wireless systems, controls, RTUs, SCADA, and instrumentation.  What you may not know is that we can help you with cybersecurity! Contact NSI today!

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Neal Systems Now Providing Enhanced Visualization within your Industrial Process Tanks or Furnaces in Western PA and WV

September 18, 2023 | Company NewsProduct News

Neal Systems’ newest team members Jordan Baum and Justin Bendik are excited to be able to provide the amazing product line of Canty to their oil & gas, metals, pharmaceutical, chemical, food & beverage customers. 

JM Canty decided to extend NSI’s coverage to include the Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia territories. 

If you have industrial process tanks, Canty provides four main ways to help visualize your application:

  • Unbreakable Sight Glasses (no more cracked glass)
  • Zero-heat, hazardous-area-approved LED Lighting
  • Visual Analyzers, including high-temp, for detecting color change, level, product position, oil-in-water, cell efficacy, plus many other visual detection solutions
  • Particle Size Analyzers

If you’ve got a process tank or furnace application that needs enhanced visualization for your operators to help improve quality control – JM Canty has a solution to help!

 



Neal Systems: An Approved Draeger Certified Service Provider

September 13, 2023 | Company News

If you use Draeger Fixed or Portable Gas Leak Detectors at your facility in eastern PA, Delaware, New Jersey, and NYC Metro, Neal Systems is your local Draeger-authorized service provider for all repairs and calibration work that you might need to be done.  Neal Systems had to go through extensive training and ensure proper hardware/software compliance in order to be authorized to help keep your facility safe with your Draeger products.

In addition, Neal Systems can often advise any upgrading that you might want to consider for older Draeger devices or units from other manufacturers.  In many cases, newer units have advanced diagnostic, communication, and longevity upgrades that are extremely beneficial. 

Let us know if you need any calibration work done on your plant’s gas leak detection equipment!

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Neal Systems Monitors Pump Vibration to Minimize Unexpected Downtime

September 8, 2023 | Company News

If your water, wastewater, or storm water runoff facility had a critical pump that went down for just ONE day unexpectedly, how would that impact your bottom line?  Neal Systems, along with our partners from Metrix Vibration and Alta Solutions, have 20 years of experience providing custom vibration/temperature monitoring systems for many different types of pumping systems. 

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A properly designed rotary machinery monitoring system on a large pump can often spot critical problems such as worn bearings, shaft misalignment, pump cavitation, or other defects before they become severe. 

Our experts utilize knowledge from design standards such as the Hydraulic Institute to ensure that you have an effective understanding of baseline values, normal operating values, as well as alarm scenarios.  This data can be used to either perform shut-down operations, or alert a local operator, a local SCADA / DCS or PLC, and even trended for long-term evaluation.  

How healthy are YOUR pumps?


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