Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) this week announced it has selected Tempered Networks to provide secure communications and network management functions for the Johnson Controls OpenBlue services, further advancing the cybersecurity capabilities of the company's smart buildings technology ecosystem.
A new partner agreement allows Johnson Controls to deploy the Tempered Airwall system as a core component of its OpenBlue service offerings to protect building automation customers globally. The company notes its OpenBlue framework serves diverse industries, including commercial and civic workplaces, hospitals, schools, campuses and stadiums.
"The acceleration of digital transformation means our customers are realizing the benefits of operating smart buildings that are increasingly data-enabled and require the strongest levels of cybersecurity," observes Vijay Sankaran, vice president and chief technology officer at Johnson Controls.
Sankaran continues, "By leveraging security technology from Tempered Networks, we enable smart buildings with industry-leading secure remote access technology and AI-driven security insights to help OpenBlue customers manage risk and simplify network management, allowing them to deliver a great occupant experience."
SDN to the rescue
The Tempered Airwall capabilities will now be integrated into the OpenBlue Bridge technology, a gateway for secure edge to cloud communications.
"We are enabling Johnson Controls technicians to securely access and manage equipment at a customer site from anywhere using zero trust software-defined networking (SDN) and military-grade encryption, rendering building systems invisible to unauthorized users and potential attacks," asserts Jason Christman, vice president and chief product security officer at Johnson Controls.
Johnson Controls' new OpenBlue services that leverage the Tempered Airwall platform will be available globally -- and address clear demand for improved cybersecurity and management, as reckoned by the collaborators.
Keith Beeman, CEO of Tempered Networks, contends, "Critical infrastructure is being hacked daily because digital transformation has made it vulnerable. The network solutions that worked in the past, like adding yet another firewall, are no longer effective. With Airwall's native zero trust platform, building automation systems can now be safely and optimally managed from anywhere."
The integration of Lynwood, Washington-based Tempered Network's security technology significantly advances Johnson Controls' OpenBlue services cybersecurity, even as it builds on the company's recent partnerships with Pelion and DigiCert to provide advanced secure device management and digital trust for smart building technology.
To learn more, visit www.johnsoncontrols.com/cybersolutions and https://tempered.io.
