Securing the Information Highway

The best article on this subject that I have read. Unlike other readers, we offer an immediate solution as North America deserves better. I welcome your follow-up to continuump@gmail.com should you consider a follow up article. In the meantime, here is an advanced draft of our PR:

WORLD’S ONLY SECURE CYBER PROTECTION AGAINST HACKERS LAUNCHED COMMERCIALLY – CONTINUUM PARTNERS DEBUTS SNI

NEW YORK – In a development with major implications for the security of nations and businesses dependent on computer networks to function, the world’s only trusted commercial system for protecting networks from cyber assaults is being made available to new clients.

Secured Network Infrastructure (SNI), the only network protection that uses a hardware gate in addition to our Open OS to intercept hackers and keep a protected network up and running during a cyber attack, SNI will become available in quantity for the first time according to Continuum Partners LLC. As a “Standards” based enhanced network security protection system, SNI has been proven effective both scientifically and in the field.

SNI is a patented plug and play system compatible with all networks currently in use. It complies to the standards for “Trusted” systems as defined by the “Common Criteria Recognition Agreement” an international protocol. The National Security Agency (NSA) recognizes and supports Common Criteria.

SNI was developed following the 9 -11 attacks. “I worked as a volunteer at Ground Zero,” says Continuum Partners CEO Robert S. (Bob) Pollock. “I saw the destruction, and I realized that America is far more vulnerable to cyber attack than it is to another kamikaze attack from the air.” Pollock, a long time New York businessman and IT technology consultant, re-structured Continuum Partners to that of a developer/manufacturer and bring to market this remarkable invention of his Partner, Pierre Bergeron.

“Until Pierre created SNI, every network, no matter how critical, was vulnerable to cyber attack,” says Pollock. “All previous security systems used only software. Software alone as every security expert in the trade knows can be breached. Our solution is to augment the software firewall with a physical barrier called the SNI Matrix Unit. It’s a hardware device placed between the Internet and the network one needs to protect. The Matrix Unit, using proprietary autonomic software that is compatible with all computer systems, detects an intrusion attempt at the point of entry to the protected network. Then, in less than a millionth of a second, it dumps the hacker into a mirror of protected network, giving time for the hacker to be traced while preventing the protected network from going down. We estimate that this will cut network down time by up to 95% as well as protect sensitive data from theft or compromise.”

The need for protection offered by SNI cannot be overstated. Since 2007, China breached with the help of university computers a large US national security defense contractor over a long period of time. Hackers shut down Los Angeles International Airport, stole credit and debit card data of 130 million customers of Heartland Payment Systems, and Hannaford Brothers Co., a supermarket chain, and 7-11. Express Scripts has to date 700,000 records held for ransom. In October 2009 an ex-Ford Motor Company engineer was indicted for stealing more than 4,000 documents containing automotive trade secrets from a protected Ford computer. The US General Accounting Office reported recently that NASA (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was successfully hacked 1,120 times over the past two years. The government systems of Estonia were brought down by a massive hacker attack. In 2008, Panama’s Electrical Grid was held for ransom and brought down by a breach for four days. And in April 2009 a report surfaced in The Wall Street Journal that the electrical grid of the United States had been infiltrated by cyber-spies who left behind software that could shut it down. Such “cyber-warfare” could give an enemy an advantage in a future conflict that no fifth-column has ever been able to achieve.

“The security of the civilized world is at stake,” Pollock said. “If you can shut down the US electrical grid, you can put the country out of business. Our mission is to keep the critical networks of the US and its allies up and running.”

SNI has been sold to select customers, who have used it with great success. They include the US Navy and Air Force, Canada’s Department of Public Safety (DHS), Passaic County (NJ) Data Centers, L-3, the New York Board of Trade and Allied Irish Bank. The customer base reports “tech support” cost savings from 60 to 80 percent as well as increased network “up” time.

For its commercial roll-out, Continuum will launch a licensing program for major manufacturers in North America who are in good standing with the governments of the US and Canada. “We are offering the only commercially priced system to prevent network breaches. We can deliver it now,” Pollock says.

In the near term, Continuum will also be releasing it’s new “Real Time Administrator” which sits over all the popular network management systems (IBM’s Webshere, HP Oven View, etc) Additionally, there universal interface for Systems Controls (i.e., Johnson Controls, Trane, etc.) and any other physical security nets, etc.

The company is turning its attention to burgeoning military and civilian wireless networks, including emergency services which use new software-based narrow band radios. The company has developed and patented a line of “High-Assurance End Point” wired and wireless products to protect these new networks from attack. These same devices will be also used for End Point devices in the IT & SCADA networks.

We can't possibly scale up our manufacturing capability fast enough to harden up North America's alone. Therefore, we will soon be announcing a Licensing Program for all North American OEM's initially, provided that is in good standing with the Canadian and US Governments. Early next year we will expand this program to the countries that implement the Common Criteria Standards.
RSP/CEO