Information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) have historically operated in industrial environments within industrial organizations as isolated and independent networks, with different teams, objectives, and requirements. Companies have many machines and devices that were not originally designed for connectivity to the corporate network, meaning they typically lack the ability to be easily updated or patched for security reasons. There is a critical need to secure these devices, clearly identify current ownership, and provide a comprehensive view of the ever-expanding attack surface within enterprises.
Trend Micro, the majority shareholder of TXOne Networks, identified the potential challenges facing IIoT participants early on and has worked on several fronts to secure the entire ecosystem, from data centers to devices. Moxa Inc. brings over 30 years of experience in industrial networking and protocol expertise, and TXOne Networks combines these strengths to address the growing security needs of the industrial sector, such as smart factories that require a single solution for greater visibility into devices and protocols. These complex environments consist of multiple layers that require protection at and between IT and OT, and the responsibility for the security of these combined layers has traditionally been ambiguous.
“I’m excited about this joint venture and how Trend Micro continues to take different growth-focused steps that allow our teams to remain concentrated on our core strengths while also creating space to better serve our customers and move into new markets,” says Eva Chen, CEO of Trend Micro. “The partnership with Moxa combines more than 60 years of experience to accelerate our ability to see and ensure the extended enterprise, including these important yet often overlooked OT environments.”
TXOne Networks will create security gateways, endpoint agents, and network segmentation to secure, control, and provide visibility into operational technology and equipment. Unlike other solutions focused solely on protecting resources closest to the IT layer through detection, TXOne Networks has expertise at the OT layer and will deliver proactive solutions, implemented quickly and easily, to secure the world of industrial control systems (ICS).
In addition to investing in intellectual capital, funding, and dedicated staff, each parent company brings complementary technical expertise from their respective channels. Trend Micro contributes a partner strength in the IT channel, and Moxa contributes a partner strength in the OT channel, and together they strengthen the business model and geographic objectives. TXOne Networks will be led by Dr. Terence Liu, Vice President of Trend Micro and former CEO of Broadweb, who has a proven track record of building products and teams and will bring nearly 20 years of experience in security products to this new team.
"With this joint venture, Moxa and Trend Micro will position TXOne Networks as a global industry leader in creating effective IIoT security solutions that help ensure the security of IIoT applications and critical infrastructure," said Andy Cheng, President of Moxa Inc.'s Strategic Business Unit. "We are excited about this collaboration, which will enable industrial automation customers worldwide to benefit from a comprehensive OT/TI security solution to protect assets and reduce operational risks."
TXOne's solutions will enable OT customers to optimize their network infrastructure to unlock more IIoT opportunities by leveraging Moxa's expertise in building reliable networks that integrate disparate and legacy networks into an enterprise-grade Ethernet backbone. This will also enhance the security of all network communications, helping customers achieve uninterrupted productivity and cost reductions. Professional services will also be provided, including security risk assessment, breach response, and access to threat intelligence from Trend Micro Research and its Zero Day Initiative (ZDI).
"In a world where attacks are becoming increasingly frequent and sophisticated, these two groups are joining forces to successfully secure businesses worldwide as organizations grapple with skills shortages and alert fatigue," adds Dr. Liu, CEO of TXOne Networks. "I'm excited about the opportunities and challenges this team will face in the coming months and years.".
