[ Updated] Wherever I go and with whomever I speak, file security in this age of Internet of Things, connected devices, collaboration, and open access is top priority. I just heard about this new company and technology who promises a higher level of file security.
FinalCode Inc., enterprise file security for a connected world, announced global availability of its enterprise-grade file security. By combining a patented approach to make file security processes seamless with the ability to remotely delete files on popular devices, FinalCode allows organizations to gain strong file protection to ensure sensitive information remains protected on devices, content management systems, cloud storage and collaboration channels.
According to Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, nearly 305 million records have been leaked in the U.S. for the past five years due to unintended disclosure, hacking or malware, insiders, and lost or discarded mobile and stationary computing devices. In a connected world of personal and mobile computing, cloud applications, dynamic collaboration and cyberattacks, organizations have limited means available to protect sensitive shared files inside or outside a corporate network, which presents tremendous exposure to data leakage, compliance, reputation and liability risks. One significant challenge is applying strong file security, as sensitive and regulated files are sent, shared and forwarded to unintended or unauthorized users outside trusted computing and content sharing environments. Worse are confidential files inconspicuously exfiltrated by hackers and insiders. Another challenge is how to apply file protection and usage restrictions in a persistent yet easy, seamless and scalable manner that does not impact user experience or impede workflows and collaboration.
“We used to think that even if employees handled files with care, it was impossible to keep them 100 percent safe due to threats of hackers and malware as well as unintentional mishandling – but then we found FinalCode,” said Hiroshi Wada, IT manager of Corporate Planning at Pioneer Service Network Corp. “This software solves all the issues because not only can we encrypt files, but we can easily specify permissions as to who can access the file and what they can do with the file. We also have full audit capability. Furthermore, with FinalCode, we can remotely delete distributed files whenever we want. It was exactly ‘the final’ choice for file security.”
FinalCode addresses data leakage risks by providing the first and last line of sensitive file defense. The solution allows any organization to gain comprehensive protection and granular control over what can be done with files and by whom, inside or outside the firewall perimeter. It delivers strong file security with the flexibility of being application-, device-, storage-, cloud-, content management- and collaboration-agnostic.
Users may simply define file security settings and respective recipients, or have such controls applied automatically through corporate policy. The FinalCode client encrypts the file and the FinalCode server manages keys and permissions. File recipients download a small FinalCode client after secure registration with the FinalCode server in order to have access to and use of the file according to policy.
As FinalCode-protected files are stored, shared and used within and outside collaboration platforms, protection persists with the ability to remotely delete files. In addition, the company’s patented CryptoEase technology streamlines file security and encryption processes without requiring the user to remember passwords, and by dramatically reducing key management overhead, makes FinalCode implementation rapid and scalable.
FinalCode functionality includes:
Security – AES-256 encryption, standards-based key management, secure key server and global user access management system and persistent protection with application whitelisting and remote file deletion
Flexibility – readily works with any application, popular devices, file storage, and enterprise and cloud-based content management systems, and across all communication channels: trusted, untrusted, private or public
Full control – granular file permission and protection settings by owner or through enterprise policy templates: authorized users, duration, open, copy, paste, edit, save, share, print, screen capture, revoke and delete
Intelligence – comprehensive auditing, pattern tracking, notification and governance across the file usage lifecycle with the means to modify policy settings on-demand or via recipient request
Rapid deployment – lightweight and efficient agent, extensive directory and infrastructure interoperability, and scalable cloud or on-premise virtual appliance
“While many of the world’s most publicized data leakages are due to access to unprotected files stolen by hackers and insiders, those are only the tip of the iceberg. Millions of business-sensitive files have been exposed by inadvertent emails, lost portable and storage devices, and undocumented transfers of files,” said Gord Boyce, CEO of FinalCode. “Given the dynamics of file sharing and cloud-based collaboration, the risk to sensitive data and intellectual property – such as corporate financials, board materials, customer lists, personally identifiable information (PII), healthcare records, designs and trade secrets – is a substantial exposure. The potential for FinalCode to help organizations extend control of their file security in today’s mobile and cloud connected world is enormous.”
FinalCode is the name for both the file security platform and the newly formed company based in the U.S. that is bringing the solution to the global market. The solution can be implemented as a SaaS, virtual appliance or hybrid, with packages designed to accommodate small-to-medium businesses, government agencies and large global enterprises. The FinalCode platform is generally available with annual subscription pricing starting at $27,000 $25,000, and the FinalCode client, used by file recipients, is available at no charge. Prospective customers and channel partners are invited to take FinalCode for a test drive by registering.
I think that cloud-based platforms supporting this Internet of Things (IoT) phenomenon will proliferate for a while until we reach some sort of stability. Nadella came from this part of Microsoft, so I’m not surprised to see continued emphasis on these enterprise platform technologies.
An interesting highlight for us manufacturing and production geeks was that Microsoft brought an application by Rockwell Automation front and center. When Rockwell started doing these services, the Internet of Things phrase had not even been invented. It now finds itself in front of the IoT parade in the Microsoft keynote. I guess the time has come.
Quoting from its blog, “Microsoft’s vision is to help companies thrive in this era of IoT, delivering open, scalable platforms and services that any company, whether startup or the most established global enterprises, can use to create new value, right now. Nadella mentioned our investments in the Windows 10 IoT operating system for devices, and equally with the Azure IoT Suite, we’re bringing together a variety of Azure services to help our customers accelerate their transformation to digital businesses.”
This reminds me of conversations with Microsoft people stretching as far back as 1999 where the topic was Microsoft as a platform company that provided a foundation for industrial applications. Looks like it is consistently fulfilling that vision.
Microsoft introduced a preview of the Azure Intelligent Systems Service last April. It is designed to securely connect, manage and capture machine-generated data from sensors and devices. “If the Intelligent Systems Service was a starting point, the Azure IoT Suite is its evolution and maturation – a reflection of what we learned from the feedback provided by our customers and partners throughout the preview.”
The Azure IoT Suite is an integrated offering that takes advantage of all the relevant Azure capabilities to connect devices and other assets (i.e. “things”), capture the diverse and voluminous data they generate, integrate and orchestrate the flow of that data, and manage, analyze and present it as usable information to the people who need it to make better decisions as well as intelligently automate operations. The offering, while customizable to fit the unique needs of organizations, will also provide finished applications to speed deployment of common scenarios we see across many industries, such as remote monitoring, asset management and predictive maintenance, while providing the ability to grow and scale solutions to millions of “things.”
Additionally, the Azure IoT Suite will provide a simple and predictable pricing model despite the rich set of capabilities and broad scenarios it delivers, so our customers can plan and budget appropriately. This approach is aimed at simplifying the complexities that often exist with implementing and costing IoT solutions.
The Azure IoT Suite will be released in preview later this year.
Nadella even talked manufacturing industry featuring Rockwell Automation, playing this video. One of my Twitter contacts pointed this out and asked how much was real and how much was hype. Well, I’ve actually seen similar applications at Rockwell, so it is just good marketing communication of a real service built on what is now known as Internet of Things.
A blog on the HP site by Christian Verstraete offers yet another opinion on Industry 4.0. However, he never really talks about Industry 4.0. Instead, he discusses the Internet of Things. Even though this is not “mainstream media,” it is still an example of sloppy thinking.
Beware of Industry 4.0 Misinformation
Verstraete first off confuses two terms. He never really touches on what Industry 4.0 is–including digital manufacturing, cyber physical systems, or, indeed, manufacturing. While making a couple of aside comments about manufacturing, he really only talks about the consumer side of the equation.
He links it directly to the Internet of Things–catering specifically to the usage of the internet of things in industries.
“Let’s start with the fact that companies increasingly cooperate in product development, across their supply chain and in their maintenance operations. Then, let’s look at where the Internet of Things can actually help enterprises deliver better products, cheaper and faster while maintaining or improving quality levels and services.”
He continues, “So, collecting market research as well as user data and then making it available to the developers would really help them defining the next generation product. But given market concerns about privacy, your data collection approach should be thought through very carefully.”
From a manufacturing point of view, this is one of the two promises of machine-to-machine (M2M) theory. An OEM, for example, could monitor its machine in the customer’s plant for both providing maintenance service and for collecting data on machine performance and component performance for the purpose of improving its product.
“An Industry 4.0 example would then be that you, as part of the product development process, desire user data, but you are not interested in the individual. You will need to demonstrate to customers that the information gathered is anonymous and there is no way for anybody receiving the information, legally or illegally to trace it back to the end-user.”
He misses an opportunity to inform his readers about the “industry” in Industry 4.0. Here he once again uses consumer point of view:
He then progresses to “maintenance operations.” I’m not sure if he is confusing maintenance and operations or simply referring to maintenance. But he misses a great opportunity to discuss the value of predictive maintenance or condition-based maintenance.
“Whether we talk about maintenance operations within the production environment or services to maintain equipment at the customer site, the problem remains the same. When is an intervention required? Typically we have two approaches. Either regular preventive maintenance (for example yearly) or maintenance triggered by usage (typical in the car industry), it always happens before the fact and does not take into account the actual status of the equipment.”
Let’s all press people to define terms and resist just mixing up all the terms and then running with a half-baked idea. There is the Internet of Things. There is Industry 4.0 (of which you have probably heard much). There is Smart Manufacturing (of which you have probably only heard of here–and you most likely won’t any longer because I have been removed from the formation group).
As the technologies evolve and engineers begin to implement, manufacturing efficiency and profitability should be experiencing a step change improvement.
Jim Cahill recently wrote about the Emerson Process Management take on the Internet of Things discussion. His report was about a presentation by Charlie Peters at the 2015 Investor Conference. I find it interesting that there is sufficient publicity behind the IoT discussion to bring it up to investors.
Many people strive to define what is included in an Internet of Things technology discussion. Peters’ list hits just about everything. “Ubiquitous connectivity, accessible costs/capacity and powerful & friendly tools. Smart phones, tablets, cellular and wi-fi communications expand connectivity tremendously. Sensors, data storage and computation power lower costs and access. And social networks, big data and prognostics make tools more friendly, intuitive and more valuable to use.”
Why do we care? What applications would be affected (or maybe already are affected)? Peters sees, “monitoring, infrastructure management, intelligent manufacturing and production, energy efficiency and improved environmental performance and compliance.”
I especially appreciate his discussion of implications from possibilities and challenges—increased digital and cloud infrastructure, more intelligent products, enriched business models, and enhanced digital customer models.
In Emerson Process Management president Steve Sonnenberg‘s portion of the presentation, he highlighted an example of new business models being created with these technologies and services—a steam management operation on Jurong Island in Singapore. Thousands of acoustic wireless devices are being installed to monitor steam traps which are being remotely monitored by Emerson experts to instantly spot energy losses and avoid wasting energy. This results in large energy savings and reduced carbon dioxide emissions.
I think we have been designing and installing “Internet of Things” technologies for years in manufacturing. The consumer world of connected mobile phones, thermostats, and now watches has served to popularize the term. Regardless, as both suppliers and their customers learn to design new business models to exploit the technology, we will witness another surge of productivity and profitability in manufacturing.
Are you sick of hearing about the Internet of Things, yet? I hope not. That’s the big topic in industrial/manufacturing circles these days, and I doubt that it fades soon.
I think there is a paradox going down here, though. In many respects we already have connected plants. Automation has been so well accepted, that it would be hard to find a facility either manufacturing or production that has no automation. And automation requires instrumentation, networking, and data analysis.
Even considering IP–as in Internet Protocol–as a core of Internet of Things, the adoption of Ethernet-based networks such as EtherNet/IP and Profinet continues to grow significantly.
One wonders, then, what manufacturing executives think of the whole idea and where adoption ranks in their priorities.
McCutcheon followed up with a blog post where he summarized the findings.
Setting the table for the discussion, he notes, “According to one estimate, the installed base for Internet-connected devices already exceeded $14 billion by early 2015, and is forecast to boom to nearly $50 billion by 2020. We are living in an era of deep data inter-connectivity.”
Further, he says, “Connected devices and new data flows are already making impressive headway in the manufacturing sector, and we expect to see this trend accelerate. In fact, another estimate shows that over the next decade, manufacturers could stand to capture about $4 trillion of value from the IoT through increased revenues and lower costs.”
With this potential value potential, what are executives thinking? Here is his summary.
“This is what we learned:
Smart sensors are gaining traction – nearly 40% of U.S. manufacturers are collecting and using data generated by smart sensors to enhance their manufacturing and operating processes
Not all think IoT strategy is critical — about 30% say that it’s “slightly important” or “not important at all” to adopt IoT strategy in their operations
Focus is on manufacturing plants — one in three manufacturers use data-driven technology in the manufacturing plant only, with about one in four deploying it in their plant and warehouse”
The idea is data-driven manufacturing. Many are competing to find the killer app for this.
The idea is data-driven manufacturing. Many are competing to find the killer app for this. Industrie 4.0 advocates describe a digital factory that mirrors the physical factory where engineers and executives can fine tune the process from design to ship. Smart Manufacturing envisions a platform where apps can be built upon which will provide benefits of enhanced workflow.
Even Lean (which is seldom discussed lately, but remains the best route to manufacturing effectiveness) needs data to both discover problem areas and provide feedback about the success of the project.
[ Updated] Wherever I go and with whomever I speak, file security in this age of Internet of Things, connected devices, collaboration, and open access is top priority. I just heard about this new company and technology who promises a higher level of file security.
