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source offers the ability to improve A National Grid transmission
component design on paper. compressor station
Among the considerable benefits of
open source technology is that it is
vendor agnostic, so it can be interfaced
readily with existing legacy systems.
Open source solutions allow the
physical footprint to be more precisely
engineered and fit for purpose.
Therefore, the actual implementation
is very small and keeps disruption to a
minimum. In addition, the costs
savings can be huge.
More broadly, open source
communities focus on innovation and
collaboration. This has changed how
the big vendors are thinking, with
Google and Microsoft already now
leading the open source revolution.

SECURING SCADA: NATIONAL
GRID AND LAGONI LAUNCH
OPEN SOURCE PROJECT
National Grid owns and operates a
fleet of 25 compressors and terminals, SCADA is upgradable and needed on site. Now that the first
each containing at least one SCADA maintainable independently from phase is complete, Lagoni is looking to
system. The various SCADA systems control systems, so there is no need move forward with the development
have been designed and engineered for complex and expensive integration. of modular solutions that can be
independently over an extended Applied to the first site – a UK rolled out across the wider fleet.
period of time resulting in most being based gas compressor station – the “While Lagoni set out to deliver an
bespoke applications. technology allowed a tailored OT cyber security and upgrade path
National Grid needed to ensure that implementation reducing size, cost for a compressor station, the resulting
the SCADA systems across the and complexity. This can now be approach proves cost-effective even
network are aligned with the latest applied to other sites. for smaller sites in both the gas and
cyber security requirements. These “Because the modular design electricity sectors, particularly
upgrades would need to be deploy packages are repeatable across remotely operated sites,” said Olsen.
rapidly, be cost effective and be locations, the secure open source This joint innovation project
implemented independently from one SCADA system can be applied across conducted by National Grid and
another in order to minimise system the entirety of National Grid’s Lagoni has shown two significantly
outages. There was no obvious compressor fleet,” said Thomas Olsen, positive outcomes for the industry:
solution that would not be excessively Managing Director of Lagoni. ■ It is possible to address OT cyber
complex and costly to implement He added: “The open source security compliance on complex
across the sites. solution is not reliant on the original legacy assets and reduce
With over 10 years’ experience manufacturer’s supply chain, enabling implementation and upgrade costs.
working on multiple National Grid better competition. Owned by ■ Smaller sites can implement effective
compressor station SCADA systems, National Grid, the resulting platform OT cyber security at accessible costs
and an in-depth knowledge of the transforms the entire procurement due to the opportunities from open
issues end users face, experienced model.” source solutions.
technical services provider Lagoni The NIS Directive requires asset
offered to solve the problem. A SUCCESSFUL owners to demonstrate a number of
The solution was a new approach; a IMPLEMENTATION areas of compliance when it comes to
standardised SCADA system using open Overall, the project was even more cyber security. Increased compliance
source technology to remove complexity successful than anticipated, resulting does not always go hand in hand with
and reduce costs. Cyber security in reduced OPEX and CAPEX. Lagoni conversations on reducing cost,
features are built in, with the ability to found that over 10 years, a single however Lagoni and National Grid
monitor vulnerabilities and threats. compressor site could reduce spend have shown that it’s possible. ■
Funded by an Ofgem innovation by £1.3 million, potentially saving a
project, the first of its kind fleet of 25 up to £32 million. Delivery ■ Lagoni is a technical services
implementation replaces legacy time is also reduced, with design man provider with over 10 years’
Windows-based SCADA systems with hours slashed by 60 per cent. operating experience in the energy
open source technology, also Launching in October 2017, the sector, specialising in engineering,
providing cyber security compliance to development of the open source consultancy and software
international standards and the NIS SCADA system took nine months to realisation. For more information,
Directive. Among the benefits, the complete but only one week was visit www.lagoni.co.uk

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