Network security problems spur growth in specialist production floor market

Dirk Seewald, formerly co-founder of VPI Systems and director of operations for telcoms software and infrastructure supplier ServGlobal, is the new COO. “Industrial security is a strong growth area and Innominate is already an important player in this emerging market,” he says. “To meet demand, we have signed a global alliance with Hirschmann Automation and Control, while in the UK we are also working with Netdot3 for remote maintenance, transport and factory automation, and MatriVue for the pharmaceutical and chemical markets.” He accepts that the market for web security systems down at the machine and factory floor level is hotting up, with big global players like CheckPoint launching systems and marketing campaigns to match, but insists that Innominate has a special role for industry. “Manufacturing is a very specific domain, and for office IT security companies like CheckPoint and Cisco, this is rather marginal for them and it has a very different mind set. We understand that the Ciscos and CheckPoints want to expand their footprints in the large automobile manufacturers, but it’s not easy for them. “Our products are very specific in the sense that we offer dedicated network security appliances that are easy and quick to install. That’s very important: it’s very important to minimise change on any production facility.” Seewald also hints that there will be more to come, explaining that the firm is currently “re-evaluating the strategy around partnerships and looking at other relationships.”