CheckPoint Software > Case Studies > Dutch Water Resource Board Enhances Network Security and SCADA Systems with Check Point Solutions

Dutch Water Resource Board Enhances Network Security and SCADA Systems with Check Point Solutions

Technology Category

Cybersecurity & Privacy - Network Security
Sensors - Utility Meters

Applicable Industries

National Security & Defense
Utilities

Applicable Functions

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Intelligent Urban Water Supply Management
Water Utility Management

Services

Cybersecurity Services

About The Customer

The Hunze en Aa Water Resource Board is a Dutch organization responsible for managing water throughout eastern Groningen. The board ensures that communities in eastern Groningen and northeastern Drenthe have access to sufficient, clean water. It also builds and maintains dikes to protect against flooding and ensures that waterways are navigable. Much of the area the board serves is below sea level, and pumping stations regularly pump high water into the Wadden Sea. The board's responsibilities are particularly challenging due to the sensitive environment and the potential risks associated with network downtime. The board also needed to comply with guidelines from the Baseline Information Security Water Board (BIWA), a Dutch water board union that has established recommendations to secure utilities’ physical and digital environments.

The Challenge

The Hunze en Aa Water Resource Board, responsible for managing water throughout eastern Groningen, the Netherlands, faced a significant challenge in maintaining the security and reliability of its Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. The board's primary responsibility is to ensure that communities in eastern Groningen and northeastern Drenthe have access to sufficient, clean water. However, the area's geographical location, much of which is below sea level, makes it particularly vulnerable to flooding. Therefore, any network downtime could jeopardize the safety and lives of people throughout the region. The board needed a reliable solution that provided complete control and minimized risks in its SCADA environment. The existing security tools, which were eight years old and mixed, needed to be replaced with a central, manageable solution. Additionally, the board sought to improve compliance with guidelines from the Baseline Information Security Water Board (BIWA), which has established recommendations to secure utilities’ physical environments and digital information.

The Solution

To address these challenges, the board decided to implement a total upgrade of its network environment. After evaluating various products, the organization deployed Check Point 12400 NGTX Appliances with SandBlast Zero-Day Protection. This appliance-based solution increased visibility into its SCADA application data and helped reduce risks in its SCADA environment to a minimum. It also replaced the board's mixed assortment of old security tools with a central manageable cluster. The Check Point 12400 Appliances offer a complete, consolidated security solution available in five Next Generation Security Software Blade packages. This migration from an outdated multi-vendor environment to a consolidated solution enhanced control over its network environment. The board also activated the cloud-based SandBlast Threat Emulation Service to protect against zero-day and unknown malware. Using the SandBlast sandboxing capability to analyze files, the board was able to secure its network against sophisticated malwares that might bypass traditional security solutions.

Operational Impact

The implementation of the Check Point solution has significantly improved the board's network security and SCADA systems. The solution’s centralized management provides excellent visibility into the organization’s network, enabling the board to better protect sensitive data and meet its compliance requirements. The board is now confident in its ability to provide the necessary protection for its SCADA systems and the communities it serves. The new platform delivers the performance and security the board needs, and the Check Point team was collaborative, enabling a smooth and flawless deployment. The board is exceptionally satisfied with its Check Point solution, which has not only enhanced its network security but also improved its compliance with BIWA standards.

Quantitative Benefit