Lockheed Martin to buy Industrial Defender, which protects critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks

Lockheed Martin has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Industrial Defender, a leading provider of cyber security solutions for control systems in the oil and gas, utility and chemical industries.

Subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to close within 30 days, says a Lockheed Martin news release issued on March 12. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed and are not material to Lockheed Martin operations.

“Industrial Defender’s expertise in cyber security for critical infrastructure is a natural extension of our commercial cyber security business,” said Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin chairman, president and CEO. “Their experience in addressing cyber threats to industrial control systems complements our information technology cyber security expertise and strengthens the value we deliver to our customers.”

Industrial Defender is a privately held company headquartered in Foxborough, MA, with more than 130 employees in three facilities. The company’s solutions, including Industrial Defender Automation Systems Manager, help protect and manage critical infrastructure by reducing cyber risks, easing regulatory compliance and enhancing the efficiency of customers’ control environments.

“Lockheed Martin is a leader in cyber technology and IT security,” said Industrial Defender CEO Brian Ahern. “We share a common perspective on the importance of protecting global critical infrastructure from an increasingly hostile threat landscape. The combined capabilities of Industrial Defender and Lockheed Martin will enable us to offer a comprehensive suite of technology and services designed to face modern day threats and business challenges to both enterprise information and operational technologies. Joining forces is a natural fit for Industrial Defender and our growth plans.”

Industrial Defender’s suite of integrated products and services is dedicated to assuring the availability, reliability and security of critical infrastructure, such as electric power grids, chemical facilities, and oil and gas pipelines. More than 400 companies in 25 countries rely on Industrial Defender’s solutions to monitor, manage and protect their operations.

“In the beginning years of our existence, much of our time was dedicated to evangelizing the need, advocating the uniqueness of the environments and increasing awareness of the implications of successful cyber-breaches,” said Industrial Defendr’s CEO, Brian Ahern, in a prepared statement. “The company’s first generation of technology was released in 2003. We steadily expanded our capabilities through the years with significant in-house developments and strategic acquisitions, working hard to forge a unified team and an integrated offering.  We aligned ourselves with the leading OEM providers of industrial control systems to the Electric Power, Oil & Gas, Chemical, Water and Transportation industries. Over 400 companies across 25 countries have now selected our innovative technologies and services to address their security and operational challenges.  We are honored and privileged that Industrial Defender has been ranked #1 in Smart Grid Cybersecurity, selected by many of the world’s largest critical infrastructure providers and become the employer of choice for so many professionals that share the passion we have exuded for the past decade.”