TelcoNews Australia - Telecommunications news for ICT decision-makers
Story image
Nozomi Networks launches industry-first wireless spectrum sensor for OT & IoT security
Thu, 25th Jan 2024

Nozomi Networks has now launched the industry's first wireless spectrum sensor specifically for OT and IoT domains worldwide. The latest launch, Guardian Air, addresses escalating risks following 80% of new IoT devices opting for wireless connectivity. This increasing preference for wireless networks triples the threat of possible cyberattacks and disruptions to operations on account of augmented access points and potential network exploitation.

Guardian Air provides an efficient solution to these issues by extending network visibility, detection, and response capabilities from endpoint to wireless medium. This milestone was achieved through a comprehensive array of wireless frequency monitoring, a feat that surpasses the conventional Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range. Additionally, it arms security teams with immediate visibility of connected sensors, devices, laptops, and cell phones. The introduction of Guardian Air thus ensures customers get a holistic network solution on an integrated platform.

Danielle VanZandt, an industry manager for commercial and public security research at Frost & Sullivan, applauded this new advancement by stating, "Nozomi Networks has once again innovated to address an unmet need for wireless-level monitoring in OT and IoT environments." From smart manufacturing and digital medicine to building automation and modern oil field production, increasing reliance on billions of wireless devices has underscored the need for staunch yet rapid risk management and response mechanisms. It is here that the visibility provided by Guardian Air plays an instrumental role by equipping IT security professionals and OT operators to proactively address threats effectively.

In improving wireless risk management, Guardian Air specifies several capabilities. These include continuous monitoring of prominent wireless frequency technologies, immediate detection of wirelessly connected assets, and the ability to counter wireless-specific threats such as brute force attacks, spoofing, and bluejacking with added provision for the location of the attacking devices. It also offers seamless data integration into a single OT & IoT security platform, which allows unified asset visibility across wired and wireless networks.

Nozomi Networks' Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Andrea Carcano, reiterates the role of Guardian Air in facilitating a massive digital shift for industrial organisations. He mentions, "Wireless is fundamentally changing the way industrial organisations operate. Unfortunately, it also massively expands the potential attack surface." With Guardian Air, he assures customers of accurate visibility at the wireless level to promote risk minimisation and resilience maximisation. Moreover, its ease of integration with the existing Nozomi Networks Vantage platform consolidates visibility, threat detection, and AI-powered analysis for real-time security management and remediation across different attack angles.

Expected to be available this spring, the Nozomi Guardian Air wireless sensor intends to equip the global OT and IoT landscape through Nozomi Networks and its broad global network of channel partners. The Guardian Air launch demonstrates a forward leap in pre-empting and mitigating wireless threats, thus strengthening industrial and technological transformation worldwide.