MARGRET ASUQUO
Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, has announced a groundbreaking achievement in cybersecurity for data center management. The company’s EcoStruxure IT Network Management Card 3 (NMC3) has received the IEC 62443-4-2 Security Level 2 (SL2) certification, making it the first Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) network card to meet this rigorous cybersecurity standard. This certification, awarded by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), enhances the security of Schneider Electric's solutions against advanced cyberthreats.
The certification process, conducted by TÜV Rheinland, an internationally recognized testing body, involved extensive testing and assessment of the NMC3. The SL2 certification mandates stricter security requirements than the previous SL1 level, which Schneider Electric achieved last year. TÜV Rheinland also certified Schneider Electric’s cybersecurity processes, recognizing the company’s commitment to secure product development in line with the ISASecure® Secure Development Lifecycle Assurance (SDLA) standard.
"The 2024 Allianz Risk Barometer ranks cyber incidents as the number one business concern, with average costs surpassing $4 million per incident,” noted Kevin Brown, SVP of EcoStruxure IT, Data Center Business at Schneider Electric. "Our IEC 62443-4-2 SL2 and ISASecure® SDLA cybersecurity certifications reinforce our leadership in secure data center operations, helping to mitigate these risks for our customers."
The NMC3 platform, integrated within most EcoStruxure IT DCIM products, enables secure, remote management of critical power and cooling infrastructure. Schneider Electric’s Secure NMC System Tool is also part of this offering, providing users with a streamlined approach to firmware management, addressing a persistent challenge in distributed IT and edge environments. With this tool, customers are automatically notified when new firmware becomes available, allowing them to apply updates faster and more consistently, reducing risks from outdated software.
The Secure NMC System Tool offers several critical advantages for users. It accelerates firmware management, making updates up to 90% faster and significantly reducing the risk of running outdated firmware that could compromise security. By streamlining the update process, users can more efficiently protect their infrastructure from emerging threats.
The tool also ensures consistent cybersecurity compliance by providing a systematic, standardized approach to managing security updates. This approach enables organizations to maintain compliance across their critical power and cooling infrastructure without the need for manual intervention, simplifying the often-complex task of staying secure in a distributed environment.
Additionally, the combined IEC 62443-4-2 SL2 and ISASecure® SDLA cybersecurity certifications along with the Secure NMC System Tool help reduce exposure to potential cyberthreats. By automatically notifying customers of available firmware updates and facilitating their installation, the tool ensures that connected devices remain protected with the latest security enhancements, effectively minimizing vulnerability to attacks.
“EcoStruxure IT provides customers a powerful solution, allowing them to manage IT infrastructure and maintain cybersecurity compliance seamlessly,” said Brown. “We’re proud to lead the industry with this solution, driving resilience, security, and sustainability in IT infrastructure.”
