| Jointly Provision of AI-Based Industrial Control Systems with POSCO
| POSCO ICT Security Solutions Embedded in Cisco Equipment
| No need to provide control information to external security companies

Cisco Systems announced on the 13th that it will begin a full-scale industrial control system security project that operates industrial sites and key national infrastructure in cooperation with POSCO ICT.
Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are the central systems that control equipment in national infrastructure such as power generation, communications, and transportation, as well as major industrial sites such as semiconductor and steel mills.

Accordingly, the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) today at POSCO ICT's Pangyo office building for active cooperation in the industrial control system security business. The signing ceremony was attended by officials including POSCO ICT President Son Geon-jae and Cisco Systems Korea CEO Cho Beom-goo.

Through this collaboration, the two companies will integrate the AI-based industrial control system security solution developed by POSCO ICT into Cisco's network equipment and develop joint businesses utilizing this solution.

First, the two companies plan to supply products to industrial sites that can detect abnormal control commands on their own by installing POSCO ICT's security solution on Cisco's high-performance network switches.

POSCO ICT's security solution applies machine learning to learn the patterns of control commands issued on a regular basis, and immediately alerts administrators when abnormal commands are detected.

The advantage of applying machine learning is that it can prevent technology leaks by eliminating the need to provide control information normally issued to external security companies to create a list of normal commands.

This solution focuses on POSCO ICT's AI-based industrial security solution and links network communication records recorded and analyzed by Cisco Stealthwatch. Therefore, it is expected to establish itself as a truly robust security system for production sites, which previously struggled to be protected with cybersecurity solutions alone. Accordingly, Cisco is actively working with POSCO ICT to explore ways to support the overseas expansion of this solution.

Furthermore, we are pursuing the development of a new security solution in the form of a full package that integrates the security solution functions of both companies. By combining the capabilities of POSCO ICT's solution, which detects abnormal control commands, with Cisco's solution, which analyzes traffic anomalies in the control network, a differentiated service is expected to be implemented.

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution spreads, key national facilities and industrial equipment are increasingly connected to networks, increasing the risk of external intrusions temporarily paralyzing the entire system. Security experts are also highlighting the importance of industrial control system security.

According to Markets and Markets, a U.S. market research firm, the global industrial control system security market is expected to continue growing, growing from 1 trillion won in 2016 to 13.8 trillion won in 2021.

A Cisco official said, “By combining POSCO ICT’s AI-based security solutions with Cisco’s network, server, and security technologies, a leader in the network and security market, we will be able to strengthen the security of manufacturing sites and protect domestic industries.”

A POSCO ICT official said, “As the importance of security for industrial control systems is growing, we have developed a security solution that incorporates AI to accommodate the characteristics of various industrial facilities.” He added, “We expect that this business agreement will allow us to combine the capabilities of both companies and strengthen our business foundation in the field of industrial control system security.”