Moxa has obtained IEC 62443-4-2 security Level 2 certification for its serial device server 'NPort 6000-G2' series. The company stated that this is the first such achievement in the field of serial device servers.

Moxa announced this on the 8th, explaining that this certification will serve as an opportunity to raise the security level of serial connections, which have been relatively difficult to manage in industrial settings. The certification was conducted according to the International Electrotechnical Commission Certification Scheme (IECEE CB Scheme).

In industrial settings, various equipment such as PLCs, measuring instruments, and console equipment still uses RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485-based communication. Although these methods have been used reliably for a long time, they have been identified as security blind spots because they were often designed before the demands for network connectivity and cybersecurity became widespread.

The NPort 6000-G2 series was introduced as a device that connects serial equipment and IP-based infrastructure in such an environment while also providing security features. Moxa stated that this product was designed to meet the technical security requirements needed for industrial automation and control system components, such as securing incident visibility, role-based authentication, and data stream protection.

In addition, it supports standard IT protocols such as a central authentication server and remote syslog to facilitate integration with corporate security systems, and enables verification of serial and Ethernet traffic by port through web-based monitoring functions. It also highlights support for various operating systems and a design tailored to industrial environments.

Moxa explained that this certification goes beyond the achievement of a single product and serves as a key pillar of its 'Edge-to-Core' security strategy, encompassing everything from serial connections to the network core. Given the difficulty of replacing existing equipment in industrial settings all at once, methods to enhance security levels while maintaining operational infrastructure are expected to become increasingly important in the future.