GE to Acquire Wurldtech to Advance Cyber Security for Industrial Internet

GE said today it would acquire the cyber security company Wurldtech to expand its digital arsenal for protecting critical infrastructure and operations technology.

GE has started connecting jet engines, power plants, locomotives and other technology to the Industrial Internet, an emerging digital network that links machines, data and software with people.

Wurldtech’s security software is unique since it helps to protect information technology (IT) that allows machines to think, as well as operations technology (OT) – the hardware and software that monitors and controls machines and connects them to people. “The world of OT security needs to be foundationally different from traditional IT detection systems,” said Bill Ruh, GE vice president who runs GE Software. “Nine out of the world’s top 10 automation providers use Wurldtech security products.”

GE said in a statement that the acquisition will help the company boost the reliability of it’s Industrial Internet operations. “Securing connected machines has a unique set of complexities that are very different from protecting a datacenter,” Ruh said. “At GE, we are focused on software platform security, protecting critical infrastructure and helping to ensure the reliability of Industrial Internet operations for our customers and industries.”

Wurldtech is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Its products like Achilles Test and Achilles Threat Intelligence help customers spot vulnerabilities in products and infrastructure, find their root case and protect assets.The company’s systems are securing oil and gas operations, electric systems, and medical, nuclear and chemical plants around the world.