DEARBORN ? The biggest worry for Tim Kennedy,
Global Information & Network Security Manager for
Delphi, is that an Internet worm will bring down his highly computerized, highly networked factories ? the jewels in Delphi?s crown. No matter how he improves Delphi?s eSecurity practices, Kennedy knows Delphi could get hit by the big one some day.
Kennedy, speaking at the Detroit SecureWorld Expo, said his job is to make sure the world?s largest auto supplier remains one step ahead of would-be hackers by sharpening the skills of his Malware Team.
Kennedy publishes a regular report card that grades how well the chief information officers in Delphi regions around the globe apply patches, maintain firewalls, and block worms and viruses from entering the 1800 sub networks operated by Delphi.
When the recent Blaster worm attacked the Microsoft Outlook email programs operated by the world?s corporations, only 30 Blaster incidents were reported at Delphi. Delphi?s factories use Hewlett-Packard technology.
When a Security outbreak occurs, Delphi uses internal firebreaks to isolate and contain the virus. Delphi also subscribes to a threat notification service that alerts the corporation to potential new global Security threats. Alerts are delivered to the entire Delphi Security team twice a day in what?s called an outbreak briefing.
Keeping current with software patches also is a key brick in Delphi?s firewall. The company requires its Security professionals to subscribe to the Delphi global patch compliance calendar.
Despite all these counter measures, Kennedy said hackers are getting more sophisticated developing their malevolent packages. He said worms are coming that look like one type of attack, but morph into another.?
?We?ve been lucky,?? Kennedy said. ?The bad guys are practicing and getting smarter. Coming soon will be super worms that attack multiple operating systems, creating a combination Malware.?
