Case Study: Secure Data Transfer in Complex Industrial Environments (Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals)

Challenge

The project involved creating a secure and reliable way to send sensitive equipment data from 9 different plant networks in the Oil & Gas and Petrochemical industries to the GE Asset Performance Management (APM) system. The key challenges included:

• Ensuring one-way data transfer without compromising system security.

• Overcoming the diverse configurations across multiple plant setups.

• Conducting site testing and verification with limited test data, which made validation more challenging.

Solution

• A 1-year technology roadmap was developed to address the complex requirements of the software for secure data transfer.

• Produced detailed documentation that improved stakeholder communication and system understanding.

• Revised the roadmap and documentation to adapt to mid-project strategic changes, ensuring no delays.

• Installed and configured the system to generate Excel reports in a format GE APM could use.

• Placed the software in the DMZ network and set up secure connections to each plant's AMS system through a proxy server.

• Conducted complex site testing and verification despite having limited data.

Impact

• Successfully deployed the system across all 9 plants with 100% deployment success.

• Ensured secure one-way data transfer with no security breaches.

• The GE APM system enabled better asset visibility and monitoring, improving overall efficiency.

• No system failures or rollbacks across any plant.

• Stakeholders benefited from clear and comprehensive documentation, which facilitated ongoing system maintenance and support.

• The project showed flexibility and resilience, completing successfully despite mid-project changes and data limitations.