Yokogawa Electric Corporation has obtained ISASecure CSA Level 1 certification from the ISA Security Compliance Institute (ISCI) for its CENTUM VP integrated production control system, a product in the OpreX Control and Safety System family. With this certification, Yokogawa’s CENTUM VP integrated production control system and ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system now both conform to the latest international security standards. In addition, the company has developed an enhanced version of ProSafe-RS Lite that meets both explosion protection and marine standards, and an updated version of the Plant Resource Manager (PRM) software that supports this latest version of the ProSafe-RS Lite.

Due in part to factors such as the increased reliance on remote system access during the COVID-19 pandemic, cyberattacks on production facilities are on the rise worldwide and are growing ever more sophisticated, and this is driving a rising awareness of the need for compliance with international standards. Components that receive ISASecure CSA certification conform to the IEC 62443-4-1 and IEC 62443-4-2 international standards pertaining to security for industrial automation and control systems. The ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system, which conforms to safety integrity level SIL3, and the ProSafe-RS Lite, which meets SIL2 standards, obtained ISASecure CSA Level 1 certification in May and July 2021, respectively.

For CENTUM VP to qualify for ISASecure CSA Level 1 certification, a cyclic redundancy check function has been added that periodically diagnoses the integrity of the programs and databases on a plant’s field control stations. If an error is detected, a system alarm is issued. Upgrading to the latest CENTUM VP R6.09 also enables operators to access Collaborative Information Server screens from their human interface stations, thus enabling the acquisition in real time of data on the operational status of equipment and devices.

In line with efforts to enhance safety, ProSafe-RS R4.07 has been developed, as a result of which ProSafe-RS Lite now meets both explosion-protection standards (ATEX/IECEx/ECAS-Ex) and marine standards. This means that this SIL2 system can be installed in plants and facilities where there is a risk of explosions, and on LNG carriers and other vessels. By using it together with the SIL3-certified ProSafe-RS, which also meets both sets of standards, it is possible to optimize the cost of plant safety instrumentation based on the application. In addition, PRM R4.05 has been developed to support devices that are connected to ProSafe-RS Lite. PRM uses IT to detect signs of impending equipment malfunctions so that operators can be notified and take preemptive action, thus reducing the risk of failures.

With the development of highly secure and safe devices and systems, and the provision of support for their operation, Yokogawa is able to offer a wide range of control system solutions. The certification and functional enhancement of these solutions will contribute to safe and robust plant operations in many industries.

Developed by the ISA Security Compliance Institute (ISCI), the ISASecure CSA certification program focuses on the security of embedded devices and related components (software applications, host devices, and network devices). The ISCI's members come mainly from the International Society of Automation, and the principal activity of this organization is the promotion of security certification for industrial control systems and control devices. The ISASecure CSA certification program was launched in August 2019, replacing the ISASecure EDSA certification program. It complies with the International Electrotechnical Commission's IEC 62443-4-2 and IEC 62443-4-1 international standards for security in industrial automation and control systems.

Yokogawa released its CENTUM distributed control system (DCS) in 1975, a world first. CENTUM VP is the ninth generation in the CENTUM series. Known for their rugged performance, CENTUM systems set high standards for engineering and technology excellence while ensuring backwards compatibility with previous system versions and support of the latest technology applications.

TÃœV Rheinland, an independent certification body, has certified that ProSafe-RS can be used in SIL3 applications. Unlike conventional safety instrumented systems and distributed control systems, which are regarded as having different roles and functions and operate separately, the operation of ProSafe-RS and the CENTUM distributed control system can be fully integrated.

The PRM software centrally manages large amounts of status and maintenance information from automation assets as well as production assets. PRM supports the FOUNDATION fieldbus, HART, ISA100 Wireless, and PROFIBUS field digital communication protocols. PRM has various maintenance support functions, including online functions for monitoring and diagnosing devices and equipment.

OpreX is the comprehensive brand for Yokogawa's industrial automation (IA) and control business. The OpreX name stands for excellence in the technologies and solutions that Yokogawa cultivates through the co-creation of value with its customers, and encompasses the entire range of Yokogawa's IA products, services, and solutions.