Johnson Controls has acquired zero trust cybersecurity provider, Tempered Networks, the creator of Airwall technology.
The advanced self-defense system for buildings enables secure network access across diverse groups of endpoint devices, edge gateways, cloud platforms and service technicians. It represents a step-change in operational technology built on secure transmission pipelines to ensure buildings data exchanges and service actions can only take place between people and devices that are continuously authenticated.
It will be integrated into JCI’s OpenBlue platform for smart buildings.
The acquisition gives Johnson Controls the capability to provide zero trust security within the fabric of its OpenBlue secure communications stack, advancing its vision of enabling fully autonomous buildings that are inherently resilient to cyberattack.
"When it comes to buildings, we must create easily implementable cybersecurity defenses as we're often dealing with critical infrastructure, including assets such as data centres and hospitals," according to Vijay Sankaran, vice president and chief technology officer, Johnson Controls.
"Tempered Networks Airwall approach is purpose-built for our sector as it's designed around principles of zero trust, securing device communications as data moves between devices and the cloud – so enabling remote building optimization in the most trusted way possible."
OpenBlue provides a flexible computing approach for converging building technologies and making those technologies more insightful, powerful, and optimized through edge AI and through full machine learning in the cloud.
The ultimate goal is to make all buildings smarter, healthier and more sustainable.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.