Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — Israel has ordered an advanced communication network to protect public transport.

Israel’s Egged public transportation cooperative has begun operating a security intelligence platform meant to protect against cyber attacks.

Egged, which transports nearly 1 million passengers, awarded a contract to
the U.S. firm Vigilance Networks to secure corporate headquarters and remote
offices.

“As we work directly with the public, it’s imperative that we’re able to
connect with customers and ensure continuous service over our unified
communications network,” Egged chief technology officer Chen Amram said.

The contract, reported on May 19, reflected Israel’s preparations for
massive cyber attacks on the critical infrastructure. Amram said his company
was vulnerable to cyber threats against its Cisco-based voice-over IP
network.

Executives said Vigilance, based in Denver, Colo., supplied a security
intelligence platform that allowed Egged to monitor its VoIP network. They
said this allowed the Israeli transportation company to determine
vulnerabilities.

“As a result, we’re able to ensure business continuity as we continue
our daily operations of running over 3,000 buses, without worrying about
cyber security,” Amram said.

Under the contract, Vigilance organized a unified security network that
could protect Egged headquarters. Executives said the project would secure
every Egged location, including offices, a call center and repair depot.

“These include real-time threat, fraud and security intelligence that
can be used to combat attacks as they happen, and prevent them from
happening at all,” Vigilance Networks said. “As a result, Egged is able to
effectively manage and monitor security, both internally and at the
perimeter.”

  Egged, infrastructure, Israel shores up cyber security for public transportation, Vigilance Networks