New Collaboration Helps Protect Railways from Cyber Attacks

A new collaboration between the makers of a cybersecurity solution and a rail cellular router aims to make it easier to protect railways from cyber attacks.

Systems will still have work to do to ensure their trains stay on the rails, and aren’t unexpectedly joined by another train. But the partnership between Cylus, an advanced cybersecurity solution designed to protect the railways, and the Digi TX64 5G Rail cellular router could offer improved connectivity and an enhanced level of cyber protection.

“Our collaboration with Cylus marks a significant advancement for rail cybersecurity,” Steve Mazur, business development director for government and transportation at Digi International, said in a statement. “With the new integration, we are not only enhancing the security and reliability of rail networks but also streamlining and improving operations — delivering a unified solution for rail operators globally.”

CylusOne is a product built especially for the rail industry and designed to operate in a rail technology environment, addressing specific threats those systems face. The Digi TX64 5G Rail router provides cellular connectivity across 3G, 4G and 5G networks, with routing, security, firewall and integrated VPN capabilities. It also features FirstNet support.

The integration, Digi said in its news release Thursday, “combines 5G connectivity and cybersecurity into a single device,” providing elevated security for 5G in a compact, unified presentation.

The announcement comes on the heels of a settlement this year by Atlanta-based Norfolk Southern of more than $310 million, following a derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

“We will continue keeping our promises and are invested in the community’s future for the long haul,” Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw wrote in a statement after the settlement.