Champion Technology Services Selects Rugged Routers from Encore Networks for Satellite VPN Communications

9 August 2010

Champion Technology Services, Inc. has deployed Encore’s BANDIT™ line of IP+Legacy industrially hardened routers for satellite VPN solutions. By installing the BANDIT™ in substations throughout the Southwestern US, Champion has provided secure Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) communications over satellite for one of their large Gas and Oil utility customers.

Founded in 2000, industrial automation and control systems integrator, Champion Technology Services specializes in wireless communications, satellite networks and data management. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Champion has offices throughout Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Utah and serves customers nationwide.

“We are very excited to have been chosen by Champion as a technology partner,” said Scott Burk, Director of Sales for Encore Networks. “By combining Encore solutions with Champion’s experience and understanding of the challenges providing satellite communications to remote areas, we are able to deliver secure high-speed satellite networks to rural regions, protecting customer assets and providing a smooth migration path to next generation IP applications and services.”

Encore’s patented Selective Layer Encryption (SLE) securely connects satellite networks with terrestrial Internet links as part of an end-to-end VPN solution. SLE allows Champion to provide their utility customer with complete security of all data transmitted between their processing facilities and control centers. The serial protocol to IP support capabilities in the BANDIT™ ensures the seamless migration of SCADA functions over their legacy network to a secure, encrypted satellite IP network.

“SLE was a big reason we decided to include the hardened Bandit in our product portfolio over those of other router manufacturers,” said Scott LaDue, Control Systems Engineer for Champion Technology Services. “Unlike traditional VPN solutions, SLE eliminated the performance degradation normally associated with running IPsec VPN’s over satellite connections while providing secure data encryption.”