WASHINGTON, March 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), the Texas A&M Energy Engineering Institute and the Energy Institute of the University of Texas at Austin sponsored a Cyber Security for Utilities Symposium March 29 in Austin.

The symposium raised awareness of recent cyberthreats and vulnerabilities targeted specifically at utility infrastructure. With utilities becoming more connected to the Internet, the gravity of a utility grid being compromised is a serious concern. Such infrastructure security breaches could have disastrous results.

Security professionals provided examples about the very real threats posed to utilities, as well as specific precautions needed to increase infrastructure protection and to prevent service interruption.

"For the last few years, cyberhackers have begun targeting our electric grids, water treatment facilities and natural gas plants," said Charlie Cartwright, Raytheon Network Centric Systems vice president of Integrated Command Systems. "This symposium was about helping industry leaders learn how to best safeguard valuable assets against these increasingly sophisticated threats."

In addition to Raytheon, the Texas A&M Energy Engineering Institute and the Energy Institute of the University of Texas at Austin, representatives from the FBI, McAfee Inc. and the Department of Homeland Security participated in the symposium.

Raytheon Company, with 2010 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 89 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 72,000 people worldwide.

Contact:
Ginny McAdams
703.284.4412

SOURCE Raytheon Company