YOKOGAWA NFPW444-50

Description

1. Detailed parameter table

YOKOGAWA NFPW444-50

2. Product introduction

The YOKOGAWA NFPW444-50 is a high-performance industrial network security appliance designed to provide advanced protection for large-scale and complex industrial automation networks. As an upgraded solution in YOKOGAWA’s security product line, it integrates powerful firewall capabilities with deep industrial protocol awareness, making it ideal for safeguarding critical infrastructure and large manufacturing facilities.

This 8-port security appliance (4 x RJ45, 4 x SFP) delivers a firewall throughput of 4 Gbps and VPN throughput of 2 Gbps, ensuring high-speed data transmission while maintaining robust security. Its rugged design and extended operating temperature range (-40°C to 75°C) allow it to thrive in extreme industrial environments, from freezing Arctic facilities to hot desert power plants. The NFPW444-50 features redundant hot-swap power supplies, ensuring uninterrupted security protection even during power module replacements. Suitable for industries such as oil and gas, large-scale power generation, and multinational manufacturing, the YOKOGAWA NFPW444-50 provides a comprehensive security solution to defend against sophisticated cyber threats and ensure the integrity of industrial operations.

3. Core advantages and technical highlights

Advanced deep packet inspection for industrial protocols:

Unlike standard firewalls, the NFPW444-50 performs deep packet inspection (DPI) specifically tailored for industrial protocols including DNP3, IEC 61850, and PROFINET. In a large-scale power grid, this allows the appliance to analyze not just packet headers but the actual content of control commands, ensuring that even maliciously crafted messages using legitimate protocols are detected and blocked. For example, it can identify a fraudulent “trip” command sent to a substation breaker via IEC 61850, preventing unauthorized shutdowns of critical power infrastructure.

High-performance throughput for large networks:

With 4 Gbps firewall throughput, the NFPW444-50 can handle the high data volumes of large industrial networks without introducing latency. In a multinational automotive manufacturing campus with interconnected plants, this ensures that real-time production data flowing between facilities (via the ISC40G-TF-T1-05 switches) is security-checked without delaying time-sensitive control signals. The 2 Gbps VPN throughput supports 200 simultaneous tunnels, enabling secure communication between geographically dispersed facilities and the central control system (managed by CP461-50 PLCs).

Fiber optic connectivity for long-distance security:

Equipped with 4 SFP slots supporting fiber optic modules, the NFPW444-50 enables secure communication over long distances (up to 120km with single-mode fiber). In an oil pipeline network spanning hundreds of kilometers, this allows the security appliance to protect data transmission between remote pumping stations and the central control center, where copper cables would suffer signal loss or be vulnerable to physical tampering. Fiber optic connections also provide immunity to electromagnetic interference, critical for environments with high-voltage equipment.

Threat intelligence integration and anomaly detection:

The NFPW444-50 can integrate with global threat intelligence feeds, automatically updating its security rules to defend against emerging cyber threats. Its behavioral anomaly detection system establishes a baseline of normal network activity, then alerts operators to deviations—such as an unexpected Modbus write command to a critical valve controller in a chemical plant. This proactive approach ensures that zero-day attacks and previously unknown threats are identified before they compromise network security, a crucial capability for protecting aging industrial systems with limited built-in security features.

YOKOGAWA NFPW444-50

4. Typical application scenarios

In a large offshore oil and gas complex, the NFPW444-50 is deployed at the core of the network, securing communication between offshore platforms, onshore control centers, and remote monitoring stations. It protects critical systems such as drilling controls, production manifolds, and emergency shutdown systems (connected via CP461-50 PLCs) from cyber threats. The appliance’s fiber optic ports connect to undersea communication cables, ensuring secure data transmission over long distances, while its rugged design withstands the harsh marine environment of salt spray and extreme temperatures.

In a multinational manufacturing corporation with plants across three continents, the NFPW444-50 serves as the security gateway between regional facilities and the global headquarters. It manages 200 VPN tunnels, enabling secure data exchange between local production networks (using ISC40G-TF-T1-05 switches) and the central ERP system. The appliance’s DPI capabilities inspect production data for anomalies, ensuring that intellectual property such as proprietary manufacturing recipes remains protected while allowing real-time performance monitoring of each plant’s CP461-50-controlled production lines.

In a large-scale renewable energy complex combining wind, solar, and storage systems, the NFPW444-50 secures the communication backbone connecting thousands of distributed energy resources. It filters traffic between wind turbine controllers, solar inverter systems, and the central grid management system (powered by CP461-50 PLCs), preventing unauthorized access to grid stability controls. The appliance’s extended temperature range allows it to operate in outdoor substation enclosures, while its redundant power supplies ensure continuous protection even in remote locations with unreliable power.

5. Related model recommendations

• NFPW222-50: A mid-range industrial security appliance with 2 Gbps firewall throughput and 4 ports, suitable for medium-sized networks where the full capacity of the NFPW444-50is not required.
• NFJT100-S10E: YOKOGAWA’s compact 10-port firewall, ideal for securing smaller network segments within larger systems protected by the NFPW444-50, providing layered security.
• ISC40G-TF-T1-05: The industrial Ethernet switch that integrates seamlessly with the NFPW444-50, forming a secure network infrastructure where the switch manages connectivity and the appliance provides security filtering.
• CP461-50: The high-performance PLC whose control signals are protected by the NFPW444-50, ensuring that only authorized commands reach critical industrial equipment.
• NFPW444-50-V: A variant with enhanced virtualization support, allowing the appliance to protect both physical and virtualized industrial control systems in modern smart factories.
• SFP-10G-LR: 10Gbps SFP+ transceivers compatible with the NFPW444-50, enabling long-distance fiber optic communication up to 10km for connecting distant network segments securely.

6. Installation, commissioning and maintenance instructions

Installation preparation

Before installing the NFPW444-50, ensure the mounting location provides adequate ventilation with minimum 300mm clearance around the appliance. The control cabinet should be dust-tight and protected from direct sunlight. Prepare tools including a torque wrench (2.5-3.5Nm), fiber optic cable tester, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection equipment.

Verify the power supply matches 100-240V AC/DC specifications and install appropriate overcurrent protection (10A circuit breakers for each power input). For redundant configurations, connect two independent power sources to the hot-swap power modules. When installing fiber optic cables, use proper cleaning tools to ensure connector cleanliness, and follow safety procedures for laser devices. Configure initial network settings (IP addresses, subnet masks) via the console port before connecting to the industrial network.

Maintenance suggestions

Perform weekly visual inspections of the NFPW444-50 to check for alarm indicators, loose connections, or dust accumulation. Clean air filters monthly (or more frequently in dusty environments) using compressed air. Monitor system logs daily via the centralized management interface, paying special attention to security event alerts and performance metrics such as CPU usage and throughput.

Update threat intelligence databases weekly and firmware quarterly, scheduling updates during planned maintenance windows to avoid disrupting critical operations. Test failover functionality monthly by temporarily disconnecting the primary power supply or network link, ensuring the redundant system components take over seamlessly. Perform a full security policy review quarterly to adapt to network changes and emerging threats.

When replacing hot-swap power modules, use only YOKOGAWA-approved replacements and follow proper ESD procedures. Maintain a complete backup of configuration files, storing copies both locally and offsite. For major firmware upgrades, test the new version on a spare appliance first to verify compatibility with existing industrial protocols.

7. Service and guarantee commitment

YOKOGAWA provides a 5-year warranty for the NFPW444-50, with an optional 3-year extension, reflecting confidence in its industrial-grade durability and security performance. Each appliance undergoes rigorous testing including 1,000-hour temperature cycling, vibration testing (20g peak), and penetration testing by third-party cybersecurity experts to ensure compliance with IEC 62443-4-2 (Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems).

Our global cybersecurity response team offers 24/7 emergency support for critical security incidents, with on-site response within 24 hours in major industrial regions. The team includes certified industrial security specialists who can assist with threat hunting, incident response, and security architecture design specific to the NFPW444-50. YOKOGAWA provides annual security assessments as part of the support package, helping customers maintain robust protection against evolving threats.

Comprehensive training programs are available, including certified courses on industrial firewall management and IEC 62443 compliance, tailored to the NFPW444-50‘s capabilities. We also offer optional managed security services, providing continuous monitoring and management of the appliance by YOKOGAWA security experts for customers requiring enhanced protection.