Next generation digital I/O and more distributed global architectures are enabling connectivity to the cloud for sensors and actuators, and for the I/O systems and controllers linked to them. These edge-to-cloud architectures depend on options at the edge for acquiring, securing, storing and processing field data.

IoT applications require real-time response, but deploying the compute and storage resources for IoT in the cloud may not support IoT because of network latency. The solution to lowering latency is to move those resources closer to the IoT sensors that are providing the data, or expecting a real-time response.

Distributed IIoT applications require robust, secure operating systems to preprocess mission-critical information before transmitting to the cloud. Capable of addressing development, remote maintenance, data protection and support, Industrial Linux distributions have become popular edge gateway operating systems.

To address security’s complex, changing nature, system designers need to understand security risks and their environment, along with the security tools they have to work with. Security experts recognize several elements of system security including physical security, policies and procedures, and network security.

Automation vendors in the data storage business have enjoyed an advantage for years because their components, sensors and software applications generated the data. Now, software-led disruption is bringing a new set of expectations for cost and interoperability to the market for cloud storage and analytics.

A new kind of industrial controller simplifies and secures automation and IIoT projects, reducing costs and complexities. The technology frees engineers to focus on connecting to legacy systems and smart systems, getting data and transforming it into actionable information, visualizing it, and performing real-time control.

Manufacturing companies have a great opportunity to benefit from the IIoT trend, powered by the benefits of new IIoT gateways. Intelligent edge-computing solutions are providing a mechanism to bridge the worlds of OT and IT, and offer new ways to increase productivity, reduce downtime and increase product quality.

When it comes to data transfer to the cloud solutions, in order to generate added value from data, it must first be collected and transferred. Possible solutions involved are as diverse as the requirements of the various automation systems, and data security always plays a pivotal role.

The MQTT message transport protocol, in conjunction with the Sparkplug Specification, provides a modern, event-driven, Message-Oriented Middleware infrastructure upon which customers can drive their digital transformation implementations.

The manufacturing industry is continuing to embrace cloud technology–providing customers with both privacy and security protections and offering an extensive set of security and encryption services to help ensure complete customer control of their data and ways to drive business value.