With the acceptance of industrial Ethernet backbones and wireless networks, IIoT HART interface devices with built-in security measures, open industry protocols and ease of programming provide a quick, easy and seamless way to share process data with the entire corporate infrastructure.

Two developing IT-based, IETF standards are aiming at helping to automate and simplify deployment of security processes for Industrial Automation and Control (IAC) devices and networks, as they become operational in machine builder, customer or system integrator’s processes.

Cyber security is a considerable issue in the Industrial Networking that is demanding more and more attention. The IEEE 802.1AE standard, MACSec, is an efficient and high cost-performance ratio solution for Ethernet links to prevent “Man in the Middle” attacks and external threats from frame tampering.

Industry experts have warned that cloud-computing models in today’s IoT systems are ill-equipped to deal with the data generated by the billions of IoT devices slated to go online. Devices generate data in a multitude of formats and a variety of protocols, making their acquisition and real-time processing difficult.

Many businesses around the world are developing strategies on how to embrace new trends such as globalization and digitization. As these trends continue to affect businesses more and more, they need to address the changes these trends are causing in order to stay competitive and profitable.

As manufacturing companies strive for higher Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), the emerging trend driven by the IIoT technologies to collect and utilize useful feedback from a machine, or from an entire manufacturing line, can be critical to unlocking the potential of the equipment.

Combining IIoT and Industry 4.0 with cyber secure remote access represents the next wave of innovation and considerable operational advantages. A comprehensive secure remote access platform can minimize risks and costs while maximizing the rewards, such as increased efficiencies, and timely responses.

Five stages can be used to protect industrial networks, beginning with implementing a defense-in-depth strategy for industrial control systems. These stages (discover, assess, act, monitor and maintain) create a roadmap and detailed checklist to maintain the highest levels of security.

Addressing security during the initial phase of network design is an important step towards creating more secure industrial control systems. Discarding outdated architectures in favor of granular network zones limits an attacker’s freedom of movement within a network and protects critical or vulnerable devices.

Industrial automation has traditionally been built using dedicated and fixed-in-place HMIs, but operator interfaces through mobile devices are the new normal. Remote system access, rich displays and diagnostics offer convenience, cost effectiveness, and help businesses become more efficient and competitive.