Industrial Communication Systems (The Industria... \/\/TOP\\\\
Wireless communication offers many possibilities in the industry for particularly flexible and efficient automation solutions. We offer a comprehensive range of products, solutions and services covering the entire industrial wireless communication spectrum from Industrial Wireless LAN (IWLAN) to WiMAX and WirelessHART. Whether your applications include logistics or port facilities, automobile manufacturing or amusement parks, our components for wireless communication cover various indoor as well as outdoor applications, even under the toughest conditions.
Industrial Communication Systems (The Industria...
RUGGEDCOM devices have become the benchmark for quality and reliability of communication networks deployed in harsh environments. They offer error-free operation with zero-packet-loss technology across an extended temperature range and under extreme electromagnetic interference. Furthermore, with innovative products to seamlessly integrate advanced Cybersecurity and Edge computing applications in to industrial networks, RUGGEDCOM is the ideal communication platform for the digitalization of critical infrastructure industries, e.g. Electric Power.
Special training courses are offered that train and certify your employees to permit the ongoing support and expansion of your enterprise network. Our comprehensive offering of components and software for industrial communication meets all requirements relating to performance, reliability, robustness, and availability.
The IEEE 802.11ax WLAN standard for industrial wireless communication permits higher data rates, improved performance, greater efficiency, and future viability. The advantages of Wi-Fi 6 are extended by Siemens specifically for the requirements of the industry. With the new SCALANCE W Access Points and Client Modules, you can start using Wi-Fi 6 immediately.
Increased availability and the potential for interference require redundant solutions via Wi-Fi. Thanks to the addition of the ingenious industrial Parallel Redundancy Protocol (iPRP) function, our Industrial Wireless LAN solutions for the transportation sector ensure redundant and therefore reliable communication.
The logistics sector involves many time-critical applications, with participants moving freely in the field that have to communicate wirelessly with a controller. Thanks to the addition of the industrial Point Coordination Function with Management Channel (iPCF-MC), our solutions meet these real-time communication requirements.
The industrial Point Coordination Function-Management Channel (iPCF-MC) iFeature is ideal for applications involving mobile clients that move freely in the field and communicate with the controller via PROFINET (and even PROFIsafe) or EtherNet/IP. iPCF-MC provides the necessary deterministics and real-time communication. Although rarely required, applications with RCoax and directional antennas are also available.
The industrial Parallel Redundancy Protocol (iPRP) iFeature facilitates the use of redundancy technology for parallel utilization of two radio links in wireless networks. This supplementary function enables redundant communication over two IWLAN connections, even with moving applications. Disruptions to data transfer on one radio link are compensated by parallel transmission on a second link. Whenever the roaming process is delayed or interference occurs, communication continues running reliably via this second path.
Industrial control system (ICS) is a collective term used to describe different types of control systems and associated instrumentation, which include the devices, systems, networks, and controls used to operate and/or automate industrial processes. Depending on the industry, each ICS functions differently and are built to electronically manage tasks efficiently. Today the devices and protocols used in an ICS are used in nearly every industrial sector and critical infrastructure such as the manufacturing, transportation, energy, and water treatment industries.
Operational Technology (OT) variables include the hardware and software systems that monitors and controls physical devices in the field. OT tasks vary with every industry. Devices that monitor temperature in industrial environments are examples of OT devices
Devices and control modules in ICS systems relay information through communication protocols. There are several communication protocols used through various ICS environments. Most of these protocols are designed for specific purposes such as process automation, building automation, power systems automation, and many more. These protocols were also developed to ensure interoperability between different manufacturers. However, there are some protocols that only work if the protocols and equipment come from the same manufacturer. The ICS protocols that are commonly found include:
The OPC is a series of standards and specifications for industrial communications. The OPC specification is based on technologies developed by Microsoft for the Windows operating system family (OLE, COM, and DCOM).
Attacks on ICS systems are often targeted attacks that use the ICS entry path to gain a foothold inside a system which will allow them to laterally move into the organization. Among the most high-profile cases are the Stuxnet worm, which was used to manipulate centrifuges inside nuclear facilities in Iran, and BlackEnergy, which affected power generation facilities in Ukraine. Despite most of the attacks focusing on data theft and/or industrial espionage, both of the aforementioned cases demonstrated how malware had a kinetic effect. The Trend Micro whitepaper titled Cyber Threats to the Mining Industry explores how the mining industry is increasingly becoming a target of cyber espionage campaigns. These cyber espionage campaigns are designed to gain the latest technical knowledge and intelligence that will help some interest groups thrive and maintain competitive advantage.[Read: Protecting ICS: Defensive strategies for industrial control systems]
The rapid evolution of technology in industrial automation systems requires tighter integration between devices on the plant floor and the rest of the enterprise. This integration requires a secure network infrastructure, smart devices for efficient data collection, and the ability to turn data into actionable information.
The integration of control and information across the enterprise enables our customers to optimize their operations by connecting the plant, site, facility, and people. We deliver industrial automation and control through our control systems, motor control, and smart devices portfolios. The combination of these three platforms are architected and designed to help you build the most efficient industrial automation system to meet your needs.
A century later, the second industrial revolution introduced assembly lines and the use of oil, gas and electric power. These new power sources, along with more advanced communications via telephone and telegraph, brought mass production and some degree of automation to manufacturing processes.
The third industrial revolution, which began in the middle of the 20th century, added computers, advanced telecommunications and data analysis to manufacturing processes. The digitization of factories began by embedding programmable logic controllers (PLCs) into machinery to help automate some processes and collect and share data.
Industry 4.0 is the information-intensive transformation of manufacturing (and related industries) in a connected environment of big data, people, processes, services, systems and IoT-enabled industrial assets with the generation, leverage and utilization of actionable data and information as a way and means to realize smart industry and ecosystems of industrial innovation and collaboration.
So, Industry 4.0 is a broad vision with clear frameworks and reference architectures, mainly characterized by the bridging of physical industrial assets and digital technologies in so-called cyber-physical systems.
Without IT and OT convergence there is no industrial transformation, let alone modern building management and several other areas where the silos between different traditional systems dissapear due to, among others, IoT on one hand and where IT and OT meet on the other, which is the case in close to all industries. The essence of IT and OT convergence revolves around data (and the systems where they have been sitting for many years), processes and people/teams. Again, IoT is key here as also the Internet of Things starts with the capture (and subsequent analyses/leverage of data). It is safe to say that Industry 4.0 is only possible because of IoT. The technological essence of Industry 4.0 sometimes is also called cyber-physical convergence.
Since the convergence of IT, OT and their backbones (such as networks and infrastructure, whereby we can also add CT or communication technologies) essentially boils down to an advanced and enhanced application of Internet, IT technologies and IT infrastructure impacted by IoT data (cloud infrastructure, server infrastructure, storage and edge infrastructure etc.) many see Industry 4.0 as a continuation of the third industrial revolution.
This overall security challenge and certainly the ICS security and end-to-end cybersecurity challenge ranks high among the Industry 4.0 challenges and risks. Moreover, cyber-physical systems and IoT are important factors in the rapid rise of external attack surface management per Gartner. And, last but not least, as is the case with digital transformation, industrial transformation is an ecosystem play. De facto this means tighter integrations with ever more partners and other stakeholders: third parties that come with additional opportunities but also ever more risks, leading to more attention for third-party risk management (TPRM).
On an Industry 4.0 technology level, finally, on top of the mentioned technologies (or rather groups of technologies) such as IoT, big data, IT, OT, several security technologies (industrial cybersecurity, visual monitoring of critical facilities, wearables to monitor worker safety in hazardous environments), artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, edge, fog and more you can add: additive manufacturing and 3D printing, digital twins, virtual and augmented reality (also in the context of digital twin simulation), advanced robotics and cobots, autonomous production, rapid application development, autonomous production, consistent engineering across the entire value chain, thorough data collection and provisioning, systems integration (cfr. vertical and horizontal integration), a vast range of networking and communication technologies, integration and connectivity standards/protocols, ways to make various IT and OT protocols interoperable and far more on the horizon, such as blockchain and technologies to not just meet demands for more bandwidth but also to power connected devices. 041b061a72