IIoT edge devices and gateways vital to a monitoring strategy
-Daniel Sultana, Country Manager, Australia and New Zealand at Paessler. One of the key benefits of converging IT (Information Technology), OT (Operational Technology) and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) systems in a manufacturing business is that it enables a more holistic approach to manage the entire infrastructure. The resulting digital interconnectedness provides vast improvements for manufacturers in terms of efficiency, reliability and profitability, but there are risks associated with IT/OT convergence, according to the Australian Cyber Security Centre. What are IIoT gateways? Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) refers to a network of connected devices in the industrial sector and is a subset of the Internet of Things (IoT). An IIoT gateway is a bridge between a field network and the IoT platform or sometimes a business application. IIoT gateways can be viewed as data aggregation points for field devices or wireless networks. They provide local storage and compute capabilities as well as a user interface for data processing and system management. The defining characteristic of connected devices on IIoT networks is that they transfer data without human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. Connected devices communicate through IIoT gateways, which are physical servers that filter data and transmit it to other devices and software applications. IIoT gateways have therefore become a key part of a solution to monitor an entire infrastructure holistically, which provides a multitude of benefits for manufacturers that adopt it. Since digital transformation in manufacturing started, more and more connected and smart devices are appearing in factory settings. This includes sensors for monitoring environmental factors like temperature, humidity and vibrations, as well as devices needed for smart automation. Building monitoring systems There are concerning stories about poorly secured building automation networks being hijacked, resulting in hundreds of employees being unnecessarily evacuated and a loss of productivity. For this reason, facilities […]