Topics such as digitization and IoT (Internet of Things) are increasingly gaining momentum, with preventive maintenance, predictive analytics, machine learning and remote monitoring/troubleshooting among the driving factors. In many cases, it’s becoming more challenging to securely connect operators in the field with the control room. It's important to incorporate remote capabilities into the process, such as implementing remote maintenance concepts. This demands a solution that meets a wide range of requirements:
- enable independent communication of the plant’s control system
- guarantee a level of data security
- offer cost effective solutions to collect and transfer large volumes of data
- be easy to install and operate.
OpenVPN becomes a powerful automation tool by harnessing the work of a secure, virtual network coupled with the use of flexible edge controllers.
A virtual private network (VPN) provides a good basis for continuous and secure communication among different machines, especially in large areas with or without remote access. As the name suggests, a virtual network does not require its own physical network; instead, it uses the existing infrastructure for communication. A VPN tunnel creates a secure and encrypted tunnel between multiple devices in the field. It securely connects devices in remote locations, or disparate devices on the plant floor, regardless of the physical network configuration. Also, it establishes a virtual network that allows secure communication between the devices and the control center, both inside a plant and externally.
The benefits of this secure connectivity are that from a central location, firmware can be updated, data can be collected and applications can be monitored and controlled remotely. VPN tunnels are also very useful for remote troubleshooting since the ability to remotely access end devices can save a lot of time and money.
OpenVPN: Proven on many platforms
A popular VPN solution, OpenVPN, is available for all common operating systems, offers secure data encryption, and can be configured via the web or command line interface. However, for industrial applications, there are some challenges: real-world networks using a “VPN tunnel” can be connected via Wi-Fi, cellular or satellite radio often in harsh environments, which could result in intermittent lost connectivity, thus reducing the reliability of the network. Therefore, the protocols used for data exchange must be able to handle such disturbances while maintaining the integrity of the data. 
Future-proof automation platform
So how can an OpenVPN solution be implemented and adapted to the respective application? In principle, there are two scenarios to consider: for the first scenario, there is communication within certain areas, like a closed network within a plant: and the second scenario, there is remote access externally, such as a cross-site information exchange. Using an edge controller as your OpenVPN solution can provide a reliable solution that addresses both plant floor and remote location network connectivity requirements. The OpenVPN solution it provides can be used in a wide variety of applications and scenarios without the need for additional tools. All figures courtesty of Red Lion
