When many of today's devices and fieldbuses were developed, Internet, Industrie 4.0 and Big Data were still unknown. Therefore these systems lack any security features for a direct networking, such as access protection with password or signed firmwareupdates. To make existing sites „Industry 4.0-fit“ MB Connect Line and Deutschmann Automation have developed the Secure Cloud Gateway mbXLINK.
It is based on a data diode, that hardware-technically allows communication only in one direction – from the field to the secure net. Technically it‘s impossible to connect with the site from the outside to steal data or to manipulate. The reverse channel is electrically disconnected and can only be activated for configuration purposes via key switch. Due to the real hardware-based disconnection, the usual weak spots of security hardware are impossible: faulty configuration through the user or security gaps in the firmware of the device. The Secure Cloud Gateway mbXLINK prevents external intrusion due to hardware separation.