Articles and News

By Rick Delgado, Freelance Automation Writer Using Artificial Intelligence for cyber security is a relatively new idea that still is undergoing its incubation phase. Actualizing the significance of AI in data assessment and predictive analysis, advancements are being made in the technological sector to utilize this potential in addressing the growing challenge of cyber security.

Hundreds of participants from all corners of the globe took part in a hackers contest aimed at cracking a game protected with Blurry Box, the encryption software recently launched by Wibu-Systems. The outcome: No one could break the latest software protection technology introduced by the provider of secure license management.

The survey found that over half (54%) of ICS companies interviewed have experienced at least one cyberattack in the last 12 months – with one-in-five (21%) experiencing two incidents in the same time frame.

When Tarmac asked Elite Control Systems to assist Siemens in providing them with a way to monitor the Stacker and Reclaimer’s activities through the plant’s existing control system, Elite devised a custom solution.

By Dr. Oliver Kleineberg, Hirschmann Automation and Control, a Belden brand As the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) continues to expand, its need for reliable and efficient control networks, free of bandwidth and latency issues, becomes even more important to support the large volumes of data – with and without real-time requirements – on which the phenomenon depends.

One of the top priorities for any manufacturing operation is the safety of workers and people living within the surrounding community.

By Bob McIlvride, Skkynet Cloud Systems More and more companies are recognizing the value hidden in their process data, and are looking at ways to tap into it. If you need to provide access to OPC data on your plant system, say for analytics, predictive maintenance, or real-time dashboards, you'll need to secure your system from the kind of threat that WannaCry poses

By John Rinaldi, Real Time Automation In their latest series of announcements, it’s clear that OPC UA is key to Microsoft’s strategy of entering and dominating the factory floor through its Azure cloud services.

Panacea Update Manager automates the process of deploying Microsoft patches on industrial networks by allowing only automation vendor approved patches to be deployed on the appropriate computers.

By Stefan Hoppe, OPC Foundation In November 2016, the Industrie 4.0 Platform published a checklist for classifying and advertising products as Industrie 4.0 “Basic,” “Ready,” or “Full”. To comply with the “Industrie 4.0 communication” criterion, even the lowest category requires the product to be addressable over the network via TCP/UDP or IP and to integrate at least the OPC UA information model.

The addition of Nextnine’s security solutions and secure remote service capabilities will enhance the Company’s existing range of cyber security technologies.

The lab will be used for proprietary research and development of cyber security technologies and products, hands-on training and certifications, and testing and validation of industrial cyber security solutions.

Wireless Sensor Network for Building & Home Automation Market Viewed as Key For Successful Implementation of Smart Cities

Manufacturing technology executives will focus on ‘Empowering Manufacturing’s Future’ during the 2017 Global Automation & Manufacturing Summit on Tuesday, November 7 at the Integrated Automation, Motion & Drives trade show (IAMD USA) co-located with FABTECH 2017 in Chicago.

By Kent Lennartsson, Research Manager, Kvaser AB The use of CAN began in the automotive industry and has since branched out into a multitude of sectors, including industrial automation. However, CAN in itself is not equipped to handle the control processes needed for this complex industry. Instead, a secondary, higher layer protocol was required to make adoption possible.

By Bill Dehner, AutomationDirect.com A recent study by the Identity Theft Resource Center concluded that in 2016 U.S companies and government agencies were breached 1,093 times. That’s a new record and a 40% increase from the 780 breaches in 2015.

The two organizations will work together to support cybersecurity workforce education and development for industry, energy, utilities, government, academia, and infrastructure.

Over two days, Festo's course will assist leaders to identify opportunities for change within their own workplaces and help them recognise how and where to apply the principles of Industry 4.0.

By Jan Pingel & Matthew Burd, Honeywell Process Solutions One of the most important characteristics of a connected plant is the ability to increase and enhance collaboration to help solve previously unsolvable problems. The emergence of the cloud-based historian is a key component, therefore, to bringing the connected plant to life because it greatly enables this type of collaboration.

Edwards will begin his tenure at the Automation Federation on 26 June. Current Automation Federation Managing Director Mike Marlowe will continue with the organization as Managing Director Emeritus until his retirement in December.