Articles and News

By Bob McIlvride, Skkynet Cloud Systems Kaspersky Labs used common exploit-discovery techniques to identify 17 critical security flaws in the OPC UA software they were testing. There is no reason to doubt their methodology, but we all need to be careful about the conclusions that we reach.

The OPC Foundation is committed to addressing all issues as they arise, to working with OPC vendors to ensure that software is patched, and to notifying OPC users about the issues and the fixes.

While serial bus systems will continue to play an important role in the future, solutions based on Industrial Ethernet are becoming increasingly common with Industry 4.0 applications. The focus is less on cable measurements, signal levels or signal shapes, but in the case of standards such as PROFINET, utilization and the greatest possible availability of the networks are the focus of interest.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com At Hannover Messe 2018, it was clear that many in the computing industry are focused on implementing a holistic cyber security approach, encompassing the entire architecture including cloud, enterprise, and edge devices. This article will explore some of these efforts and explain how they are shaping the future of cybersecurity in industrial automation.

This will allow users to directly connect EtherCAT slave devices and entire networks to heterogeneous TSN domains without any change or modification to the EtherCAT devices.

At Hannover Fair 2018, the vision for a seamless architecture from edge devices to enterprise and cloud computing was a prominent theme. Numerous product demonstrations, announcements, and discussions promoted the combination of Time Sensitive Networking (TSN IEEE 802.1) with OPC UA messaging and data models to create a new manufacturing and production architecture

Under the moderation of the OPC Foundation, the concept of the I4AAS, defined in a technology independent manner so far, will be mapped into the technology of OPC UA.

VDW has joined in the common pursuit of establishing an open, consistent, OPC UA based method for multi-vendor and multi-generation machines to share context rich data between each other and with broader enterprise and cloud based IT infrastructures.

At the event, the testbed was demonstrated by simulating a range of real-life smart manufacturing conditions to show its technical highlight -- TSN + OPC UA, which is the major driving force for new technologies such as predictive maintenance, data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI).

The key technological embellishments in 2.1 set the stage for FDT’s transformation towards a complete, standardized Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) architecture enabling sensor-to-cloud, enterprise-wide connectivity for next-generation automation solutions.

The HARTING Technology Group has been cooperating with systems integrators and IT specialists within the MICA.network user organisation since 2016, giving customers access to data-based efficiency improvements for their machinery. The network showcases solutions for machine data pooling and ERP applications based around the MICA Edge Computing System

Microsoft has announced several updates and advancements at Digital Factory Hall at Hannover Messe 2018, the world’s largest annual manufacturing exhibition in Hannover, Germany.

Molex and TTTech announced a collaboration based on their shared vision of open, flexible and interoperable systems in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

With version 5.0, the CSIA Best Practices and Benchmarks Manual has been updated to reflect new material, including a new chapter on cyber security. The entire manual was reviewed for organization, clarity and compliance with a global relevance.

Key topics in TIA Portal V15.1 include simulation and virtual commissioning options which enable better digital design of integrated work processes, as well as the expanded application focus with Simatic S7-1500R/H controllers, Sinamics S210 drive integration, Multiuser Engineering, software units and OPC UA functions.

TSN is designed to provide advantages for automation applications in industries such as automotive, mechanical engineering and food & beverage. The first Siemens products are expected to be available towards the end of 2018

The FieldComm Group Plant of the Year is an international award presented to end user companies in the process automation industry to recognize exceptional application of FOUNDATION Fieldbus and / or HART Communication technologies.

By Bob McIlvride, Director, Communications, Skkynet Cloud Systems In the rapidly-evolving space of Industrial IoT (IIoT), we are seeing some growth in understanding about what makes a good IIoT protocol. For IIoT to work well, the tools you employ must suit the unique requirements.

By Stefan Hoppe, OPC Foundation The Industrial Internet of Things – abbreviated to IIoT and known in Germany as Industrie 4.0 – is a technology trend that is the enabler of the 4th industrial revolution, and is bringing about a transformation in the way we do business.

WoMaster held Cyber Security training for its partners to demonstrate how they can provide a complete protection of IIoT network according to ISASecure - IEC 62443-4-2 from currently existing threats