Page 47 - Industrial Technology July 2021

Your Global Automation Partner

Industrial routers help Industrial Networks

to overcome 3G shutoff

ANDY CONWAY, SALES MANAGER AT EMBEDDED
COMPUTING EXPERT RECAB UK, EXPLAINS WHY
INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES COULD SOON FACE A
MAJOR ISSUE AS SERVICE PROVIDERS BEGIN
DECOMMISSIONING THEIR 3G NETWORKS.

excom® for Zone 1, Zone
2 & Non Hazardous Areas

n 2017, AT&T turned off its 2G network, causing around 70 only what they need. This makes support for existing protocols
per cent of San Francisco’s buses and trains to disappear from such as S7, ModBus, DF1 or DNP3, in the water sector, as well
the NextMuni system map, which passengers use to track as secured connections like dynamic multipoint VPN (DMVPN), a
Ivehicle locations and check arrival times. Following this, the critical requirement.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) faced The INSYS icom range of routers and gateways provides
weeks of pressure from the public to upgrade its legacy monitoring multiple LAN and WAN connections plus excellent security and
devices. Now, with the expansion of 4G LTE and 5G networks, local data processing (iDS), managed VPN (iCS) and on-premise
more and more operators are announcing the decommissioning of or cloud based router management (iRM) for up to 20,000
their 3G networks. For example, Vodafone has already announced devices. One key feature is WAN chains — an easy to configure
its plans to phase out 3G networks across many European way to set up multiple WAN + VPN connections for automatic (or
countries in 2021 and 2022, leaving 2G networks in operation timed) switch-over, on each device, that can be easily copied
until the end of 2025. across multiple router configs.
While 2G/GPRS may be enough for occasional monitoring or Wireless Networks
small data transfers, it won’t be sufficient for remote access and A secure system
control or continuous monitoring. Furthermore, it doesn’t offer Despite the benefits of digitalisation, we know that it comes with More than 20,000 sensors.
future scalability. The UK’s (analogue) public switched telephone increased security risks. Securing connections and access to the Factory Automation.
network (PSTN) is also being switched off in favour of a fully router is therefore critical. INSYS icom’s approach to security Process Automation.
digital network. Many companies in the utilities sector have starts with its secure operating system, which is developed and Hazardous Areas.
thousands of sites still connected via the PSTN or cellular 2G/3G. maintained in-house. icom OS is a hardened Linux operating
Some older devices may not support alternative connections, so system, with a number of security functions, including netfilters, Harsh Environments.
these sites will go offline until they are physically replaced. MAC filter, packet filters, a configurable firewall, hardened Measurement & Inspection.
Operators must address these connectivity changes soon, or they encrypted and signed firmware, access controls with different user LED Lighting & Indicators.
risk revenue loss and regulatory issues with loss of reporting profiles, PKI, X.509 and HTTPS certificate-based authentication Vision Systems.
capability. and rolling encryption. Containers running on the routers are Machine Safety.
isolated from the firmware and have their own IP end points with Vehicle Detection.
A network for the future full firewall control. Flow, Temperature, Pressure
One of the drivers behind new network roll outs is the massive INSYS icom uses external specialists to conduct cyber-security Vibration.
actual and predicted growth in datapoints and sensors in the field. penetration testing through the year and are committed to regular
Transmitting and storing all this new data is often uneconomic or updates of the icom OS, iCS, iDS and iRM plus continuous Turck Banner Ltd.
unviable, so local data processing is a common requirement to assessment by existing customers and industry bodies. Blenheim House, Blenheim Court,
enable businesses to monitor everything, but transmit and store MORE INFORMATION: www.recabuk.com
Wickford, Essex, SS11 8YT
Tel: 01268 578888
July 2021 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY more@turckbanner.co.uk
www.turckbanner.co.uk