Successful, efficient and productive remote access must meet the unique needs of individual processes, users and organizations. However, there are some common attributes and tasks they can all employ to enable better decisions and generate value:
- Free the humans from traditional, rigid workstations and dedicated software with tablet PCs, smart phones and other interfaces aided by flexible, portable standardized HMI/SCADA systems and support software.
- Unbolt the data coming from sensors, instruments and equipment with onboard microprocessors, Ethernet connections, and Internet links, as well as automatic configurations and updates that can populate across multiple devices, and initial data processing functions that can raw information ready for analysis in the cloud.
- Streamline the networks with standard communication protocols such as OPC UA, which reduce obstacles, translation requirements and data conversion tasks between systems.
- Uncouple networking software and arriving data by using publish-subscribe communications like MQTT, which let devices publish information in a central area, and allow subscribers to access and consume the data they need.
- Simplify the programming of monitoring, analysis, HMI/SCADA, controls and other functions with predefined and reusable programs, such as Docker Containers and low-code applications that can run in edge devices.
- Continually examine and reevaluate multiplying network connections for vulnerabilities and potential probes, intrusions and attacks.
About the author: Jim Montague
