From field devices to global enterprise and cybersecurity to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), industrial networks are among the most critical and fastest developing technologies in process automation.
As plants scramble to provide ever more accessible information, rapid advances and standards for wireless, security and interoperability vie with the familiarity and reliability of legacy systems for your attention, training and investment dollars.
"IoT depends on reliable, integrated, IP-based networks, and reliability is exactly what we as automation and controls engineers know well. Unfortunately, not everyone understands networks and network design as well as they should, and as a result, the network can often be the weakest link," says Ian Verhappen, P.Eng., ISA Fellow, ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP) and member of the Automation Hall of Fame.
This anthology─our State of Technology Report on Industrial Networks─compiles the most important and useful articles from the pages of Control to make sure you're up to date and able to make informed networking decisions.
Topics covered in the report cover how poorly-designed networks can crush your system, digital integration of field devices, cybersecurity myths, safely taking advantage of wireless technology and more.
Click here to read the State of Technology Report on Industrial Networks.
