There is no doubt that network security for
manufacturers is a top priority now more
than ever. Controls engineers are constantly
looking for ways to stave off cyber-attacks
and put programs in place to help reduce security
risks. The risks at the OT (operations technology)
level are continually changing and keeping
up with protecting a company’s operational technical
infrastructure may seem time consuming
and costly. However, there are ways to ensure
the safety of a company’s products, property, and
processes in a concise and cost-effective way.
On the most basic level, one of the ways to
ensure security against outside hackers is making
sure that the proper industrial Ethernet switches
are being used. Some companies are happy with
just the essential levels of networking, opting for
low-cost options. This will provide the bare necessities
to run plant floor operations, usually in the
form of an industrial unmanaged switch. These
switches are an excellent option for networks with
a control panel used for a plug-and-play option
that has a fixed configuration. This approach eliminates
any work on the IT end requiring encryptions,
prioritizing channels or creating a set of
segregated devices to manage traffic and data.
The downside of unmanaged switches is that they
do not provide any security functions.
Companies with larger networks may want
more than the basic functions of an unmanaged
switch. With just a slight increase in cost,
the effectiveness of a lean managed switch can
give controls engineers on the plant floor the
peace of mind they need when running their
systems. Lean managed switches can be configured
to a company’s specifications, monitor
settings, turn off unused ports, set up and manage
encryptions, and help protect the network
and data from active threats. VLANs can also
be installed to reduce security risks and help
increase network performance.
Wago’s family of industrial Ethernet lean
managed switches are designed to meet security
and redundancy requirements, while being easy
enough to maintain by plant floor technicians.
Wago focused on creating an intuitive interface for
these switches, which include a diagnostic dashboard
allows for quick system troubleshooting—even if users have no IT knowledge. With each port
configured for specific connections, transmission
errors can be detected along with any improper
connections or active threats. These switches are
available with either eight or 16 ports with two
extra SFP slots for connecting fiber optic cable
for longer connections.
