Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Subscribe
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Subscribe
    Home Latest News
    • Networking

    NIST Develops Guide on Securely Converting Industrial IoT to Wireless

    Written by

    Wayne Rash
    Published May 31, 2018
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      It’s hard to remember that there was a time when the Internet of Things was defined by networked manufacturing machinery installed in factories. 

      We didn’t use the term then, but computer controlled production machinery along with the tracking and accounting systems that supported them have been around for decades. Many of those machines had their own computer and they were connected using proprietary protocols over what were then called busses. 

      Things have changed, but not quickly. More and more factory automation now uses Ethernet, for example and in some situations there’s some WiFi. Because production equipment lasts far longer than IT hardware, it’s usually not upgraded before it’s replaced. 

      But the time is coming when industrial networks will have to move beyond the restrictions of wired infrastructure. By going wireless, the factory floor or the warehouse can become more flexible, more adaptable to change and more capable of keeping up with the demands of product designs that seem to change at the speed of light. 

      Unfortunately, moving an industrial IoT network to wireless can be a daunting task. “There are a lot of challenges,” said Rick Candell, an electronics engineer for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Candell is the principal author of NIST’s new ebook, “Guide to Industrial Wireless Systems Deployment.” The publication is considered a science-based set of guidelines for taking your factory floor wireless. 

      “The key is to keep your operation running,” Candell explained. “You’re not doing this to download movies.” The goal is to reach whatever level of reliability a manufacturing operation requires, he said. 

      Candell’s guide is intended to be read by the IT and engineering staff at a company with manufacturing facilities, whether those facilities are inside or outdoors. But it’s actually an invaluable reference for business wireless planners, regardless of whether they have a factory or a warehouse. 

      The guide does not assume a deep knowledge of wireless technology, although it does help to be somewhat versed in basic networking. What’s important is that a factory manager can use guide to work with the company’s IT shop to come up with a logical, well-chosen plan for wireless transformation. 

      Candell said that the document, which he calls a primer on wireless, is intended to help companies do wireless correctly. “This is not like a process standard or process document,” he explained. “This is just about getting people to think in the right way.” 

      The guide covers a lot of ground, from understanding the basics of wireless to understanding how wireless networks will perform in an industrial environment where interference from other equipment is a concern and where signal paths may be hard to predict. 

      It’s also notable that Candell does not assume that there’s any one solution to industrial wireless, but rather he focuses on finding the right network design for the specific task that needs to be done. 

      “It depends on what they’re using wireless for,” Candell explained, “If they’re wanting to use wireless for controlling robots, then the focus is on integration.” He said that it’s important to try to think of all the possible scenarios that can happen. 

      “What I’m hoping is that people will download the document and try to use it,” he said. “It will make them more knowledgeable about making choices. Knowledge is power.” 

      “If they can make informed choices it’ll help,” Candell said. 

      One area where Candell stresses making the right choices is with wireless security. He said that he frequently hears concerns that industrial wireless is unreliable because it’s prone to interference and that it’s insecure. But he said that done properly, neither is true. “Wireless systems can be very reliable,” he said. 

      In this case, wireless security plays an important role in the guide, including the obvious, but frequently overlooked need to change passwords and use encryption. Candell also refers readers to the NIST Guide to Industrial Control Systems Security, which covers the topic in depth. 

      The wireless guide is written with the idea that it’s going to help you choose a wireless system provider. There’s a great deal of information that’s useful for doing that, including a series of checklists to help you through the process. It also includes a section on candidate selection and scoring. 

      I was impressed that NIST put together such a comprehensive guide that’s done in a way that’s really useful for wireless planning. Such guides are rare because the ones that exist seem to be pushing specific products or services, are out of date or both. The NIST guide is current and Candell says it will stay that way. 

      “I have a technical working group managed through NIST and people are welcome to contribute,” he said. “We can always make improvements.” 

      Even if you’re don’t have immediate plans to take your factory wireless, this eBook is worth a read. If nothing else, it helps the IT staff explain just what’s possible and what’s not with a wireless network and that information alone is valuable. 

      Wayne Rash
      Wayne Rash
      https://www.eweek.com/author/wayne-rash/
      Wayne Rash is a content writer and editor with a 35-year history covering technology. He’s a frequent speaker on business, technology issues and enterprise computing. He is the author of five books, including his most recent, "Politics on the Nets." Rash is a former Executive Editor of eWEEK and a former analyst in the eWEEK Test Center. He was also an analyst in the InfoWorld Test Center and editor of InternetWeek. He's a retired naval officer, a former principal at American Management Systems and a long-time columnist for Byte Magazine.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.