Data Integrity starts with the design of the system which in the case of Yokogawa’s recorder, is based upon a non-Windows operating system. This means minimized risk of computer viruses or malicious codes. The SMARTDAC+ paperless recorder is a fit for purpose system with full integration of hardware and software (firmware) components. This results in less validation work.
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, information retrieval or even data mining – these are all buzzwords that come up in connection with autonomous systems within the process industry. Are autonomous systems the future in the process industry and thus practically the next step beyond automation? I already wrote in my previous post that I see in precisely this circumstance the beginning of a change in automation that is moving towards industrial autonomous systems. But what actually makes us so confident that this transformation will actually take place?
Autonomy through perseverance Read More »
Digital transformation, so-called Industry 4.0, has been talked about for ten years now. What began at that time as a future project for comprehensive digitalisation is now taking place as a transformation throughout society and is also establishing itself in industry. The past twelve months in particular have given another enormous push in this direction. For example, the pandemic has accelerated the digital communication strategy of companies by six years on average worldwide. Digital transformation offers opportunities in all areas of business to adapt and evolve in the world of rapidly changing markets and technologies. The continuous development of digital technologies opens up new opportunities in research and development, but also in the areas of engineering, marketing, sales and services, all the way to logistics and value chains. Join us here on this blog with more topics on digital transformation in the process industry.
Make your digital transformation in the process industry Read More »
Imagine this scenario: A chemical processing company decides to launch a cybersecurity program for a manufacturing plant, so it brings together an IT expert and someone from operations who is moderately well versed in the plant networks. The two have other responsibilities and complete their task quickly by inserting a smattering of security appliances at strategic points and declare the plant protected.
Meanwhile, a hacker who has been systematically analyzing the plant’s networks over several months, has a better grasp of the architecture and what assets are deployed than anyone in the facility. The hacker gained access because some system integrator, a few years ago, installed a Brand X PLC to solve a chemical injection problem. The technician left a path to access the PLC via the internet for follow-up service, but everyone has forgotten about it. The hacker is aware of a key vulnerability—a default password—with that PLC because its characteristics were published, but the plant never acted on changing it because they had forgotten it is even there. This vulnerability provides the hacker a path into the larger network through an unprotected connection from the PLC to the automation system.
While this scenario is an oversimplification, it illustrates the problems many companies face as they consider how to approach cybersecurity strategy for operations technology (OT) networks. A well-thought-out strategy will find and correct these problems, and for the rest of this article, we will look at how to implement this type of plan.
Risk Assessment: First Step to Securing an OT Environment Read More »
It is not easy to find your way in the sea of technological solutions related to predictive maintenance. As Product Marketing Manager, it is my job to understand and test the real potential of the tools I am dealing with, in this case Yokogawa’s wireless sensors, called “Sushi Sensors”, which monitor parameters such as vibration, pressure and temperature. Read the blog article with the title “A simple experiment on Predictive Maintenance and IA2IA” here.
A simple experiment on Predictive Maintenance and IA2IA Read More »
To start 2020, we look back to 2019 on the Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals blog and present the ten most read articles of the past year in an exciting and worthwhile top ten list.
The most popular blog articles of 2019 Read More »
Whether banking, shopping, mailing, streaming music or TV, forums or social networks – passwords are in demand almost everywhere. As secure as possible, of course. And in order to guarantee the highest possible level of confidence, i.e. confidentiality of your data, you should not only choose a password that is as secure as possible, but also a password that is as individual as possible for each individual account. But be careful! One thing should be clear to everyone: there is no one hundred percent guarantee of security. However, one can and should try to make the security layers around one’s own sensitive data as impenetrable as possible in order to get as close as possible to the optimal protection. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to do this.
Where to store your passwords and how Read More »
As we have seen in part 1 of this article, there are processes that cause a system’s performance to (prematurely) deteriorate or that the system can no longer fulfil its purpose. As we will see, these processes are not so different for cars (part 1) and safety systems in the process industry. However, there is a big difference in the rules and regulations during operation. We drivers have a bit of the “main inspection” and perhaps the “inspection booklet” of the manufacturer on our backs. Otherwise the legislator more or less leaves it to us to admonish to be on the road with a “safe” vehicle. This is quite different with regard to safety in the process industry. There is a multitude of laws, rules etc. that must be observed.
Safety needs friends… (Part 2/2) Read More »
Security needs friends, because it has enemies! Also in the process industry. The example “Car” in part 1 of our new #Series tells you which enemies safety has!
Safety needs friends… (Part 1) Read More »
