Corporate Communications: how to Feed IT Systems with OT Data

IT-OT Convergence

Companies have understood that in order to optimize their production processes and completely increase their value chain, we can no longer make local optimizations between the different systems / departments / business units. ALL departments of the company are strongly related to provide value and we have reached a point where the greatest benefit is found in the optimization of intra-departmental relationships (or business units or any subdivision in which the company is structured).

On the other hand, technological advances, particularly in OT, are making it possible to interrelate processes that until now were very separate: industrial processes versus business processes. Real-time interrelation, with automatic data contextualization and direct decision-making, allowing optimization of the company’s global value chain. But this requires two things: data and communications.

We are in the Data Age

Another way of saying it is that for some years now, IT and OT technologies have been converging, that is, there is a clear trend towards the increasing integration of systems and technologies used in IT and OT environments.

IT refers to the systems and technologies used to manage, store, process and communicate information within an organization. This includes networks, servers, databases, software, applications, and other related components that are typical of office and administrative environments.

OT refers to the systems and technologies used to control and monitor physical and operational processes in industrial environments, such as manufacturing plants, critical infrastructures, energy systems, industrial automation, process control, and other related systems.

The convergence between IT and OT has become increasingly relevant due to the growing need to connect and optimize production systems and industrial operations. Some of the factors that have driven this convergence are:

1. Connectivity: Technological changes such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and industrial networks have enabled the interconnection of devices and systems in OT environments. This has opened up opportunities for real-time data collection and information exchange between OT and IT systems.
2. Data Analytics: obtaining and facilitating the analysis of large volumes of data generated in OT. By combining data from sensors, machine logs, and other operational data, organizations can gain valuable information to improve efficiency, decision-making, and asset management.
3. Cybersecurity: The “opening” of industrial networks has also led to undesirable effects such as the increased exposure of unprotected networks. The cybersecurity of OT systems has become crucial to prevent interruptions in production, damage to assets, and safety risks.
4. Process Optimization: The convergence between IT and OT enables the integration of business and operational processes. By connecting business planning systems with control and automation systems, organizations can achieve greater operational efficiency, improve the supply chain, and data-driven decision making.

Data, Data and more Data

Perfect, we have convergent systems and a multitude of data whose treatment can bring us great benefits, but… How do I feed my Business Intelligence systems?
We need communications and understand how that data can be shared. Let’s analyze the data integration interfaces in both environments:

Interfaces in IT

• APIs (Application Programming Interfaces): set of rules and protocols that allow different software applications to communicate and share data with each other. APIs allow developers to access and manipulate data and functionalities provided by a specific application or service.
• Web Services: a way to share data over a network using standardized protocols such as SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) or REST (Representational State Transfer). They allow applications to exchange data and invoke remote services using XML or JSON messages.
• Message Queues: enable asynchronous communication between applications, by allowing the sending and receiving of messages between separate components or systems. Popular message queuing protocols include AMQP (Advanced Message Queuing Protocol) and MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport).
• Database Interfaces: Applications often share data through databases such as JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) for Java applications or ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) for applications written in various languages. These interfaces provide a standardized way to interact with databases, allowing applications to retrieve, store, and manipulate data.
• File Transfer Protocols: such as FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) are commonly used to share files between applications and systems. They provide methods for uploading, downloading, and managing files over a network.
• Data Integration Tools: facilitate data exchange by allowing the extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) of data from various sources into a central repository or data warehouse (DataLake). These tools often offer interfaces to connect to different data sources and define data mapping and transformation rules.
• Pub/Sub Messaging Systems: such as Apache Kafka or RabbitMQ, allow applications to publish messages to specific topics or channels, and other applications can subscribe to those topics to receive the messages. This enables real-time data streaming and event-driven architectures.

Interfaces in OT

• OPC (OLE for Process Control): Widely adopted industry standard for communication between OT applications and devices, especially in automation and industrial control systems. OPC enables real-time data exchange and interoperability between various OT devices and applications.
• Modbus: Popular protocol used for communication between industrial devices, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and human-machine interfaces (HMIs). It allows data exchange through serial or Ethernet connections, and is commonly used in process control and industrial automation systems.
• Profibus: Fieldbus protocol widely used in industrial automation systems. It enables communication between field devices, such as sensors and actuators, and the central control system. Profibus supports both real-time and asynchronous data exchange.
• DNP3 (Distributed Network Protocol): Protocol commonly used in the utilities and energy sectors for communication between SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems and remote devices. It provides robust and secure data exchange, supporting real-time monitoring and control of devices in power grids and other critical infrastructures.
• MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport): Lightweight publish/subscribe messaging protocol commonly used in IoT and industrial applications. It enables efficient and reliable data exchange between devices, allowing real-time data transmission and remote monitoring.
• Ethernet/IP: IP of Industrial Protocol, not of Internet Protocol. It is an industrial protocol based on Ethernet and TCP/IP standards. It facilitates communication between industrial devices and software applications, supporting real-time data exchange and control.
• BACnet (Building Automation and Control Networks): Communication protocol used in building automation systems to enable data exchange and control between different devices and systems, such as HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems, lighting controls, and access control systems.

Wow, they don’t look alike at all…

Feeding Corporate Applications with OT Data

From Becolve Digital we understand the problem of how to feed IT systems with OT data, so we have a modular and flexible solution that allows us to:

• Collect process data in any standard or proprietary industrial protocol.
• Move said data between subnets securely, eliminating the need to expose OT networks that may be vulnerable and thus eliminate cybersecurity risks.
• Couple said data to corporate systems, whether by WebServices (SOAP / REST), SQL or no-SQL databases, network files, ERP, DataLakes, Business Intelligence, the cloud, etc.

An important part of our solution revolves around:

• KepserverEX
• OPC Router
• Datahub

Do not hesitate to contact us to expand information or resolve any questions.