Industrial security with SCALANCE S

Modern automation technology is based on communication and the trend toward increased networking of individual production islands. It is becoming more and more important to integrate all the manufacturing components into an end-to-end network that merges with the office network and the corporate Intranet. This applies also to the use of IT mechanisms, such as Web servers and e-mail with programmable controllers, as well as to the use of wireless LANs.

The integrated networking of individual automation components with each other or with components from the office IT world offers the possibility of using familiar technologies from the office area in conjunction with the automation network. However, this simultaneously constitutes an increased danger in the form of attacks from the external network.

Interaction with the IT world results in industrial communication being exposed to the hazards familiar from the office and IT environment, including hackers, worms and Trojan horses.

It is necessary to reliably protect automation networks against unauthorized access and interference from the external network. Current security concepts are especially designed for the office world and require constant administration and specialist knowledge. They are not usually conversant with the typical protocol landscape of industrial communication and are not equipped to withstand the special environmental conditions involved.

The need for network security is increasing

An independent market study has analyzed the status of network security for users of Ethernet networking solutions in production and automation networks, and investigated the potential hazards from the viewpoint of Ethernet users. The study shows that network security products are already used to a large extent for protecting the network or they are planned for future use.

Use of network security products

Industrial security with SCALANCE S 3