MechTech June 2016 Final

Mechanical Technology — June 2016

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Automation, mechatronics and electro-mechanical systems

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ndustrial applications across the globe are being trans-

formed by connecting a greater number and wider range

of ‘things’ that create tremendous opportunities to innovate

and drive out inefficiency. However, as your organisation

creates an Internet of Things (IoT) strategy, you should answer

these important security questions:

How do I determine whether a device is a

candidate for IoT?

As more devices are embedded with smart sensors and gain

the ability to communicate, these things then become the

tools we use for better understanding complex processes. They

can help create smarter machines that can then be better

controlled, thereby increasing efficiency. All these devices are

linked through wired and wireless networks using the same

network technology as the Internet, so securing the architecture

from attacks, data authentication and access control become

increasingly more important.

To determine if your device should be connected to the IoT,

simply ask, “What is the value of having it on the network?”

Just because you can connect something, doesn’t mean you

should. If the value of connecting is greater than the risk,

then it is a likely candidate. If you do decide to put it on the

network, make sure it uses standard EtherNet/IP™ technology

“To truly gain the advantages and opportunity the Internet of Things (IoT) promises, you need

to accept the convergence of IT and OT network infrastructures,” says Mike Hannah (left),

product business manager for networks at Rockwell Automation. In this article he identifies

six questions that should be asked about creating an Internet of Things cyber security strategy

to help protect your network, increase efficiency and meet future infrastructure needs.

Automated and networked solution

for SAB plant

ockwell Automation recently supplied South African Breweries

(SAB) with its first fully automated and networked EtherNet/

IP-based control system for its new maltings plant in Alrode,

Gauteng. The new control system will integrate traditionally dis-

parate malt production processes into a single networked solution

to provide plant-wide visibility and actionable data. The new plant

will account for more than half of the breweries’ South African and

Namibian malt production when fully commissioned.

Situated next to the company’s existing brewery in Alrode,

the new plant will increase local malt production from 60

to 90%, reducing the financial impact of imported malt and

increasing malt production from 42 000 to 150 000 tons

per annum.

SAB contacted Rockwell Automation to design a fully

automated and networked solution, a first for SAB. The

solution plant connects all data from the plant floor to the

rest of the SAB enterprise, transforming the plant into a

‘connected enterprise’.

“By converging operations technology and information

technology, SAB now has secure access to operational, busi-

ness and transactional data to improve the malting plant’s

supply chain, economic and sustainable performance,”

explains Adrian van Wyk, business manager for power and

components, Rockwell Automation, sub-Saharan Africa.

All devices and processes within the plant are integrated

SAB’s first fully automated and connected maltings plant will produce 150 000

tons of malt every year.

Six questions to ask

when

securing your IoT

and conforms to IP standards and best practices. This helps

deliver data in a consistent manner and allows various levels

of security technologies to be used.

What can I do to protect the control systems

from a potential flood of IoT communications

and threats?

We all have seen or been in nasty traffic jams caused by roads

that weren’t changed to accommodate the rising population in

that area. That’s what your network can look like without careful

planning. By 2020, it is estimated that 20 billion devices will

be IoT-connected. Do your homework and put a proper plan in

place that not only addresses your needs today, but also looks

ahead to the future.

No one product, technology or methodology can fully se-

cure industrial applications. It takes a Defence in Depth (DiD)

approach to address both internal and external threats. This

approach uses multiple layers of security including physical,

policy and technology.

As an example, verify that all unused ports are locked either

programmatically or physically using lockout connectors; put

your controller into ‘run mode’ and use passwords. These are

things that can be done today.

In addition, you can put policies in place to control human