As OT environments become more digitalized and interconnected with the broader IT landscape, the ability of different systems and network devices to work together seamlessly is no longer a desirable feature but a fundamental requirement. This offers several key benefits, including:

• Streamlined operations: Network solutions with high interoperability are more easily integrated, reduce downtime caused by communication errors, and streamline operational workflows.
• Easier expansion: Compatibility with multiple systems and protocols makes it easier to add new devices and expand the OT network without running into major integration hurdles.
• Simplified management: Network solutions that support multiple protocols allow for centralized management through existing SCADA or PLC/HMI systems, saving valuable time and resources.

With cyberattacks becoming more sophisticated, including the use of AI and machine learning, traditional prevention-focused security measures are often inadequate. Organizations are now prioritizing cyber-resilience, the ability to withstand, recover from, and adapt to cyberattacks to minimize their impact and ensure operational continuity. This reflects a pragmatic shift in cybersecurity thinking.

In industrial environments, this is further complicated by the need to simplify the deployment of network security for OT operators, all the while avoiding any operational disruptions. Bolstering cyber-resilience usually focuses on three key areas:

• Minimizing the attack surface: This includes segmenting the network in zones, secure device configurations, and robust vulnerability management tools to reduce exploitable weaknesses.
• Enhancing security incident detection: Continuous monitoring of network traffic, analyzing system logs to identify anomalies early, and implementing IDS/IPS to detect unauthorized access attempts or abnormal activity help protect against potential threats.
• Accelerating incident recovery: Formulating incident response plans and performing frequent secure backups can help resume operations faster after an attack.

Unified industrial networks and time-sensitive networking (TSN) go hand in hand. More specifically, TSN is the technology that powers the capabilities necessary to unify network infrastructure. Let’s look at a brief definition of these two concepts.

• Unified networks: These are networks that have integrated different systems and types of network traffic (e.g., control data, video, standard IT data) into a single, standardized Ethernet infrastructure. This structure breaks down and converges the traditional silos created by proprietary industrial protocols and isolated IT/OT systems.
• TSN: A set of IEEE 802.1 standards that extends the capabilities of standard Ethernet to enable deterministic and time-synchronized communications. TSN allows different types of traffic with varying quality-of-service (QoS) requirements to coexist on a single Ethernet network.

For industrial operations that require real-time control and synchronization, TSN-powered deterministic and synchronized communication is the foundation for creating futureproof unified networks. The ability to converge IT and OT on a single, robust network ensures timely and reliable data delivery for sensitive applications like robotics and motion control.