Posts

Secure IoT Gateway Architecture

/by

An enhanced, secure-by-design OPC UA to MQTT gateway can pass data through a DMZ or IT department, keeping all inbound firewall ports on the plant closed.

Read more

How Much Control Goes to the Cloud?

/by

None. That’s what any reasonable automation engineer will tell you.  Or at least, that’s what he or she would have said a few years back.  Today, with growing interest and acceptance of Industrial IoT and Industrie 4.0, the message is starting to change.  People are talking about the possibility of doing supervisory control through cloud-based systems.  For example, the cover theme of last month’s issue of Control Engineering was “Optimize controls via cloud software“, and it included articles from MESA, Honeywell, and Skkynet related to cloud-based control of manufacturing.

Our contribution was a short article titled: “Control in the cloud: How much?”  In it we point out how users and suppliers are becoming more sophisticated in their understanding, and are starting to look at edge computing as an alternative to cloud computing.  We encourage plant engineers and managers to get the best of both approaches by putting computing power where it is needed.

We identify four areas where real-time processing can take place:

Device: Adding compute power to sensors and other equipment can reduce the amount of data sent to the plant and cloud, and also simplify upstream processing.

Plant: This is where most industrial computing has taken place traditionally, and where new computing tasks can support IIoT to improve efficiency.

Gateway: Processing and filtering data at the gateway can support installed SCADA and HMI systems by serving as an intelligent interface to the cloud.

Cloud: By reducing, managing, and enhancing the quality of the data at or near the source, cloud computing resources become more effective.

As you might expect, what you gain from using cloud services for industrial control depends on how you manage the data you send to the cloud and what you need to get back in return. The article explains how choosing the right level for each computing task can reduce costs and generate a quicker round trip time for any data or analytics that come back to the plant.

Balancing the data load at each step in the process seems to be the key to a successful implementation, and adding edge computing where it is needed looks to be the thing that pulls it all together.

Skkynet Software Now Available on AVEVA Digital Exchange

/by
AVEVA customers can now access DataHub software through the AVEVA Digital Exchange.

Mississauga, Ontario, September 11, 2018 – Skkynet Cloud Systems, Inc. (“Skkynet” or “the Company”) (OTCQB: SKKY), a global leader in real-time data communication for industrial systems, announces that the latest version of the DataHub is now available on the AVEVA Digital Exchange.  Offering unparalleled real-time data connectivity options for AVEVA customers, DataHub software provides a proven, secure way for them to integrate their systems in-plant, and seamlessly into Industrial IoT and Industrie 4.0 as well.

“The Digital Exchange is the ideal collaborative venue for the DataHub,” said Paul Thomas, President of Skkynet. “Forward-thinking AVEVA users are sure to recognize the value of secure data communication for their digital transformation scenarios, be they for integrating real-time data in the plant, connecting OT (operations technology) to IT, accessing remote locations, or leveraging cloud services.”

The AVEVA Digital Exchange is the first industrial marketplace to unite end users with solution providers to drive digital transformation across the complete operations and asset management value chain.

Having the DataHub on the Digital Exchange gives AVEVA users access to a robust and secure way to integrate their production data among and between the most popular industrial protocols, such as OPC, Modbus, ODBC and TCP. With the upcoming release of Version 9 of the DataHub, new Industrial IoT gateway functionality will be added.  This will give AVEVA users the ability to implement in-plant, cloud-based and hybrid systems conveniently and securely.

Skkynet’s products and services—DataHub for in-plant, SkkyHub for cloud, and ETK for embedded devices—provide secure access to industrial data through open, standard industrial protocols, allowing users to fully integrate OT with IT systems and other applications anywhere in the world. Secure by design, they require no VPN, no open firewall ports, no special programming, and no additional hardware. Secure integration of embedded devices, on-premise systems, and remote locations through seamless, end-to-end connectivity in real time lets users derive maximum value from Industrial IoT and Industrie 4.0.

About Skkynet

Skkynet Cloud Systems, Inc. (OTCQB: SKKY) is a global leader in real-time cloud information systems. The Skkynet Connected Systems platform includes the award-winning SkkyHub™ service, DataHub® middleware, and Embedded Toolkit (ETK) software. The platform enables real-time data connectivity for industrial, embedded, and financial systems, with no programming required. Skkynet’s platform is uniquely positioned for the “Internet of Things” and “Industry 4.0” because unlike the traditional approach for networked systems, SkkyHub is secure-by-design. For more information, see https://skkynet.com.

Safe Harbor

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, and results of new business opportunities. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, such as the inherent uncertainties associated with new business opportunities and development stage companies. Skkynet assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements. Although Skkynet believes that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Investors should refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in Skkynet’s annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.