In the mid-20th century, global trade was revolutionised not by a new type of ship or a faster engine, but by a simple metal box: the standardised shipping container. The genius of the container was not the box itself, but the system it created. For the first time, it allowed goods to move seamlessly between ships, trains, and trucks, creating a single, integrated global logistics network. This revolution holds a powerful lesson for one of the biggest challenges in modern industry: the integration of Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT).
This article explains why a standardised, well-engineered network is the key to successfully integrating your plant-floor systems with your corporate business systems.
For decades, OT and IT have existed in two different worlds. The OT network on the plant floor is focused on controlling physical processes and prioritises reliability and safety. The IT network in the corporate office is focused on data and communication, and prioritises speed and flexibility. These two worlds often use different technologies, different protocols, and are managed by different teams with different priorities. This creates a "digital break-of-gauge" that makes it incredibly difficult to get valuable data from the factory floor to the decision-makers in the boardroom.
The shipping container revolutionised trade because it created a common standard. A container from any company could fit on any ship, any train, or any truck, anywhere in the world. This eliminated the slow, costly, and inefficient process of manually unloading and reloading cargo at every port and rail yard. The principle is clear: seamless integration is only possible when all parts of the system are built to a common, well-defined standard.
At MPX, our Telecommunications and Network Engineering services are designed to be the "shipping container" for your industrial data. We specialise in designing and implementing unified network architectures that bridge the gap between the OT and IT worlds, creating a single, secure, and efficient system for data flow.
Our approach to OT/IT Integration focuses on:
Converged Network Design
Creating a single, cohesive network infrastructure that can securely and reliably carry both operational and business traffic, while using tools like VLANs and firewalls to maintain the necessary separation and security.
Protocol Translation
Implementing solutions that can translate between the different languages spoken by your industrial equipment (like Modbus or Profinet) and your corporate IT systems.
Cybersecurity for OT
Designing the network with a deep understanding of the unique cybersecurity challenges of industrial control systems, ensuring that integration does not create new vulnerabilities.
We build the integrated digital infrastructure that allows your data to move as seamlessly as a shipping container, from the sensor to the boardroom.
When planning your integration strategy, ensure it is built on these three pillars:
Network Segmentation
Your OT network should be logically separated from your IT network by a robust industrial firewall. All traffic between the two networks must be explicitly permitted and inspected.
The Demilitarised Zone (DMZ)
Create a "neutral ground" network, or DMZ, between your OT and IT networks. Any server that needs to be accessed by both worlds (like a data historian) should be placed in the DMZ, not directly on the OT or IT network.
Uni-Directional Data Flow
Where possible, data should only flow in one direction: from the more secure OT network up to the IT network. Limiting the ability for the IT network to send commands down to the OT network is a critical security principle.
The integration of OT and IT is no longer an option; it is a competitive necessity. By applying the same principles of standardisation and system-wide thinking that drove the shipping container revolution, you can break down the silos between your operations and your business, unlocking a new era of data-driven efficiency.
Contact MPX to learn how our expertise in network integration can help you build a more connected and intelligent enterprise.
