By Balluff
The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) has become a major trend in the industry, driving advancements in process optimization, predictive maintenance, and downtime reduction. This relies on sensor data transmitted through Ethernet network blocks to an Ethernet-based PLC, which collects and analyzes real-time information. These network blocks are the backbone of modern industrial control systems and enterprise networks, enabling seamless communication and data transfer between the PLC and sensors. As cyber threats grow increasingly sophisticated and pervasive, securing these network blocks is essential to protecting sensitive information and maintaining uninterrupted operations.
Advancing network blocks: from data conduits to intelligent components
With technological advancements, network blocks have evolved from basic data conduits into complex, intelligent components capable of managing and securing data flow more effectively. Next-generation network blocks are designed to address the increasing demand for security and performance in today’s interconnected environments. The focus is protecting three key security objectives: confidentially, integrity, and availability.
Confidentiality: protecting sensitive data
Confidentiality ensures that sensitive information remains secret and protected from unauthorized access. Next-generation network blocks achieve this through user and device authentication. User-managed logins restrict access to authorized individuals, ensuring only specific roles can interact with the network blocks and communicate with critical sensor components.
- Expert login: Allows parameter changes on the network blocks whether the PLC controls it.
- User login: Grants read-only access to parameters.
- Admin role: Managers user permissions and sets up passwords and login credentials.
This role-based access control minimizes insider threats by ensuring users only access what is necessary for their roles. To prevent unauthorized data access, network blocks can generate self-signed certificates. Data readers must possess this certificate to interpret the data. Without it, the data remains encrypted and unintelligible, safeguarding sensitive information from unauthorized readers.
Integrity: protecting sensitive data
Integrity ensures that information is not altered or deleted without proper authorization. This is achieved by using secure protocols such as HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) instead of standard HTTP. HTTPS combines HTTP with Transport Layer Security, a protocol that establishes an encrypted connection between a browser and a web server.
This encryption protects sensitive data like the login credentials, during transmission. Additionally, an HTTPS connection ensures the user interacts with the legitimate network webpage and confirms that the data sent to the network block has not been modified or tampered with. Additionally, an HTTPS connection ensures the user interacts with the legitimate network webpage and confirms that the data sent to the network block has not been modified or tampered with.
Availability: ensuring continuous operations
Availability ensures that the network block continues to work even during an attack. Such an attack may involve an attacker overwhelming the module with a huge number of requests. To mitigate this, authentication can be required before communicating with the module, and limits can be set on the number of connections and requests the network module allows.
Securing the future of industrial networks
Next-generation network blocks represent a significant advancement in securing data transfer and communication within industrial and enterprise networks. By incorporating access controls and advanced encryption, these blocks provide a comprehensive approach to protecting critical infrastructure against evolving security threats. As the digital landscape advances, the need for innovative and resilient security measures becomes increasingly important. Investing in next-generation network blocks with enhanced security features not only safeguards sensitive data but also preserves the integrity and reliability of your network operations.
This article was originally published on Balluff.com
