The Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, has integrated digital technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), operational technology, and information technology into the heart of manufacturing. This crucial convergence is redefining the boundaries of what’s possible in smart factory environments by enhancing efficiency, improving productivity, and bolstering the security of industrial operations, paving the way for a more interconnected and intelligent manufacturing environment.
Machines, now more autonomous and capable than ever, are venturing into spaces where humans cannot easily or safely go—be it dangerous industrial sites or remote disaster-stricken areas. This shift not only elevates the capabilities of remote-controlled machines but also necessitates a robust and resilient network infrastructure to support such advanced operations.
What cybersecurity risks do manufacturers face?
While the advancements in modern factories due to Industry 4.0 promise immense gains in efficiency, compliance, reliability, and processing speed, they also introduce significant cybersecurity risks.
‘Disruption of services’ and ‘Malware’ posed severe threats, underlining the critical need for manufacturers to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses. While governments are increasing their investments in security, it is essential for manufacturers to proactively improve their inherent cybersecurity measures to protect against such threats,” according to a recent Annual Cyber Threat Report from the Australian Cyber Security Centre.
Understanding the roles of OT and IT in modern factories
Operational Technology (OT) is fundamentally concerned with the operational aspects of the manufacturing environment. This includes all hardware and software that directly controls and monitors the physical processes and machinery on the factory floor, such as valves, conveyors, and assembly robots. These systems are vital for managing the direct execution of tasks and ensuring the smooth operation of all physical equipment.
Information Technology (IT), in contrast, focuses on the management and processing of information across systems. IT is primarily responsible for network infrastructure, data management, and cybersecurity within corporate environments. It ensures that data, whether related to machinery operations, industrial processes, or network interactions, is processed securely, efficiently, and reliably.
DDI—comprising DNS, DHCP, and IPAM—plays a crucial role in the integration of OT and IT, serving as the backbone for seamless connectivity and network management. It provides detailed network insights and ensures that the devices and systems are consistently connected and correctly identified, facilitating the improved efficiency of automating critical network processes. DDI also strengthens cybersecurity across the smart manufacturing networks by managing access and control, and supports scalability by efficiently allocating network resources to accommodate new technologies and expanding operations, thereby driving innovation within integrated OT-IT ecosystems.
Here, DDI solutions emerge as a critical enabler, optimizing network performance and ensuring seamless machine operation across a variety of demanding production environments. Delivering a proactive defense, DDI solutions enhanced visibility and control over their network infrastructure which are crucial for mitigating risks in this new era of digital manufacturing.
Enabling sophisticated automation of critical network processes
DDI solutions perform a crucial role in automating several key network processes in connected smart factories. These processes are vital for maintaining operational efficiency, enhancing security, and ensuring continuous production in factory networks heavily reliant on IIoT devices and other interconnected systems.
These solutions manage the dynamic assignment and reclamation of IP addresses using DHCP, preventing conflicts and ensuring efficient IP inventory management across subnets. DDI systems also manage DHCP lease duration and automate renewals to keep IP addresses available for new devices, and incorporate error-checking mechanisms to avoid network disruptions.
Additionally, automated DNS management via dynamic DNS (DDNS) quickly updates DNS records to reflect changes in IP addresses or network topology, such as device additions or removals. This is crucial for maintaining the consistency and accuracy of the domain name resolution process, enhancing network resilience, and reducing downtime. DDI also optimizes network resource allocation dynamically adjusting to the changing needs of a factory environment, improving network performance and reducing resource wastage.
Effective network segmentation for granular visibility and access controls
Network segmentation, achieved through granular management of DHCP scopes, VLANs, and DNS views, helps isolate multiple segments within a network. This separation contains malware outbreaks, preventing them from spreading widely and causing extensive damage in a manufacturing environment. DNS views allow different network segments to obtain appropriate DNS information, thereby enforcing strict policies about which devices can connect to which segments within the factory network. Scope management further aids in specifying and enforcing policies that control how IP addresses are allocated to devices joining different segments, thereby enhancing security and granular control over network configurations. Also, centralized management of these segments helps to maintain clear visibility and control over network configurations and usage, reducing the chance of operational errors.
Improving network security with DNS firewall
DDI solutions contribute significantly to network security by providing DNS firewall functionalities that provide additional security layers, such as response rate limiting and response policy zones. DNS firewalls can block known malicious sites and filter out traffic to and from botnets and command and control servers, preventing malware distribution and communication. These features help prevent ongoing DDoS attacks, proactively block access to malicious domains, and protect against data exfiltration attempts, ensuring the factory’s network and data remain secure. Also, monitoring DNS queries with visually rich DNS analytics help factory IT admins identify unusual patterns that may indicate reconnaissance activities by attackers.
Managing high turnover of IIoT devices with DHCP fingerprinting
Smart factories experience high turnover and variability in IIoT devices. DHCP fingerprinting rules configured via DDI solutions identifies and authenticates devices as they join the network, applying appropriate network policies based on the device type. This not only enhances security by preventing unauthorized access but also ensures that each device is correctly configured to operate within the designated network environment.
Enhancing redundancy and reliability
Smart factories often rely heavily on real-time automation and data exchange involving numerous devices and sensors interconnected across a factory floor. DDI solutions ensure that this vast array of networked devices maintain reliable connectivity with minimal downtime through regular health checks. Moreover, DDI solutions provide built-in predefined load balancing and failover mechanisms with multiple primary and secondary to deliver high redundancy for critical network services like DNS and DHCP. This also helps distribute critical network traffic efficiently and maintain network availability even in the event of service disruptions. This is crucial in a manufacturing environment where even minimal downtime can result in significant operational losses.
Keeping factory networks in line with regulations
Manufacturing firms face stringent regulatory requirements that demand meticulous network management and data handling practices. DDI solutions help maintain detailed records of network events, configurations and changes, as well as support compliance with standards such as ISO 27001, the GDPR, and others. The audit trails created by DDI systems are invaluable during compliance reviews and audits.
Deploying DDI solutions like ManageEngine DDI Central for interconnected network infrastructures enhances operational efficiency and builds a robust framework for cybersecurity.
By granularly controlling the three critical network services through a unified single window, network administrators of smart factories can utilize DDI Central to achieve higher productivity, better manage their complex ecosystems of connected industrial devices, and protect themselves against the evolving landscape of cyber threats. This strategic approach to network management ensures that smart factories can maintain their edge in a highly competitive and technologically advanced industrial environment.
Download a free, 30-day trial now to explore how DDI Central can transform your network.
Watch the webinar below for more insights
