The Namur Open Architecture (NOA) is an architecture for the process industry that allows for easier adoption of modern digital technologies. By adding data diodes organisations in the process industry using the NOA architecture can not only modernise their systems but also protect critical assets, and remain competitive in an increasingly digital landscape.
What is the Namur Open Architecture (NOA)?
NOA is an initiative that aims to modernise the automation and process control systems in the process industry. It promotes an open and flexible architecture that facilitates the integration of various systems and devices, enabling better interoperability and data exchange. This approach enhances operational efficiency and allows for easier adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies.
With NOA, users can easily transfer all that valuable data securely via a second channel from smart devices to a central platform and software applications. NOA offers secure access to all the automation network data, using the OPC UA communication standard, and makes the data available without changes to an existing automation network.
The NOA architecture – in which “Data Direction Control” is the term used with reference to data diodes.
Cyberattacks can have very large consequences for your business
Being exposed to a cyberattack can have very big consequences for the affected company/organisation:
- Major productivity losses as the attack can cause interruptions and production stops. The attack can also mean a more lasting deterioration in productivity and quality.
- With a cyberattack hitting a production the consequences could even lead to serious injury or even death. A cyberattack could e.g. cause an explosion or damage a production machine so that someone gets crushed in it.
- Leakage or even loss of information. Intangible assets are at risk of being stolen.
- The trust and reputation of the company can be seriously damaged, which can lead to difficulties in getting new customers in the future but also difficulties in getting financing.
- Significant costs can arise in connection with the attack, including paying external service providers for forensic investigations and recovering down computers, but also for extra work internally to resolve the situation. It can also entail costs if you as a company do not meet various requirements, in the form of, for example, laws and regulations, which are placed on the business.
- There is a risk that the company will be forced to shut down the entire operation, at least temporarily, which for a lot of businesses that are based on being constantly in operation is a serious threat.
So how do you protect your business from threats, while remaining efficient and able to continue to guarantee a certain expected uptime?
Data diodes – protects your critical systems
A data diode is a security product that is placed between two networks and acts as a check valve whose function only allows data to be sent in one direction while blocking all data in the opposite direction. Since the data diode’s security features are based on hardware and optical fiber, it can be shown that it is physically impossible for data to be transported in the opposite direction.
Data diodes are crucial components in ensuring cybersecurity in industrial environments. Their function of only allowing unidirectional data flow, meaning data can be transmitted from one network to another without allowing any return path is particularly important for protecting critical systems from external threats while still enabling necessary data transfer for monitoring and analysis.
Why the process industry should use data diodes together with NOA
The process industry should consider using NOA together with data diodes for several compelling reasons:
1. Enhanced cybersecurity
By incorporating data diodes within the NOA framework, organisations can enhance the security of their automation systems. The unidirectional data flow minimises the risk of cyberattacks while still providing real-time data to analytics systems.
2. Operational efficiency
With data diodes facilitating secure data transfer to analytics platforms, organisations can gain real-time insights into operations without compromising security.
3. Data integrity
Data diodes protect the integrity of the data in the protected domain, ensuring that only selected data will go through the data diode. This is essential in industries where data accuracy is paramount for operational security and safety.
4. Flexibility and scalability
NOA’s open architecture supports various technologies and protocols, making it easier to integrate data diodes as new security needs arise. This flexibility allows organisations to scale their security measures alongside their operational growth.
5. Compliance and standards
With increasing regulatory requirements in industries like oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, using data diodes within the NOA structure can help organisations comply with security standards while maintaining operational efficiency.
6. Future-Proofing Operations
By adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity with data diodes, organisations build a better resilience against emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
So to summarise – using NOA together with data diodes provides the process industry with a robust framework that balances operational efficiency and security. This integration enables organisations to modernise their systems, protect critical assets, and remain competitive in an increasingly digital landscape.
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