7 Requirements for Wireless Solutions Intended to Support Critical Infrastructure
No matter the cellular technology energy suppliers plan to deploy in support of SCADA systems, the wireless solutions they select must meet several core requirements in order to be considered by communications project managers.
Industrial-Grade Construction
Every cellular modem, router, or gateway deploying as part of SCADA systems must be ruggedized solutions. They need to be capable of withstanding extreme environmental conditions like very high and very low temperatures, humidity, corrosion, vibration, and more. Additionally, cellular communications devices must be Class 1, Division 2 (C1D2)-certified for use in hazardous environments.
Reliability and Longevity
SCADA systems and the solutions that empower them aren't temporary - they need to last. Depending upon the location and application, some power grid and SCADA equipment may need to stay online for decades to come. All cellular solutions designed to support this equipment must be built with long-term use in mind - functioning reliably for 10, 15, even 20 years.
Low Maintenance and Remote Manageability
All cellular technologies supporting SCADA systems must be completely manageable and upgradable via remote means. Device firmware is often upgraded to add new features, enhance security, or maintain compliance with the latest wireless communication standards. IT managers need to be able to remotely manage, configure, test, validate, update and troubleshoot both the wireless gateway and the underlying asset, over the air, from anywhere in the world.
Flexible and Configurable
Given the need to interact with a broad range of equipment and software systems, wireless devices and management applications used in SCADA systems must incorporate protocols to communicate with legacy equipment and convert legacy data traffic to IP. This capability is essential to modernize SCADA systems and take advantage of ubiquitous, low-cost IP networks, without having to upgrade the entire legacy infrastructure.
Strong Security
When providing remote command and control capabilities for critical infrastructure, several security threats must be addressed. The most important: assuring data integrity and maintaining continuity of service throughout the grid. Wireless solutions should have built-in security protocols to further bolster the already-secure public cellular network. At a minimum, wireless solutions must support encryption and secure sockets layer (SSL) transmission.
Simple Installation
Energy suppliers should be able to deploy cellular solutions relatively easily, even at remote substation sites, without requiring technicians with extensive expertise in wireless technologies. Along these lines, cellular SCADA solutions should support broad-based over-the-air setup and configuration capabilities to allow IT managers to configure wireless solutions for the entire network from a single operations center.
Intelligent Management
Essential for any wireless SCADA solution is a robust, intelligent management platform that can assure a reliable connection, facilitate comprehensive remote management and programmability, and provide a broad range of application services. IT managers must have complete control over what data to collect, when and how often to collect it, and where to send it.
Contact USAT
USAT is a premiere reseller of Sierra Wireless IoT-Enabled communications devices. USAT specializes in improving the efficiency of our clientele’s mission-critical operations by implementing wireless communication solutions for data acquisition. USAT provides, configures, and deploys durable, secure, and field-tested intelligent network devices to fit the exacting requirements and budgets of our clients' wireless connectivity initiatives.
We're happy to help you select the most appropriate devices for your SCADA communication needs.
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