Risk is often defined as the likelihood that something will occur multiplied by the impact it would have. In the world of automation, some of those possible impacts are unexpected downtime, loss of data, theft of information, damage to people and products, and inaccurate data – not to mention the fines and penalties when government regulations are not met.
At Software Toolbox, we understand that data availability, integrity, and confidentiality are of the utmost importance. As the adoption of IIoT grows, so does network exposure, increasing the likelihood of potential security issues. Implementing safe protocols and practices are essential to mitigating these risks.
Since 2004, the United States has recognized October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of cybersecurity. With our users in mind, we are sharing this blog post to highlight some of the resources we offer to help you reduce cybersecurity risks and enhance security when using our solutions.
Compliance with government regulations, such as those discussed in our Earth Day blog last year and the NIS 2 directive in the EU, is both essential and mandatory. While compliance ensures that key security measures are implemented, it does not guarantee complete system security on its own.
There are many standards, best practices, and frameworks available—such as ISA, IEC, CISA, NIST, NIS. While we recommend consulting these resources and recommend working with your IT department to address cybersecurity within your systems, our software offers several security-enhancing features you can leverage. Additionally, we provide guides to help align your industrial automation practices with your wider company cybersecurity initiatives.
Notifications
Notifications help you identify unexpected behavior and values, alerting you as soon as something goes wrong, so the right people can take the right action.
- OPC Router – Report Downtime for your Connections
- Using OPC Router for Real-Time Process Updates to Microsoft Teams Chat
- Email Reports / Alerts from OPC & Other Data Sources
- Can your OPC systems tell you when something is wrong?
- Making Your Smart Phone Smarter with Email/SMS Alerts
- Networking Real-Time and Alarm Data at Large Scale & Securely Case Study
Auditing
Tracking who makes changes can help your team identify potential threat factors.
- OPC Server Remote Configuration Client with Audit Trail
- TOP Server Event Log Provides Detailed Warnings, Errors, Auditing and More
Secure OPC UA
If you are familiar with OPC UA, you know it was built with security in mind. Unlike OPC DA, OPC UA offers enhanced security with fewer challenges arising during implementation. As a member of the 
OPC Foundation, Software Toolbox and our partners ensure that our solutions are thoroughly tested for OPC UA interoperability.
- Exploring OPC UA Security Concepts – Securing Your Industrial Process Data
- Exploring OPC UA - OPC UA Certificate Basics
- Exploring OPC UA - Symmetric vs Asymmetric Encryption
- Exploring OPC UA – Key Concepts of a Layered Security Model
- Understanding OPC UA Certificates and Certificate Authorities
- Exploring OPC UA Security Concepts - Securing Your Industrial Process Data Whitepaper
- Tech Support Corner: When Your IT Team Asks about OPC UA and Its Potential Network Impact
- Tech Support Corner: Secure UA Authentication with Cogent DataHub
- Subscribe Securely to Signed and Encrypted Messages in OPC UA PubSub with OPC Data Client
- Easily Manage OPC UA Endpoint and Security Settings for TOP Server
Securely Accessing the Cloud
When accessing data from the Cloud it’s essential to do so securely.
- OPC Router Power Tips - Using OAuth 2.0 with REST APIs
- DataHub IoT Gateway - Secure Industrial Data Streaming to the Cloud
- Securing your MQTT Data Access in Cogent DataHub V11
- The Benefits of Secure Remote Access to Industrial Process Data
- Secure, Redundant Remote Monitoring
Secure Remote Configuration
Configure your industrial software securely, no matter where you are.
- OPC Server Remote Configuration Client
- Cogent DataHub Provides Secure Remote Configuration Built In
- Dream Report Remote Connectivity Server
Tunnelling
Securely tunnel OPC DA data to avoid DCOM headaches.
- Connect Differently: Moving Data Without Open Production Network Inbound Firewall Ports
- Can You Tunnel Remote Data Without Opening the Firewall?
- How should a tunneler handle network security?
- 25 Considerations when choosing an OPC tunneling solution
- Secure OPC Tunnelling Case Study
Minimizing Attack Surface
Reducing exposure is essential to reducing risk. Keep your attack surfaces small with configurable user management and outbound-only ports.
- Cogent DataHub V11 Security Enhancements Deep Dive
- TOP Server Security and User Management
- Tech Support Corner: Protecting Your TOP Server OPC UA Process Data
- Firewall Ports: There's More to It and Why Your IT Team Has Concerns
Redundancy
Redundancy minimizes impact by helping you restore operations quickly in the event that something does goes wrong.
- Redundant OPC Connectivity with Cogent DataHub
- OPC Router Application High Availability & Data Connection Redundancy
- DataHub High Availability & Data Source Redundancy Solutions
- Ensuring Data Availability with the TOP Server Redundancy Plug-In
- Revisiting TOP Server Redundancy with Communication Paths
- Demystifying Redundancy in Automation
- Got OPC Redundancy Questions?
- How Redundancy Can Define Success or Failure in a Control System
Secure Configuration Guides
Leverage every opportunity to enhance security with security features that are available out-of-the-box.
- TOP Server
- OPC Data Client
- DataHub
Secure OPC DA
Still using OPC DA? Don’t worry!
- DCOM Hardening & Your Alternatives to Eliminate Security Risk & Stress
- OPC Connectivity & Security Concerns in IT/OT Convergence
- Optimizing OPC Connection with DataHub
Software Updates
It is critical to keep your software up to date. Software releases include continuous improvements and changes to address and stay ahead of emerging threats. As a part of our Support and Maintenance agreement, you have access to free upgrades for the latest release of your software. We always recommend running the latest release of our solutions when possible and testing thoroughly before any upgrade. Best practices for upgrading, such as our TOP Server Upgrade Best Practices, can be found at our support site.
Has your support and maintenance agreement lapsed? Not sure if your support and maintenance agreement is active? Reach out to our team to renew and get a quote today!
Conclusion
We hope you find these resources useful in keeping your systems secure! Subscribe to our blog for more resources like these and to keep up with product releases.
