Operational Technology – Highly proprietary hardware & software: Expensive, inflexible, not ready for digitalisation
Sequence Number
7
Industry
Energy
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How 5G enabled
5G communication will complement OPA-based control systems, enabling standardised integration of IT and OT elements
Data Flows
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Devices
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Description
Wide range of sensors in an OT environment
Increasing the number of IT connected sensors for non-highly critical activities.
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Connectivity
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Description
OT: Currently proprietary based but moving towards 5G
Transmitted over open standards such as 5G on a reliable and secure network
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Edge Compute
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Description
Latency critical data could be stored and processed at the edge
Focus on operational critical decisions
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Cloud Compute & Storage
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Description
All data to be stored in Enterprise storage
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Applications & Services
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Description
AI (ML) based apps for IT based data covering predictive maintenance
Expect that OT based decisions are time critical
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Inform Decision Makers
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Standardised reports, insights with automation of critical alerts
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Support Decision Making
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Description
End of process
Application Logic
Description
The OT space includes all critical operational critical elements of a plant. OT devices are often driven by proprietary hardware & software
Aim for IT connected sensors given much lower costs and more flexibility
Non-critical work all moves to IT
Description
5G and open standards based (e.g., OPAF) technology in OT will present opportunities for new hardware and software based on industry standard solutions
Bandwidth guarantees and minimal latency allows 5G to be the first open technology to be used for OT type traffic
Description
Open standards across IT and OT will take unification of data to the next level
Allowing AI systems to gain visibility and control even in OT areas leads to broader usage of predictive maintenance and leakage detection
Expected benefits
Better integration of IT and OT
Only using OT for operational critical elements
Open standards provide scalability and cost efficiency
Key value created
Open standards including 5G offer lower cost OT solutions with increased flexibility