How Utilities Benefit from Remote Connectivity
How Utilities Benefit from Remote Connectivity
Remote connectivity has changed how many workers do their job in recent years. It’s not all just Zoom and Slack, though: For utilities workers, the technology has the power to limit field visits, reduce downtime, and more accurately collect information about usage and access.
Today, we’re taking a look at how utilities benefit from industrial remote connectivity solutions, and security features to consider when selecting a solution.
Benefits for Utilities
The gains utilities can achieve are varied and may depend on the type of utility, but four main benefits are:
∙ Scalability and quick installation: As service areas expand, a scalable solution is a must. Being able to easily install gateways or other nodes that are quickly recognized in your remote connectivity service is a major benefit for many utilities.
∙ Decreased travel to dispersed sites and reduced downtime: These two tend to go hand in hand. By being able to remotely monitor your equipment, you save plenty of windshield time. In addition, remote troubleshooting means that equipment downtime can stay as limited as possible.
∙ The ability to automatically track activity: An audit trail can show changes made to equipment, permissions you’ve granted, and other information in case you need to look back on the details, or make it available as a regulatory document.
∙ Real-time connectivity: By opting for an on-demand solution, you’re automatically alerted to any issues or changes that you’ve flagged as being significant.
Keeping Equipment and Connectivity Secure
As you’d imagine, a major question surrounding the use of remote connectivity is: How secure is it? That’s understandable given the cybersecurity hacks that make headlines from time to time.
One major factor concerns the type of remote connectivity service you use. For utilities and many other industries, going with a solution designed for industrial use is key. These solutions typically have more hardened security features than something you’d find at a store.
Beyond that, there are a few other factors to keep in mind:
· Avoid software you have to manage: Ideally the solution you choose won’t have software you have to install or maintain. Avoiding this helps you save time and – crucially – eliminates a common entry point for hackers.
· Does it allow you to control access?: When you have third-party vendors who need to troubleshoot something in the system, you need to ensure that they only have access to what they need. Consider a feature like Belden Horizon Console’s Virtual Lockout-Tagout, which allows users to grant permission to certain equipment for a set amount of time.
· Freedom to set your own login policies: Whether it’s determining what a password has to require or the ability to use your existing Single Sign-On technology, the ability to customize login processes for your organization will bring relief to your IT department.