Namur Open Architecture (NOA) is an architecture for the process industry that enables the easier use of modern digital technologies. By adding data diodes, organizations in the process industry that use the NOA architecture can not only modernize their systems but also protect critical assets and remain competitive in an increasingly digital landscape.

What is Namur Open Architecture (NOA)?

NOA is an initiative aimed at modernizing automation and process control systems in the process industry. It promotes an open and flexible architecture that facilitates the integration of different systems and devices, enabling better interoperability and data exchange. This approach improves operational efficiency and enables easier use of Industry 4.0 technologies.
With NOA, users can easily transfer all valuable data securely via a second channel from smart devices to a central platform and software applications. NOA offers secure access to all automation network data, using the OPC-UA communication standard, and makes data available without changes to an existing automation network.

Cyberattacks can have very serious consequences for your business.

Being exposed to a cyberattack can have very serious consequences for the affected company/organization:

– Major productivity losses as the attack can cause interruptions and production stops. The attack can also result in a more permanent deterioration in productivity and quality.

– A cyberattack that affects a production can have consequences that lead to serious injuries or even death. A cyberattack can, for example, cause an explosion or damage a production machine so that someone is trapped in it.

– Leakage or even loss of information. Intangible assets are at risk of being stolen.

– The company's trust and reputation can be seriously damaged, which can lead to difficulties in getting new customers in the future but also difficulties in obtaining financing.

– Significant costs may arise in connection with the attack, including paying external service providers for forensic examinations and computer recovery, but also for additional work internally to resolve the situation. There may also be costs if you which companies do not meet various requirements, in the form of, for example, laws and regulations, which are imposed on the business.

– There is a risk that the company will be forced to shut down its entire operations, at least temporarily, which for many businesses that rely 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?

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Data diodes – protecting your critical systems

A data diode is a security product that is placed between two networks and acts as a check valve whose function is to only allow data to be sent in one direction while blocking all data in the opposite direction. Since the data diode's security functions are based on hardware and optical fiber, it can be demonstrated that it is physically impossible for data to be transported in the opposite direction.

Data diodes are crucial components to ensure cybersecurity in industrial environments. Their feature of only allowing one-way data flow, meaning that data can be transferred from one network to another without allowing any return path, is particularly important for protecting critical systems from external threats while 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 NOAH together with data diodes for several reasons:

1. Improved cybersecurity

By incorporating data diodes within the NOA framework, organizations can improve the security of their automation systems. The unidirectional data flow minimizes the risk of cyberattacks while providing real-time data to analytics systems.

2. Operational efficiency

With data diodes that facilitate secure data transfer to analytics platforms, organizations can gain real-time insights into their operations without compromising security.

3. Data integrity

Data diodes protect data integrity in the protected domain and ensure that only selected data passes through the data diode. This is important in industries where data accuracy is critical for both operational reliability and public safety.

4. Flexibility and scalability

NOA's open architecture supports a variety of technologies and protocols, making it easier to integrate data diodes as new security needs arise. This flexibility allows organizations to scale their security measures alongside their business growth.

5. Compliance and standards

With increasing regulatory requirements in industries such as oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, using data diodes within the NOA structure can help organizations comply with safety standards while maintaining operational efficiency.

6. Future-proof business

By adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity with data diodes, organizations build better resilience against new threats and vulnerabilities.

So to summarize – using NOA together with data diodes provides the process industry with a robust framework that balances operational efficiency and security. This integration enables organizations to modernize their systems, protect critical assets, and remain competitive in an increasingly digital landscape.

This article is written by Advenica