Connected manufacturing
WWi-Fi 7, also known as IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput EHT, marks the next phase in the evolution of wireless technology. It ensures faster speeds, improved stability and enhanced security, also involving Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA4) support. WPA4 builds upon the foundations laid by its predecessor, WPA3, which implemented vast improvements in encryption and authentication methods. The security certification, with Wi-Fi 7, is further bolstering wireless network security,
where digital threats are becoming more frequent and sophisticated. Interestingly, manufacturers have been implementing pre-certified Wi-Fi 7 chipsets in devices since 2022, so let’s explore how manufacturers can benefit from Wi-Fi 7 or at least start the upgrading process — even if they’re a wireless standard or two behind. Cyber security A recent report by Guardz, a cybersecurity company, which analysed small and medium enterprises (SMEs), revealed that 57 per cent of SMEs have experienced a cybersecurity breach. The survey also revealed that 31 per cent of respondents stated that their business had been targeted by a breach in the past 12 months alone. With manufacturers wanting to secure their operations, Wi-Fi 7 integrates a significant security feature — called Multi-Link Operation (MLO). This allows multiple radios inside a device to talk to another device at the same time but across different radio bands. In an industrial setting, Internet of Things (IoT) devices often have limited processing power and memory, making traditional security measures challenging to implement directly on the devices themselves. MLO allows for the integration of security controls across various layers of the IoT ecosystem, including network gateways, cloud platforms and edge computing devices. For example, implementing firewalls, multi- factor authentication and data encryption shields production data from cyber threats. This approach ensures that security measures are distributed throughout the IoT infrastructure, providing in- depth defence against potential threats. Scaling up Plant managers know better than most how essential a reliable internet connection is when it comes to productivity, efficiency and overall
25 Machinery & Manufacturing
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