This paper explores what OPC UA Certificates are and what they provide, how they are used in OPC UA, and how they fit into the security ‘stack’ of OPC UA. Additionally, it examines OPC UA encryption methodology and the key concepts of a layered security model.
The OPC UA Safety working group has achieved a key milestone publishing Release 1.00 of the specification for the interoperable communication standard for functional safety: OPC UA Safety “Part 15 OPC UA Core Specification”. OPC Foundation members are invited to participate in a co-funding project to develop a software stack.
The OPC Foundation’s vision for facilitating the creation of globally harmonized information models via OPC UA Companion Specifications reaches its first milestone and demonstrates the path forward to true semantic interoperability -as released by the VDMA Machine Vision Initiative.
The OPC Foundation, in conjunction with the MTConnect Institute, announce the release of the jointly developed “OPC Unified Architecture for MTConnect Companion Specification Part 1”. The MTConnect OPC UA Companion Specification expresses the MTConnect stream and device information models via the OPC UA modeling language.
Under the leadership of VDMA Woodworking Machinery, the EUMABOIS working group “OPC UA – Plug & Work” is developing a uniform interface for communication between… Read More »Eumabois: OPC UA for Plug & Work in Woodworking
The Process and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) is the most important document used for designing and building a plant. The DEXPI initiative has developed a data format that supports the move from a document-centric to a data-centric approach -with the help of an OPC UA companion specification.
AIM-D e.V. and the OPC Foundation have jointly initiated and continuously developed the AutoID Companion Specification in order to link AutoID and IT systems faster in all fields of application. Numerous practical applications are now available, and a demonstration was exhibited at SPS IPC Drives 2018.
MTConnect is a widely adopted standard for machine tools, robots, and other manufacturing equipment as confirmed at the IMTS show last month. A new MTConnect – OPC UA Companion Specification is set for release before the end of the year.
Two collaborations are highlighted this month. Harmonization work has begun in the Industrie 4.0 Asset Administration Shell (I4AAS) Working Group along with the ZVEI and VDMA to bring the I4AAS into OPC UA. And the VDW has adopted OPC UA as its interoperability foundation for Machine Tool Builders.
Practical security recommendations for building OPC UA Applications provides both application guidelines and an overview of the OPC UA security concept itself, and how to use it. As industrial systems use networking and digitalization, new security challenges that are created need to be tackled systematically.
The ARC Advisory Group report concludes OPC UA is well positioned to serve as the data connectivity foundation for companies looking to deploy IIoT and I4.0 based solutions. It predicts the existing global OPC install base of over 45 million units is expected to expand 45% annually for the next 5 years.
How to realize secure data exchange and communication in industry? The OPC Foundation Security User Group answers this question by publishing its first white-paper “Practical Security Recommendations.”
The VDMA prioritized its activities on OPC UA and hereby presents an important position paper to the machine and plant engineering sector. The VDMA guideline “Industrie 4.0 Communication Guideline Based on OPC UA” should be understood as a practice-oriented tool. It shows actionable steps that help to implement the Industrie 4.0 communication in a company using OPC UA.