Maximise IIoT’s efficiency with Singtel's SDN

The industrial revolution sparked radical transformations in how industries are operated and managed. In the wake of Industry 4.0, one of its many technologies is leading the charge when it comes to changing enterprises: the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).¹ IIoT is creating huge opportunities for businesses across the board through network-connected objects and data exchange with real-time analysis capabilities.

A technology that's crucial in unlocking IIoT's full potential is Software-defined networking (SDN). How is SDN changing the game for the already ground-breaking IIoT? We discuss benefits and highlight examples of SDN in IIoT applications.

Software-defined networking (SDN) is a network architecture that separates a network's control plane and data plane, enabling centralised control and automation of data distribution across desirable network paths. SDN offers various network benefits, such as increased programmability, enhanced resilience, and efficient management of fluctuating traffic demands.

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) refers to the interconnection of industrial devices, machines, and sensors that collect and share data to optimise operations, increase efficiency, and improve decision-making. IIoT enables automation, cost reduction, and enhanced safety in different industries.

_{Efficient big data management}

In the realm of IIoT, handling large amounts of data is a critical challenge. As the numbers of devices, sensors, and actuators increase, so does the volume of data they generate. This influx can lead to fluctuating network traffic and low latency, which impact overall performance. SDN’s key advantage lies in its efficient central orchestration.

By decoupling a network’s control and forwarding functions, SDN allows for more dynamic management of network resources. This means that it can adapt in real-time to varying network loads, demands, and priorities – such as effectively and automatically monitoring IoT data remotely – ensuring optimal performance for mission-critical IIoT applications.²

_{Enhanced security}

SDN's granular control over the entire network provides better security and addresses critical concerns such as data privacy and system complexity. This is done through a centralised controller that enforces and distributes security rules across the entire network infrastructure.

This architecture creates secure and distributed IoT ecosystems, providing robust measures against cyber threats. By monitoring and controlling network traffic, SDN can detect and mitigate potential threats before they can impact the IIoT network.

Furthermore, SDN simplifies network management, making it easier for organisations to enforce and update security policies across the system.³

_{Flexible and automated network management}

Through SDN’s simplified network management that centralises control, the technology enables dynamic configuration and automated network tasks such as configuration, management, and device testing. This is particularly important for automated environments where dynamic operations technology (OT) networks must be constantly configured to maintain quality of service.

This flexibility allows for rapid deployment of new services, network slicing, and proactive maintenance, optimising the IIoT network performance.⁴

_{Improved analytics}

SDN provides visibility into network use and performance, enabling operators to monitor and analyse data flow through the network. With this information, companies can identify patterns and trends, optimise workflows, and ensure their IIoT systems are functioning at peak efficiency.

This immediate insight facilitates better decision-making and rapid responses to changing circumstances.⁵

_{Smart factory automation}

SDN and IIoT synchronise their capabilities to deliver powerful performance in a smart manufacturing environment.

By combining both technologies’ strengths, a smart factory can process vast amounts of data generated by IIoT devices, make informed decisions based on real-time analytics, and implement the necessary bandwidth adjustments using SDN's programmable capabilities. This harmonious collaboration drives down production errors and enhances overall factory efficiency.

As IoT devices seamlessly communicate with each other, human error probability is significantly reduced. Furthermore, advanced analytics and machine learning capabilities can identify potential issues before they occur, proactively solving problems and optimising production.⁶

_{Remote equipment monitoring}

Combining SDN and IIoT results in a potent formula for improving remote equipment monitoring. SDN empowers IIoT by enhancing its predictive maintenance capabilities, boosting data processing speeds, and enabling proactive alerting.⁶

By acting as a decision-maker when determining whether tasks should be uploaded at the network edge, SDN minimises latency and ensures data reaches the relevant parties more swiftly.

In industries where remote equipment monitoring is crucial, such as oil and gas⁷ and transportation⁸, the synergistic benefits of SDN and IIoT are especially pronounced.

For instance, in the oil and gas industry, sensors placed on drilling equipment can identify issues in real-time, allowing control rooms to make quick, informed decisions based on the data relayed via the SDN-controlled network. This, in turn, can minimise equipment downtime and enhance productivity.

_{Integrated traffic management}

By integrating SDN and IIoT, traffic management becomes more efficient and intelligent. SDN can dynamically allocate network resources in response to vehicular traffic conditions, which are continuously monitored by IIoT sensors embedded within traffic infrastructure.

This combines SDN’s programmability with IIoT’s real-time data collection and processing power, resulting in several traffic operation improvements, such as dynamic congestion management, better resource allocation, and predictive maintenance.⁹

_{Energy grid optimisation}

SDN and IIoT facilitate more efficient management of energy generation, distribution, and consumption by providing real-time monitoring and control over grid operations. This results in reduced energy wastage, better load balancing, and the ability to utilise renewable energy sources more effectively.

Centralised control and energy grid smart management can also lead to lower operational and capital expenditures. SDN and IIoT-enabled systems can efficiently respond to fluctuations in energy demands and supply, reducing manual intervention and the cost of maintaining the energy infrastructure.¹⁰

There are endless possibilities to be explored through harnessing IIoT via software-defined networks. Contact us to explore the potential that these technologies can bring to your organisation today.

References

1. TWI, What is Industry 4.0? How Does it Work? (A Beginners Guide)
2. National Library of Medicine, SDN–IoT empowered intelligent framework for industry 4.0 applications during COVID-19 pandemic, 2022
3. MPDI, Improving Internet of Things (IoT) Security with Software-Defined Networking (SDN), 2020
4. IEEE Xplore, SDN-based Self-Configuration for Time-Sensitive IoT Networks | IEEE Conference Publication, 2021
5. Wiley Online Library, IoT data analytics architecture for smart healthcare using RFID and WSN - Oğur - 2022 - ETRI Journal, 2022
6. ScienceDirect, An SDN architecture for time sensitive industrial IoT, 2021
7. MultiTech, Enabling Remote Access Monitoring in the Oil and Gas Industry
8. Bruhati via LinkedIn, What are the benefits of using IoT remote monitoring in the Transportation Industry?, 2023
9. ScienceDirect, Smart vehicular traffic management: An edge cloud centric IoT based framework, 2021
10. ScienceDirect, IOT integrated smart grid management system for effective energy management, 2022