FEATURE CONTRACT MANUFACTURING
SECURITY ASPECTS OF LPWAN IN THE MANUFACTURING AND PROCESSING INDUSTRY
When looking to implement a low power wide area network (LPWAN), there are various considerations that have to be taken into account. Here Shawn Silberhorn, head of Conrad Technologie Centrum (CTC), Conrad Electronic and Martin Sturm, security consultant, Triforx explore key points and specifically a proprietary offering, that resolves many of the issues involved in setting up an LPWAN
T
he future of the electronics manufacturing/processing industry
will depend to a large extent on how successfully it embraces the very latest data communications technology and in particular how it makes the most of the benefits provided by the installation of a low power wide area network (LPWAN). Encryption is important when ensuring network security but what kind of encryption is the best for an LPWAN? Should the user opt for the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) algorithm which supports a block length of 128 bits and key lengths of 128, 192, and 256 bits? Or is end-to- end encryption (E2EE) the best option because it ensures only the network’s users can read any messages and third parties are locked out?
PROPRIETARY OR OPEN NETWORK? The second factor to consider for organisations overseeing manufacturing or processing facilities is whether to opt for installing a private (proprietary) network or a network that involves several companies and different device configurations? It would be fair to say that the latter scenario leaves itself open to leakage and/or unauthorised third party access to base stations while creating a potentially complex string of security gates combined with the chance of serious incompatibility issues. One company that has developed a solution specifically to meet these requirements is Sigfox, who provides users a one-stop-shop network that is configured and managed by one company, one service provider. The offer of Sigfox is a closed network, with only limited access to the infrastructure. This minimises the chances of unauthorised access and changes being made that could affect the efficiency or stability of the network. As Sigfox asks its customers to validate the integrity of their individual implementations, the company can be sure that all modules and chips deployed will operate correctly with the network.
24 FEBRUARY 2018 | ELECTRONICS A particular feature of the solution
developed by Sigfox is that it uses binary phase shift keying (BPSK) as its base technology and BPSK is supported by virtually every chip vendor in the world. The network deployment is actively handled by the company itself: set up of base stations, roll out the coverage and development of cloud infrastructure for everything to connect to. While it is true to say that one LPWAN solution can be correct for one type of application but not for another, the clear common factor is that minimal power must be consumed and this concept is the basis of the Sigfox offering. Another feature of Sigfox’s LPWAN solution is that it is ideal in urban areas where there is a very high number of network users, with many devices occupying the same frequencies and trying to access the same base station. With the number of potential customers only likely to grow.
WHY THE PRODUCT DEVELOPER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE Security is clearly an issue when open
Figure 1:
Sigfox demo device Sensit packaging
networks are used and having a network based on open source technology could lead to data being compromised and unauthorised third parties having access to the network infrastructure. With Sigfox for example, every device connected to the network is authenticated through secure communications in the application layer using AES keys. Under the star network scenario, every sensor in a Sigfox network is connected to a base station, which is ideal for ultra-low power applications where only data is being handled, because only one node has to be on the grid. A major benefit of the Sigfox solution
is that it positions itself perfectly for connecting to wireless networks. Because the whole network is managed by one company, roaming is not a problem and there is no need to keep entering different keys for each device that is connected to the network. In terms of data transmission, Sigfox enables its users to send 12 bytes of data for every message at speeds of up to 100bps. At the same time, 8 bytes can be received and up to 140 packets can be sent per device per day. There are distinct advantages for
using a company that covers the entire LPWAN spectrum and supplies everything that’s required, including chips for developers, gateways, cloud storage and more. Clearly, when looking to develop a low power wide area network, those in charge of manufacturing and processing facilities will need to take many complex and potentially conflicting considerations into account. However, they should take comfort in the fact that one company can cater for their every need and any issues will be dealt with from a single point. This level of peace of mind could be priceless when operating in the fast- moving world of the IoT/IIoT.
Conrad Electronic
www.conrad.co.uk T: 0844 826 2850
/ ELECTRONICS
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