Hot swap secure switch for rugged environments
Siemens has launched a modular multilayer Ethernet switching platform for secure communications for networks in harsh environments like electric power, transportation, or oil and gas plants.
The fanless RUGGEDCOM RST2428P rugged switch from Siemens has a hot-swappable power supply and hot-swappable modular design and operates across a wide temperature range from -40 to +85 °C with high immunity to electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and shock and vibration resistance.
The rigged switch has 28 ports, 10 Gigabit bandwidth, and Power-over-Ethernet of up to 500 W capability. Additionally, this switching platform is the first utility-grade RUGGEDCOM switch that will be provisioned with Secure Device ID (iDevID) based on the IEEE 802.1AR standard to digitally assure critical infrastructure operators of the authenticity of the device across the supply chain.
This is also the first platform to offer advanced functionalities like Precision Time Protocol, seamless failover with HSR/PRP for fault-tolerant networks and MACsec encryption, over SINEC OS, Siemens’ proprietary operating system for both SCALANCE and RUGGEDCOM devices.
Media modules for the RUGGEDCOM RST2228 and RST2228P switches, the RMM2972M-4RJ45 and the RMM2972M-4SFP, enable IEEE 802.1AE MACsec encryption, a security protocol for data confidentiality and data origin authenticity at wire-speed on Layer 2.
MACsec helps safeguard network communications against intrusive cyberattacks, like eavesdropping, man-in-the-middle, denial-of-service, etc. MACsec is ideal for protecting clear text industrial protocols like IEC 61850, Modbus, DNP3, IEC 60870-5, and other forms of sensitive information transmitted on critical infrastructure LANs such as secure time distribution in a digital substation network, confidential video feeds or IP telephony between remote buildings.
“In critical infrastructure OT networks, precise time synchronization, reliability and high availability are non-negotiable”, said Jeremy Bryant, General Manager for Siemens Ruggedcom. “Also, we’re seeing an increasing demand for devices that enable end-to-end security in network communications. We’ve designed the RUGGEDCOM RST2428P as a way for utilities to invest in a networking platform that will simplify scaling the network to support higher data volumes and adopt future-ready networking and cybersecurity technologies without having to undergo costly replacements. Whenever they are ready for it.”
“Industries such as electric power, rail, ITS, water & wastewater, oil and gas will benefit from high availability, micro-second accuracies, when installing the RUGGEDCOM RST2428P,” said Bryant. “Overall, this is another step to facilitating the convergence of IT and OT systems for mission-critical applications in harsh environments.”
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