Paessler is expanding its PRTG platform to offer better monitoring within converged industrial IT and Operational Technology (OT) environments.

The company developed a new sensor to capture data from IOT devices and signed a new partnership with INSYS icom, an expert in industrial data communications.

Typically, OT, such as industrial or distributed control systems, remote terminal units, production machines, and industrial PCs, has been self-contained, with little need to connect or interact with the outside world. But, with the increasing digitalization of the industrial world and the addition of IOT technology, there is now an increased need for a more holistic approach to monitoring IT and OT systems and devices to better manage production processes and day-to-day industrial operations. As a result, Paessler has developed a new MQTT Subscribe sensor to capture up to five different metrics from any MQTT connected device, for example, data such as temperature, humidity, pressure, or illuminance.

Data from the new MQTT Subscribe sensor feeds into Paessler’s PRTG platform allowing organizations to have much greater insights into the conditions in which their technology is operating. This enables them to better identify potential issues and undertake preventative maintenance before real problems occur which could halt production. The new sensor works alongside Paessler’s existing MQTT Statistics and MQTT Round Trip sensors, which check messages are being transmitted and connections are being maintained. MQTT notifications enable PRTG to publish messages, enabling a twoway communication between the IT and the OT world. IOT devices can subscribe to these messages and even be controlled by them.

As part of its initiative to improve technology monitoring within industrial IT and OT infrastructures, Paessler has partnered with INSYS icom, an expert in industrial data communication, to further improve the bridge between operational technology on the factory floor and the IT systems across the wider business.

Data from INSYS icom Smart Machinery Gateway, which gathers data on the edge and covers many different Industrial IOT (IIoT) messaging protocols including Modbus RTU, Codesys, Siemens S7, and Siemens Logo, now feeds into Paessler’s PRTG allowing better insights across a wider range of operational technology such as PLCs or HVAC systems.

“As the worlds of operational and information technology merge, there is a much greater need for integration and a more holistic view of how enterprise systems and machines are working independently and together,” said Steven Feurer, CTO at Paessler. “Our innovations and our partnership with INSYS icom allow us to give organizations much greater insights into how critical systems, applications and machines are performing, allowing them to identify potential issues and undertake preventative measures before they become major problems.”

"The Paessler solution perfectly integrates with our devices, bringing closer together the worlds of IT and OT. With Paessler we found a partner from the IT world who understands the meaning of IT/OT convergence and enables customers to have a smooth transition into digitalization," said Kristian Haizmann, Business Development Manager at INSYS icom.