A new Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) partnership aims to provide increased security for distributed embedded systems communications, from the hardware up through the software stack. Mentor Graphics Corporation and Real-Time Innovations (RTI) will join forces in an effort to enable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and systems integrators to achieve high performing and secure embedded systems.
Embedded Technology Meets DDS Middleware
Mentor Graphics enables embedded systems development for industrial applications like automotive, energy and medical. RTI is the embedded middleware provider behind Connext Data Distribution Service (DDS), a connectivity platform for the IIoT. The partnership will see a preintegration of Connext DDS with Mentor Graphics’ Embedded runtime platforms.
Together, the companies will offer a standards-based and flexible solution that will support leading-edge multicore runtime platforms. The solution will provide real-time communications for heterogeneous distributed systems, irrespective of the physical transport (e.g., Ethernet, wireless, shared memory, serial, etc.).
The integration establishes a chain of trust at all levels, beginning with hardware power-on. This means the system can be fully authenticated, validated and trusted. The companies believe their collaboration will reduce risk, cost and time to market of heterogeneous distributed systems. Stan Schneider, CEO of RTI, commented on the benefits of the partnership.
"The IIoT disruption will bring immense value to nearly every industry,” he said. “To meet the challenges, IIoT builders need end-to-end connectivity with security. Combining many technologies is a real challenge. An ecosystem of vendors with integrated products accelerates projects with much lower risk.”
An Industrial Disruption
The disruption Schneider is referring to is sometimes called the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, and it will see full vertical integration and autonomous, IIoT-driven manufacturing. Schneider is right about the fact that this paradigm shift will impact many industries, and he’s right about the challenge of combining many technologies. However, as we've pointed out before, an ecosystem of vendor partnerships may be doing more harm than good as companies compete to establish their own dominance.
Design engineers and OEMs need to be cognizant of these concerns when developing their own systems. While the collaboration between Mentor Graphics and RTI promises security for heterogeneous distributed systems, there are other choices out there. And as I’m sure I don’t need to remind engineers, it's important to evaluate your options and determine the best fit for your project.
For more IIoT news, check out Common IIoT Framework Targets Security Issues.