building automation system remote access

Building automation systems require remote access for effortless monitoring and adjusting of building technology. The end users of the systems include for instance maintenance companies, so ease of use and information security were important criteria for the solution.

Full Answer

What is building automation automation?

Building automation is the automatic centralized control of a building's HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), electrical, lighting, shading, Access Control, Security Systems, and other interrelated systems through a Building Management System (BMS) or Building Automation System (BAS).

How can remote users access Automation Components connected to the local router?

Once connected, remote users can access automation components connected to the local router through the VPN tunnel. Unlike option 1, there is no cloud server between the two devices with either method of connection: VPN router to VPN router, or VPN router to VPN software client.

What is the best way to control a room automation system?

It is common for room automation systems to employ a touchscreen as the primary way of controlling each operation. ^ KMC Controls. "Understanding Building Automation and Control Systems".

What are the components of a building automation network?

Most building automation networks consist of a primary and secondary bus which connect high-level controllers (generally specialized for building automation, but may be generic programmable logic controllers) with lower-level controllers, input/output devices and a user interface (also known as a human interface device).

What are some examples of building automation systems?

A short list of systems automated in the typical smart building might include the following:Lighting and other electrical systems.Plumbing systems.HVAC systems and rooftop units.Fire alarms and other emergency systems.Elevators and other mechanical systems.Surveillance cameras and other security systems.More items...

What is building automation control systems?

A building automation system (BAS) allows an operator to access, control, and monitor all connected building systems from a single interface. With BAS technology, you can gain centralized control over your building's systems via networked electronic devices.

What types of systems can be monitored by a building automation system?

Building automation systems are primarily utilized to control the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) in a building, but are also used to control lighting, security and other building systems.

What is a remote access system?

Remote computer access is the ability to access another computer or network that isn't in your physical presence. Remote computer access allows an employee to access a computer desktop and its files from a remote location. This helps enable an employee who is working from home, for instance, to work effectively.

What is the best building automation system?

The Best Building Automation Systems Are Data-Driven onPoint is an innovative cloud-based platform born from the collaboration of building controls experts, data analysts, and mechanical engineers.

What is the most common building automation control strategy?

homework questionsQuestionAnswerWhat is the most common building automation control strategy?Setpoint control_____ control uses setpoint values that are active during the unoccupied mode of a building automation systemSetback22 more rows

What are the types of remote access?

The primary remote access protocols in use today are the Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP), Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE), Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), Remote Access Services (RAS), and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).

What are the three main types of remote connections?

Remote Access Control MethodsDirect (Physical) Line. The first direct remote access control that can be implemented is a direct line from a computer to the company's LAN. ... Virtual Private Network. Another method which is more common is establishing a VPN. ... Deploying Microsoft RDS.

What is remote access examples?

Accessing, writing to and reading from, files that are not local to a computer can be considered remote access. For example, storing and access files in the cloud grants remote access to a network that stores those files. Examples of include services such as Dropbox, Microsoft One Drive, and Google Drive.

What are the components of building automation system?

BAS is a structural system and generally consists of five components: sensors, controllers, output devices, communication protocols and a terminal or user interface.

What are the benefits of a building automation system?

If done correctly, a building automation system will deliver greater energy efficiency, lower operating and maintenance costs, better indoor air quality, greater occupant comfort, and productivity. Maintaining control of large buildings can be a huge challenge.

What is the difference between BMS and bas?

What is the difference between a Building Management System (BMS) and a Building Automation System (BAS)? The simple answer is that there is no differentiation between BMS and BMS. The two terms are frequently used interchangeably in the industry.

What are the most common automation system?

Most of the home automation solution nowadays is basically an android phone based, where a single smartphone controls all home appliances.

Building Automation & Cybersecurity

Tosibox invented Operational Technology (OT) networking by creating a patented automated OT networking platform inspired by the fundamentals of traditional IT platforms like Cisco, Fortinet, Tempered Networks, and Palo Alto but built for the scale and scope of today’s Smart Building environment.

Getting Started Video Series

If this is your first exposure to Tosibox, the following video series is all you need to become a BAS networking champ. Watch the “TOSIBOX/BAS Overview” video first. Then start your step-by-step journey. Enjoy.

Building automation with secure operational networks

Building service providers benefit from operational networks by providing real property owners with advanced, real-time services.

COMPATIBLE WITH ALL STANDARDS

TOSIBOX ® is compatible with all building automation brands and providers in the market, such as Fidelix, Honeywell, Beckhoff, Siemens, and many more.The TOSIBOX ® network transmits any form of data, regardless of the protocol.

Option 1: Hosted VPN

Hosted VPNs provide a secure connection with simple setup and network configuration. Typical hosted VPN solutions include a VPN router, a hosted VPN server, a VPN client, and connected automation system components (figure 2).

Hosted VPN design considerations

Those considering this solution must have a high level of trust in the hosted VPN vendor, as it will be responsible for securely storing data and making it available to only those who need it. Monthly costs incurred for high data bandwidth usage must also be considered, particularly as those costs are zero for a traditional VPN solution.

Option 2: Traditional VPN

This option requires a local VPN router to connect through the Internet with a secure VPN tunnel to a second remote VPN router or software client (figure 5). Once connected, remote users can access automation components connected to the local router through the VPN tunnel.

Traditional VPN design considerations

The main design consideration for this option is the capability and willingness of an IT team to support this solution at both the local and remote sites for each installation.

Application example: Traditional VPN

Consider two types of OEM machine builders. The first OEM sells very large and complex printing presses with thousands of automation system I/O points, and its customers require the OEM to support the machine, including uptime and throughput guarantees.

Application example: Hosted VPN

The second OEM sells a machine that does not require video monitoring. Local operator interface is provided by an embedded HMI with limited data logging and storage functionality. The OEM machine builder needs two kinds of remote access. The first is VPN access to remotely troubleshoot, debug, and program the machine’s PLC and HMI.

Many considerations

When designing a remote access solution using VPNs, there are many considerations influencing final implementation: initial and sustaining costs, technical expertise during installation and ongoing operation, site control, security risks, and data storage capabilities.

What is the future of building automation?

The future of building automation revolves around less reliance on human intervention to execute repetitive tasks as automation continues to take over routine activities. Automated BMS/BAS solutions will help to deliver consistent quality in performance; reliability; programmability; remote, targeted intervention; and seamless operations. The use of IoT technology and AI-driven digital control platforms will allow enterprise buildings to provide real-time, systemwide transparency and a centralized view of building operations. This will unlock unprecedented levels of efficiency while reducing long-term operational costs.

HOW WILL CONTROL SYSTEM HELP IN REDUCING OPERATIONAL COSTS?

The novel coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the global economy, upending entire industries and leaving scores of people around the world without work, child care, and — in many places — enough food on their tables. Building owners are not only faced with the challenge of rebuilding the confidence of building occupants with respect to safety but also finding a way to reduce the overall operational cost of their buildings.

Can you use BAS during lockdown?

With most buildings still operating during the lockdown, typically without manual input, this is a perfect opportunity to elevate the use of cloud-based, remote building automation systems (BAS) for commercial buildings.

How to manage the behavioral and technical aspects of remote access to a BAS

Remote access for your BAS really comes down to solving two issues. The first, and most difficult is solving a behavioral or cultural issue. There is a massive difference between working with the IT group at a major hospital and the one-man band at a 80k square foot commercial real estate building.

The how and why of addressing the security concerns of putting a BAS on a Corporate Network?

My day job involves the consultative design of smart building systems. My role covers the full OSI stack from Layer 1 to Layer 7. Because of this I often find myself acting as a mediator of sorts between the application folks and the network folks.

Utilizing older or End of Life (EoL) operating systems

Why people still install antiquated control systems is beyond me. There are still folks out there trying to install systems that run on Windows 2000 series machines. Scary indeed. Quite a few of the IT folks I talk to are concerned around the platform on which the BAS runs. However, one point needs to be made.

Composed of Un-patched software or proprietary programs

It's true that most BAS's run on older software. Unfortunately the length of the product development life-cycle for a BAS is somewhere between the end of all solar activity in the galaxy and the evolution of fish into birds, whichever happens first...

Lack of segmentation in product design which denies IT the ability to push patches

This isn't so much an issue of not being able to patch device as it is an issue of understanding which devices you can patch. Most BAS's consist of a 3-tier architecture ; Network, Supervisory, Field. The field devices are traditionally hard-wired non-IP devices as such, the practicality of patching these devices is near-zero.

Lacking Simple Network Management Protocol Version 3 SNMPv3 capabilities for simple network monitoring

SNMP utilizes Management Information Bases (MIB) that are composed of Object Identifiers (OID). SNMP is a protocol, that in its current version, version 3, provides a relatively secure method for managing and monitoring network based systems. Some not all BAS devices support SNMP and those that do should be setup to use this feature.

Lack of, or antiquated logging capabilities

Let's face it, BAS's are not known for their amazing logging capabilities. When a janitor can wipe the access logs of most BAS's with a few clicks we have a major problem (if this happens you have bigger issues around device access and account level segmentation!) .

Webinar: Designing Open Building Automation Systems & Specifying Customer Value

There are various open considerations that controls manufacturers and customers are talking about in the market.

Blog: Five Tips on Open Systems

Plan now to make sure the open system you select truly meets your building, service, and data analysis needs – both today and for many years ahead.

What is building automation?

The term building automation system, loosely used, refers to any electrical control system that is used to control a buildings heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system . Modern BAS can also control indoor and outdoor lighting as well as security, fire alarms, and basically everything else that is electrical in the building. Old HVAC control systems, such as 24 V DC wired thermostats or pneumatic controls, are a form of automation but lack the modern systems flexibility and integration.

What are the three types of controllers used in building automation?

Controllers used for building automation can be grouped in three categories: programmable logic controllers (PLCs), system/network controllers, and terminal unit controllers.

What is BAS in building?

BAS core functionality keeps building climate within a specified range, provides light to rooms based on an occupancy schedule (in the absence of overt switches to the contrary), monitors performance and device failures in all systems , and provides malfunction alarms to building maintenance staff. A BAS should reduce building energy and maintenance costs compared to a non-controlled building. Most commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings built after 2000 include a BAS. Many older buildings have been retrofitted with a new BAS, typically financed through energy and insurance savings, and other savings associated with pre-emptive maintenance and fault detection.

What is occupancy mode?

Occupancy is usually based on time of day schedules. In Occupancy mode, the BAS aims to provides a comfortable climate and adequate lighting, often with zone-based control so that users on one side of a building have a different thermostat (or a different system, or sub system) than users on the opposite side.

Does building automation have alarms?

All modern building automation systems have alarm capabilities. It does little good to detect a potentially hazardous or costly situation if no one who can solve the problem is notified. Notification can be through a computer (email or text message), pager, cellular phone voice call, audible alarm, or all of these. For insurance and liability purposes all systems keep logs of who was notified, when and how.

Can hackers hack a building?

With the growing spectrum of capabilities and connections to the Internet of Things, building automation systems were repeatedly reported to be vulnerable, allowing hackers and cybercriminals to attack their components. Buildings can be exploited by hackers to measure or change their environment: sensors allow surveillance (e.g. monitoring movements of employees or habits of inhabitants) while actuators allow to perform actions in buildings (e.g. opening doors or windows for intruders). Several vendors and committees started to improve the security features in their products and standards, including KNX, ZigBee and BACnet (see recent standards or standard drafts). However, researchers report several open problems in building automation security.

Easy to use, customizable interface offers comprehensive building performance analytics

In today’s hyper-connected, data-driven world, the question isn’t whether you should connect to your building management system. But rather, how can you afford not to? Trane makes it easy and safe.

Secure remote access to critical building systems data

Data and system integrity is a top-of-mind concern for all businesses, and we’ve designed Trane® Connect™ with security in mind.

Identification of actionable insights to enhance building performance

By combining the knowledge of our experts and the power of data visualization, we deliver insightful energy and building performance consultations that identify opportunities and measure progress. Gain a deep understanding of energy consumption and performance for multiple individual locations or parts of buildings.

How Will Control System Help in Reducing Operational Costs?

Bms/Bas with Integrated Technologies

• The future of building automation revolves around less reliance on human intervention to execute repetitive tasks as automation continues to take over routine activities. Automated BMS/BAS solutions will help to deliver consistent quality in performance; reliability; programmability; remote, targeted intervention; and seamless operations. The use o...

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