Managing VLANs and BBMDs in BACnet Networks: A Practical Guide
On paper, virtual local area networks (VLANs) and BACnet Broadcast Management Devices (BBMDs) seem completely at odds. VLANs are meant to separate and segregate traffic into multiple subnets. At the same time, BBMDs are designed to bypass all that work to broadcast messages across different parts of the network without limiting which devices should get […]
Collaborative OT Crisis Response: Getting the Right People the Right Data
Operational Technology (OT) networks are the backbone of essential systems—lighting, HVAC, elevators, and entry systems—making any unplanned downtime a critical event. Unlike IT networks, it’s unlikely a campus, hospital, or corporate data center has access to redundant building systems. The risks are manifold, not only to productivity but also to the health and safety of […]
THE BENEFITS OF COLLABORATIVE TRAINING
As OT networks continue to modernize, keeping teams up-to-date with the latest tools, approaches, and security threats is more important than ever. One great way to do this? Collaborative training sessions with facility OT teams and external system integrators (SIs) or vendors. For both facilities and external teams, staying up-to-date allows them to effectively manage […]
Better Collaboration Starts with Shared OT Network Access
Actionable insights only matter if teams can act on them. Too often, information gets siloed from the people who need it most, preventing effective team collaboration. Whether by design or disconnect, partners and facility managers frequently lose access to critical diagnostic data that could keep an OT network in top condition. But what if that […]
Best Practices for Managing Multiple OT Vendors in Your Network
Managing an operational technology (OT) network with multiple vendors can feel like conducting an orchestra. Each vendor handles specialized areas like HVAC, lighting, security, and building automation, all of which must work together harmoniously. However, achieving this coordination can be challenging. As the OT network manager, you face the task of aligning different priorities without […]
How OT Networks Drive Decarbonization and Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is at the heart of many organizations’ policies to address their overall carbon footprints. For facilities operators, campus managers, and their vendors, the drive to decarbonize falls under their purview. Let’s look at what exactly decarbonization is, what impacts this policy has on OT networks, and some of the ways facilities and systems […]
What Is BACnet/SC? Understanding “The Next Generation” of BACnet Security
With the increasing integration of cloud-based systems, IoT devices, and external network connections, operational technology (OT) networks have become more vulnerable to cyber threats. For many organizations using building automation systems (BAS), focusing on operational efficiency and connectivity has historically outpaced the emphasis on security. Older OT systems, like MS/TP, often lack basic encryption and […]
How Optigo Visual Networks Helps You Sell More BACnet Hardware
Systems Integrators do best when they can provide customer support for the entire OT network. Not only are they a client’s partner for network planning, installation, and maintenance, but they also provide them with hardware sales. Keeping a client within a hardware ecosystem you know and trust can have a big impact on future support […]
Global Who-Is Storms Slowing You Down? Here’s How to Spot Them
BACnet global broadcast messages are important for device discovery, notifications, and other common operations. But without constraints, they can grow into BACnet broadcast storms, slowing your network to a crawl. Find out how to find and solve them with Optigo Visual Networks (OptigoVN). Who-Is, I-Am, and BACnet Broadcasts BACnet devices are a chatty bunch. The […]
6 REASONS FOR CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF OT NETWORKS
Traditional methods of testing and maintaining BACnet OT networks are giving way to continuous monitoring. Running manual BACnet packet captures and diagnostics every few months was, to a point, an effective way to make sure everything on the OT network was in working order. However, it has also been the product of a break/fix maintenance […]
