The Master Systems Integrator Ultimate Guide
The who, what, where, why, and how of Master Systems Integrators. The Master Systems Integrator (MSI) is not a new term by any stretch of the imagination. It’s been setting roots in the industry for years. As more IP-connected devices are installed in buildings every single day, though, the MSI has become much, much more […]
How to Stop DDoS Attacks on Your OT Network
There are a lot of factors that contribute to the poor performance, or even downtime, of an OT network, including distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. DDoS attacks often originate from outside bad actors looking to intentionally take your systems down. But that isn’t always the case. A DDoS can also be completely unintentional. Luckily, […]
How to Sell Service Contracts and Increase Revenue in 5 Steps
As a systems integrator, your relationship with your customer should never end after installation. Offering a full suite of ongoing service contracts can enhance the value of any sales agreement by building a strong relationship based on trust and value with your client, increasing the likelihood of repeat business. Service contracts are important for SIs […]
BACnet Diagnostics Made Easy with Optigo Visual Networks
Whether you’re at the doctor’s office, in the classroom, or the mechanic’s, test results aren’t very helpful if you don’t understand the results. It’s the same with monitoring network traffic—the results are here to help you, but knowing how to act on them is just as important. With over 25 out-of-the-box BACnet diagnostics (and more […]
Circular Networks in BACnet Systems: How to Detect and Fix Them
What Does a Circular Network Look Like? A circular network occurs when multiple routes to the same controller exist and communicate at the same time. This happens when two or more communication protocols are active. For instance, if you have a network with both BACnet/IP and BACnet/Ethernet routes communicating with the same controller, this creates […]
What You Need to Know About KNX in Smart Building Systems
BACnet gets compared to a lot of other protocols on the market, including LonWorks, Modbus, and KNX. We’re explaining how each of these protocols are different, and how they stack up against each other. In this article, learn about KNX. In a world where smart buildings are increasingly prevalent, the need for a reliable, efficient, […]
What’s In a BACnet Packet Capture?
There comes a time in every OT technician’s life (probably more often than they’d like) when they just can’t figure out what the heck is going on. After all, BACnet issues have a habit of masking their root cause behind common symptoms: Duplicate devices can throw up strange errors that look like physical connection issues, […]
The Argument for IT/OT Network Separation
OT Networks Overview Operational Technology (OT) networks in smart buildings consist of elevators, lighting, HVAC, surveillance, or anything attached to the building. With these devices becoming more connected and networked, it’s possible to consolidate IT and OT networks. However, there are many benefits to IT/OT network separation. Separation helps optimize the IT and OT devices […]
THE 3 MOST COMMON BACNET/IP ISSUES (AND FIXES)
While MS/TP problems tend to be centered around bad wiring, common BACnet/IP issues are usually the result of a misconfiguration. BACnet over IP, or BACnet/IP, has gradually become the new standard in OT networks for years. Compared to much older MS/TP networks, BACnet/IP is faster, has more bandwidth, scales more easily, and is generally less […]
Separate OT Networks: The Future of Smart Building Security?
With the proliferation of smart devices in buildings around the world, cybersecurity is the concern of the day. There are many potent examples of smart buildings’ triumphs and follies: Target and Home Depot shocked the world with breaches a few years ago; universities, hotels, and others have followed suit. Growth in IoT can only mean […]
