Remote Monitoring
Monitor Industrial Automation Systems Wherever Your Operations Require It
Industrial equipment does not only experience faults when engineers are standing beside it. Remote monitoring provides engineering, maintenance and operational teams with greater visibility of equipment and process conditions without requiring someone to be physically present at the machine.
By securely accessing information from PLCs, SCADA systems and other industrial automation equipment, businesses can monitor system performance, identify developing problems and respond more quickly when abnormal conditions occur.
At Stratos, we develop industrial remote monitoring solutions around your existing automation infrastructure, helping you improve operational visibility while maintaining appropriate control over how industrial systems and data are accessed.
What Is Industrial Remote Monitoring?
Industrial remote monitoring allows authorised users to view information from automation systems from another location.
Depending on the application, this may include information from:
PLCs.
SCADA systems.
HMIs.
Variable Speed Drives.
Motor Control Centres.
Instrumentation.
Production machinery.
Industrial networks.
Energy monitoring equipment.
Other connected automation systems.
The purpose is to provide useful operational information without requiring engineering or maintenance teams to be permanently located beside the equipment.
Remote PLC Monitoring
PLCs contain valuable real-time information about the condition of industrial equipment and processes.
Remote PLC monitoring can provide visibility of:
Machine status.
Inputs and outputs.
Equipment faults.
Operating modes.
Process values.
Motor conditions.
Production states.
Communication status.
Access to this information can help engineers understand what is happening within the control system before attending site or beginning detailed fault diagnosis.
Remote SCADA Monitoring
SCADA systems are particularly well suited to providing wider operational visibility across machines, production lines and facilities.
Remote SCADA monitoring can provide authorised users with access to:
Process information.
Equipment status.
Production conditions.
Active alarms.
Historical trends.
Downtime information.
Operational KPIs.
System diagnostics.
This can be particularly valuable for organisations operating multiple production areas or sites.
Remote Alarm Monitoring
One of the most valuable applications of remote monitoring is improving awareness when abnormal conditions occur.
Depending on the system architecture, remote monitoring can help teams identify:
Equipment failures.
Process deviations.
Communication faults.
Motor trips.
Production stoppages.
Critical alarms.
Repeated faults.
Greater visibility allows engineering and maintenance teams to assess the situation more quickly and determine the appropriate response.
Supporting Faster Fault Diagnosis
When a production system fails, significant time can be lost simply determining what has happened.
Remote monitoring can provide engineers with useful diagnostic information before they attend site.
This may allow them to:
Review current alarms.
Examine process conditions.
Check PLC status.
Review historical trends.
Identify affected equipment.
Examine communication status.
Determine likely causes.
Having this information available earlier can reduce diagnostic time and help engineers arrive better prepared.
Monitoring Multiple Machines and Production Areas
Industrial facilities often contain numerous machines operating independently.
Without centralised visibility, maintenance teams may only become aware of problems when an operator reports them.
Remote monitoring can bring information from multiple machines or production areas into a central environment, providing visibility of:
Machine availability.
Running status.
Fault conditions.
Production output.
Downtime.
Process performance.
Equipment utilisation.
This creates a broader operational view without requiring users to inspect each machine individually.
Remote Monitoring and Industrial Dashboards
Remote monitoring can be combined with industrial dashboards to provide simplified access to the most important operational information.
Rather than presenting every PLC tag or process value, dashboards can focus on information such as:
Production output.
Equipment availability.
Current downtime.
Active faults.
Production targets.
Process performance.
Operational KPIs.
Different dashboards can also be developed for production, engineering, maintenance and management teams.
Historical Monitoring and Preventative Maintenance
Real-time monitoring tells teams what is happening now, while historical information provides insight into how equipment and processes have behaved over time.
Where SCADA or historian capabilities are available, teams can analyse:
Process trends.
Equipment performance.
Alarm history.
Downtime patterns.
Production output.
Recurring faults.
Changes in operating conditions.
This information can also support preventative maintenance by helping identify increasing fault frequency, abnormal process values and gradual equipment deterioration before they result in unexpected production failures.
Integrating Remote Monitoring with Existing Automation
Introducing remote monitoring does not necessarily require replacing existing PLC or SCADA systems.
Where technically appropriate, monitoring solutions can be integrated with existing automation infrastructure.
Our engineers assess:
PLC platforms.
SCADA architecture.
Industrial networks.
Communication protocols.
Existing data availability.
Monitoring requirements.
User requirements.
Existing infrastructure.
Future expansion requirements.
This helps determine the most appropriate way to provide remote visibility while protecting the reliability of the underlying control system.
Integrating Remote Monitoring with Existing Automation
Introducing remote monitoring does not necessarily require replacing existing PLC or SCADA systems.
Where technically appropriate, monitoring solutions can be integrated with existing automation infrastructure.
Our engineers assess:
PLC platforms.
SCADA architecture.
Industrial networks.
Communication protocols.
Existing data availability.
Monitoring requirements.
User requirements.
Existing infrastructure.
This helps determine the most appropriate way to provide remote visibility while protecting the reliability of the underlying control system.
Before implementation, communication, data accuracy, alarm functionality, user access and network connectivity should be thoroughly tested. This helps ensure authorised users receive accurate information while maintaining the reliable operation of the underlying automation system.
Secure Remote Monitoring
Industrial remote access must be carefully designed.
Connecting operational technology to remote systems without appropriate safeguards can introduce unnecessary risk to the production environment.
Remote monitoring architecture should therefore consider:
Authorised user access.
Network separation.
User authentication.
Access permissions.
Secure communications.
System logging.
Appropriate IT and OT security policies.
Limiting access to required functionality.
The appropriate approach depends on the customer's existing infrastructure, cybersecurity requirements and operational environment.
Remote monitoring and remote control should also be treated differently. Remote monitoring provides authorised users with visibility of system information, while remote control allows operational commands or changes to be made from another location. Where remote control is required, additional consideration should be given to user permissions, machine safety, cybersecurity and operational procedures.
Why Choose Stratos for Industrial Remote Monitoring?
Effective remote monitoring requires an understanding of both the technology providing access and the industrial automation equipment generating the information.
Stratos combines expertise in PLC programming, SCADA systems, industrial networks and control systems to develop remote monitoring solutions around the complete automation environment.
Whether you need visibility of a single machine, an entire production line or multiple operational areas, our engineers can help determine which information should be monitored and how it can be made securely accessible to the people who need it.
Gain Greater Visibility of Your Automation Systems
You shouldn't need to stand beside a machine to understand how it is performing. Stratos develops industrial remote monitoring solutions that provide authorised teams with greater visibility of PLCs, SCADA systems and production equipment, helping identify problems faster and support more informed maintenance and operational decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is industrial remote monitoring?
Industrial remote monitoring allows authorised users to view information from PLCs, SCADA systems and production equipment from another location, providing visibility of system status, alarms and process performance.
Can existing PLC systems be remotely monitored?
In many cases, yes. The appropriate solution depends on the PLC platform, communication capabilities, network infrastructure and cybersecurity requirements of the existing system.
Can remote monitoring help with fault finding?
Yes. Access to alarms, PLC status, process values and historical information can help engineers understand a fault before attending site and potentially reduce diagnostic time.
Is remote monitoring the same as remote control?
No. Remote monitoring provides visibility of system information, while remote control allows operational commands or changes to be made remotely. The two require different levels of access and risk management.
Is industrial remote monitoring secure?
Remote monitoring can be designed with appropriate authentication, permissions, network architecture and secure communication methods. The solution should be developed around the organisation's IT and OT cybersecurity requirements.