Protocols
Last updated on 3 October 2025
There are various protocols that we support on our controllers or gateways. These protocols are used to
The Foundation: Protocol Support Gateways and Layers
Protocols divide communication into logical steps, often called ‘layers’. A commonly used architecture is the TCP/IP stack, including:
- Transport layer (e.g., TCP/UDP): manages reliability and sessions.
- Internet layer (e.g., IP): handles routing and addressing.
- Application layer (e.g., HTTP/MQTT): defines how application-specific messages are formatted and exchanged.
This process is called encapsulation: data from a higher layer is encapsulated by the lower layer, ensuring standardized and reliable network communication. For remote engineers, this means that protocols like TCP/IP, TCP/UDP, IP, HTTP, and MQTT consistently work together to get PLC data and telemetry to the cloud.
Our Protocol Support for Controllers and Gateways
Our controllers and gateways function as translators between classic OT protocols and modern IT/Cloud protocols. They retrieve PLC data and write back when necessary, supporting connections with existing systems so you can integrate legacy equipment with IIoT solutions.
| Protocol | Category | Function via our Controller/Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| BACnet (Building Automation and Control Networks) | BMS/building management | Collects data from climate control systems, ventilation, and lighting and makes it available for centralization and cloud integration. |
| IEC 60870-5-104 (IEC104) | Energy/SCADA | Widely used in the energy sector (substations). Our controllers handle IEC104 connections for secure reading and alarm forwarding. |
| MODBUS RTU/TCP | Industrial classic | Foundation for industrial communication. Support for serial and TCP variants for reading and writing registers and coils. |
| MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) | IoT/Cloud | A lightweight publish/subscribe protocol. Gateways use MQTT to efficiently send telemetry to cloud endpoints. |
| OMRON RTU/TCP | Industrial | Specific support for OMRON PLC communication via serial and TCP channels. |
| OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture) | Industrial Middleware | Secure, standardized data extraction and modeling between PLCs/SCADA and higher OT/IT layers. |
| S7 | PLC/Siemens | Direct communication with Siemens S7 PLCs for reading variables, status, and diagnostics. |
| SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) | Network management | Network protocol allowing administrators to read status information and network statistics from devices. |
Practical Notes on Integration
Integration is about consistency and compatibility: the gateway must have the right driver/stack for each field protocol while simultaneously offering the correct IT protocols for cloud connectivity. Thanks to the translation layer between OT and IT, you can uniformly process data from MODBUS, S7, IEC104, or other legacy systems and send it to cloud endpoints.
Network and Security
Secure transmission is crucial: transport-level encryption, access management, and logging are standard parts of our solutions. For remote access, we use controlled connections and logging so you have insight into who accesses which PLC data and when. As part of a broader cybersecurity strategy, we recommend consistent patching and separating OT and IT networks where possible.
Conclusion
Managing remote infrastructures requires understanding a broad spectrum of protocols. Our controllers and gateways bridge OT and IT and ensure a reliable translation to the cloud. Whether data comes from an IEC104 energy system, a Siemens S7 PLC, or a MODBUS installation, the right protocol support enables seamless and secure data flows.