Rockwell Automation and Cisco launched a training course to help information technology (IT) and operations technology (OT) professionals overcome the challenges of converging network technologies.
Managing Industrial Networks with Cisco Networking Technologies (IMINS) is a hands-on, lab-based course that provides the foundational skills needed to manage and administer networked, industrial control systems. The course is designed to help control system and traditional network engineers in manufacturing, process control, and oil and gas environments to better understand the networking technologies required to enable a connected enterprise for more profitable, real-time decision making.
"The industrial plant floor is transforming as information and operational technologies expand IP networking and Ethernet connectivity,” says Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, vice president and general manager, Learning@Cisco. “The demand for skilled professionals who understand how to interact with IT, networking and traditional control systems continues to grow. An opportunity exists here to re-skill system engineers and plant technicians on networking in order to help them more effectively do their jobs while decreasing downtime.”
According to Cisco, there is an anticipated 220,000 IT and OT engineers needed every year to scale the Internet of Things.
Cisco says the IMINS course will help control system engineers and IT engineers to achieve competency and skills to install, maintain and troubleshoot industrial network systems. It will also help engineers to ensure network availability, reliability and cybersecurity across the connected enterprise, while learning how to interpret designs to recognize industrial topologies and access reference materials.
In addition, the training helps candidates prepare for the recently introduced Cisco Industrial Networking Specialist certification.
The IMINS course is available for open enrollment in the US with 28 classes planned through April 2015. Classes will begin globally in October of this year.
In June, Rockwell announced the launch of the Allen-Bradley Stratix 5100 wireless access point (WAP) featuring a work group bridge, designed to make accessing critical production data easier within the manufacturing enterprise. The Stratix 5100 WAP enables engineers to connect up to 19 IP addresses simultaneously – helping reduce design time when integrating machines and equipment into the industrial control network. It’s ideal for industrial networks needing secure and reliable wireless connectivity.
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