Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has signed an agreement with Dispel LLC, a developer and distributor of secure remote-access and operational-management solutions. Specifically, the agreement aims to expand its operational technology (OT) security business through marketing and technical development.

Remote maintenance involves utilizing internet technology to monitor and troubleshoot production lines from remote locations. Particularly, it is attracting increasing interest due to manufacturing’s globalization as well as its implementation of IoT and digital transformation. However, accessing factory systems via the internet has increased security risks, such as cyberattacks targeting communication pathway. As a result, it inhibits the adoption of remote maintenance. In addition, large manufacturing sites typically use equipment from multiple equipment vendors, which requires a dedicated communication path for each vendor’s equipment, resulting in multiple communication paths being exposed to security risks.

Based on the agreement, Mitsubishi Electric will integrate its factory automation (FA) equipment and OT security solutions with Dispel’s secure remote-access technology to provide a Zero Trust Remote Access Service. Specifically, the service will monitor, control and verify remote-access operations involving equipment in manufacturing facilities.

For Mitsubishi Electric, the goal is to accelerate digital manufacturing by utilizing data throughout entire product lifecycles – from design and installation to operation and maintenance. Thereby, it will strengthen the company’s Circular Digital-Engineering business.