RCMS RobustVPN

RobustVPN: Secure Remote Access Solution for Industrial IoT

RobustVPN remote access VPN PLC

RobustVPN is an innovative, cloud-based VPN platform that provides a secure and powerful way to establish a virtual private network between users and their remote Robustel routers and gateways. It is designed to give these devices fixed private IP addresses, enabling easy and secure remote access from anywhere in the world. This service is a key feature of the Robustel Cloud Manager Service (RCMS) and is available to customers with an RCMS Advanced License.

Hosted on Microsoft Azure, the platform manages the complex setup issues typically associated with OpenVPN, such as certificate exchange and passwords. RobustVPN is "bearer independent", allowing it to function over any wired or wireless internet connection, including Cellular, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet WAN. While it can work with SIM cards from any mobile provider, a critical requirement is that the SIM must be able to obtain a public IP address (it does not need to be static) from the carrier. The service cannot function if the SIM is assigned a private IP address within the carrier's network.

Core Functions

  • Remote Access and Management: RobustVPN allows users to remotely access their devices from anywhere and at any time. It addresses the challenge of routers on cellular networks lacking a public IP address by creating a private network for remote access. Users can also monitor the real-time running status of their devices, including data usage and online rate.
  • Secure Data Transmission: The platform establishes a secure and reliable OpenVPN tunnel between users and devices, ensuring the privacy and security of data transmission. It integrates network security standards and supports server cold backup with data enciphering.
  • Massive Device Access and Scalability: RobustVPN is compatible with multiple VPN protocols and can support the connection and data processing of over tens of thousands of devices simultaneously.
  • User-Friendly Interface and Management: The platform features a simple web page for easy operation and a user-friendly interface. It provides a visual method to display real-time data of devices in graphs, making it easy to understand device information. VPN tunnel configuration is assigned automatically, and users can be assigned different permissions within the same instance.
  • Flexible Connectivity: RobustVPN supports both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint applications, allowing individual routers to be addressed by their OpenVPN (Virtual) IP addresses.

Advantages

  • Cost-Effective and Flexible: RobustVPN provides on-demand remote device connectivity at a low cost. Unlike many fixed IP SIM card services that require long-term contracts, RobustVPN does not, offering a more flexible month-to-month option.
  • Provider Independence and Versatility: A key advantage of RobustVPN is its independence from specific SIM providers and connection types. As long as the SIM card can acquire a public IP, the service offers great versatility across various Cellular, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet connections, providing more flexibility than traditional solutions.
  • Enhanced Security and Privacy: RobustVPN ensures data privacy and security by creating private VPN tunnels and using data encryption. The platform is securely hosted on Microsoft Azure.
  • Ease of Use and Deployment: The platform's user-friendly design, automatic tunnel configuration, and quick deployment capabilities make it easy to set up and manage, reducing the need for extensive technical support.
  • Centralized Management through RCMS: The integration of RobustVPN with RCMS allows for centralized monitoring and management of VPN-enabled devices from anywhere in the world. Users can enable or disable devices and manage their VPN groups through the RCMS platform.

Applications

RobustVPN enables secure remote connectivity for a wide range of industrial and IoT applications:

  • Industrial Automation & Remote Machinery Management: This is a primary use case, directly competing with platforms like eWon and IXON. Engineers and technicians can use RobustVPN to remotely access, monitor, program, and troubleshoot PLCs, HMIs, VFDs, and other machinery on the factory floor from anywhere. This dramatically reduces downtime, eliminates the need for costly site visits, and facilitates faster service responses.
  • SCADA & Critical Infrastructure Monitoring: Securely connect and manage Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. This is ideal for utilities and municipalities to monitor remote assets in water/wastewater treatment plants, electrical substations, oil & gas pipelines, and renewable energy farms (solar, wind).
  • Smart City & Transportation: Provide reliable connectivity for various smart city initiatives. This includes remote management of digital signage, connecting traffic control systems, providing Wi-Fi on public transport, and securing data transmission from public video surveillance cameras.