Canadian industrial data communications specialist Skkynet has made its real-time industrial communications product DataHub available through the Microsoft Azure Marketplace. Microsoft Azure customers can use DataHub to securely acquire, monitor, control, consolidate, and share live industrial process data.

The Skkynet DataHub service connects to Azure IoT Hub for real-time remote monitoring, control, and data logging. Using standard industrial protocols like OPC UA or MQTT, users can also connect directly to applications and programs that run on Azure, or at remote locations.

Security is based on Skkynet technology that uses outbound-only connections to ensure that no attack surface is exposed on a local plant network. It requires no IT policy changes, no open inbound firewall ports, no VPNs, and no extra hardware while allowing real-time bi-directional data flow through DMZs and network proxies up to the cloud.

“I’ve been working with pharmacy production equipment, grocery store water systems, municipal facilities, and universities where the managers all need the same thing: secure access to their process data,” said Rick Lisowski, President of Skye Controls & Design in Spencerport, NY. “Connecting the hardware they use to the DataHub software running on Azure puts it all together. Now my motto is: I can get any data from anywhere and push it to where you need it.”

“The DataHub service provides a unique way to securely integrate operations technology with IT on Microsoft Azure,” said Paul Thomas, President of Skkynet. “Users can now aggregate data feeds from multiple sources, and feed data to dashboards, data lakes, and other connected programs ― without exposing their production systems.”

“Microsoft Azure Marketplace empowers customers to discover, try, and deploy software solutions that are certified and optimised to run on Azure,” said Jake Zborowski, General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. “Azure Marketplace helps solutions like Skkynet reach more customers and markets.”