There are dozens of tools for inventorying and monitoring corporate networks, but industrial networks aren’t as well served. Last week, Newmarket, Ontario-based Completely Managed took a big step to remedy that situation when it unveiled its industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) network discovery and assessment platform, LANAware, bridging the gap between IT (information technology) and OT (operational technology).
Partners Cisco Canada, Gerrie Electric, JMP Solutions, and Tech Data Canada joined in the celebration and the ceremonial ribbon-cutting by Newmarket mayor John Taylor at Completely Managed’s offices.
Completely Managed founder, president and CEO Rod Scotland said, “Security is part and parcel and should be considered through the lens of every acquisition, purchase decision and network deployment. This is where LANAware focuses – it is a platform to assess and recommend. LANAware helps Gerrie Electric, ourselves, and our partners understand, assess, and then produces the documentation that helps the recommendation to be understood. The interface has been written not for IT, it is very focused on industrial applications. Our opportunity to help is in industrial; we do focus on and solve IT problems as well on an everyday basis.”
LANAware consists of three pieces: a box that’s small enough to hold in one hand, a secure cloud where it aggregates the collected information and displays it to users based on their roles, and a virtualization engine.
The box (or node, as Completely Managed calls it) can securely connect to up to six networks, inventorying each and collecting information about each device, including its software and firmware versions and patch status. It monitors and manages many industrial plant technologies, and fingerprints devices varying from automation and network equipment to PLCs (programmable logic controllers), allowing users to build network maps and evaluate each device’s status. Information not accessible through auto-discovery can be entered manually to round out the picture.
Real-time reporting provides managers with information about the state of the network and its devices, sends alerts about issues, and provides recommendations to keep all healthy and functioning properly.
Mark Collins, senior vice-president of Cisco Canada partner organization, said, “Today what Completely Managed does is very much about a bridge to possible. LANAware is going to be a huge game-changer.”
Development funding was provided by the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) of the National Research Council.
Warren Tkachuk, vice-president of business operations at Completely Managed, said, “We have a single purpose: to be a bench behind our partners’ brands. We want to bring value to our partner relationships; they are the ones who service the customers and take those not-so-friendly phone calls on a regular basis. Companies like JMP Solutions and Gerrie Electric are two of them that take such great care of the market, and all we do is come in and add value to all of the hard work that they do.” He also called out Cisco and Tech Data, who have helped develop a global strategy for LANAware.
Added Todd Madgett, global client director supporting distribution at Cisco, “What I really like about this company is it’s got the IT and the OT space. Completely Managed is the first specialized certified IoT partner in Canada for Cisco.”
LANAware is available through the Cisco Marketplace.