SCADA NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN AT PORT FACILITIES

CLIENT OVERVIEW

Location: North Vancouver, BC

Industry: Petroleum Products Handling & Marine Terminal Operations

Facility Type: Petroleum Storage and Marine Terminal

Services: Vessel Loading and Unloading, Railcar Transloading, Storage and Distribution of Petroleum Products

The terminal, located in North Vancouver, is a key facility operated by a U.S. parent corporation, serving as a vital hub for handling and storing various petroleum products, including ethanol, gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.

Strategically located on the Burrard Inlet, the terminal provides easy access for vessels and connects to major transportation routes. The terminal boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure, including deepwater berths, specialized loading and unloading equipment, and extensive storage capacity.

The facility prioritizes robust safety measures, adherence to environmental regulations, and a commitment to sustainability. The terminal ensures the safe handling and storage of petroleum products while minimizing environmental impact on the surrounding ecosystem.

In summary, the terminal plays a crucial role in supporting the energy industry in Western Canada by facilitating the import and export of petroleum products, acting as a vital link between producers, refiners, and consumers.

THE CHALLENGE

Successfully designing and managing an OT network requires a comprehensive understanding of the unique challenges posed by monitoring, IoT device management, and Wi-Fi management. Addressing these challenges requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving expertise in both OT and IT domains.

Collaboration between operational technology teams, network engineers, cybersecurity professionals, and vendors is essential to design, implement, and manage a robust and secure OT network that meets the specific requirements of industrial environments.

Common Challenges:

• Integration of Legacy Systems
• Security Risks
• Network Complexity
• Bandwidth and Latency
• Reliability and Redundancy
• Operational and IT Collaboration
• Maintenance and Upgrades
• Real-Time Monitoring
• IoT Device Management
• Scalability
• Wi-Fi Management and Coverage

THE SOLUTION

QCA Systems played a critical role in addressing the design and management of the terminal's OT network, along with methods of monitoring and ongoing management.

By adopting a holistic approach to design and management, leveraging appropriate monitoring methods, and providing ongoing support, QCA Systems helped ensure the reliability, security, and performance of the OT network. This enabled the customer to optimize their operational processes, enhance efficiency, and achieve their desired outcomes.

Here's how QCA Systems supports customers in this area:

• Design Approach
• Methods of Monitoring
• Ongoing Management

KEY RESULTS

• QCA Systems built and managed the OT Network for over 20 years
• QCA Systems integrated legacy systems
• QCA Systems applied the best security practices available
• Network complexity is high, so details are important
• Bandwidth and Latency issues were overcome through QCA Systems network designs
• Redundancy was incorporated into the design, increasing reliability
• The network was designed to scale
• The project was completed with collaboration between IT and OT resources
• Maintenance and Upgrades are part of the support plan
• Network Monitoring was incorporated into the design from the start
• The network design takes into consideration IoT devices
• Wi-Fi is optimized for coverage and reliability
• Wi-Fi signal interference was diagnosed
• Network security was paramount in the project