A familiar technology in many household devices, Bluetooth is finding more and more applications in industrial processes. Its ability to transfer data remotely and securely makes it easy to access and maintain your devices, no matter where they’re located.

Commissioning devices or checking diagnostic information is easier than ever thanks to Bluetooth. The Bluetooth-enabled device connects to Endress+Hauser’s SmartBlue app using your phone or tablet, giving you fast and comfortable mobile access to the device, diagnostics and process information. It’s ideal for hazardous or difficult-to-access areas, as you can choose a safe place within a radius of up to 20 metres around the device to run the app, and all your data is to hand in real time.

Secure connection

As interest in convenient wireless access to field instruments has grown, so have the concerns around data security. As more and more sensors can be configured remotely via Bluetooth, the protocols used in industrial applications must be secure. As well as providing security against unauthorised access, users need to have confidence that their Bluetooth connection is not vulnerable to ‘man-in-the-middle’ or phishing attacks. And any data found in a stolen or lost smartphone must not reveal any information about access to the measuring device.

In response to these concerns, cryptography experts at Endress+Hauser have developed the CPace standard, which uses simple passwords to provide a level of protection approaching that of certificate-based systems. With the security level almost comparable to that of passports or European identity cards, Endress+Hauser offers the highest level of Bluetooth security on the market.

CPace uses the PAKE (password-authenticated key agreement) principle, which separates the security level from the password quality and ensures the password itself is not transmitted. With CPace, Bluetooth connections to measuring instruments are always secure, even in cases where users have assigned relatively short passwords. CPace has been recommended by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which oversees the standardisation of internet communication protocols, after it carried out a comprehensive security analysis. The protection level offered by CPace has also been classified as ‘high’ by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied and Integrated Security in Germany.

The benefits of Endress+Hauser’s secure Bluetooth connection:

  • Increased usability, time-efficiency and security of your plant when using Bluetooth-enabled devices
  • Secure use of passwords in industrial plants independent of the password length
  • Usage independent of device type and power specifications
  • Prevention of phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks
  • Stronger security than other solutions in standard use: Endress+Hauser’s solution recommended by IETF.

Field devices

Endress+Hauser offers a range of devices capable of communication via Bluetooth for commissioning, verification or digital communication via a FieldEdge SGC200 gateway. The Bluetooth-enabled devices include electromagnetic and Coriolis flowmeters, vibrating fork level switches and radars, pressure sensors, temperature transmitters and transmitters for liquid analysis.

Technological expertise

Bluetooth is just one tool in Endress+Hauser’s portfolio to support the seamless integration of field devices into automation systems. Endress+Hauser is committed to being a reliable partner for customers who want to make their processes safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly: in essence, helping them to make smarter decisions. Find out how you can begin to unlock the potential of your assets here: www.smarter-decisions.co.uk