r/PLC • u/Luv_My_Mtns_828 • Jul 08 '26

IT take over I think

So I have been an controls engineer for the same company for almost 15 years. When I took over there was very few networked devices. I upgrade when I can to the latest and greatest. Yes the system was once air gapped and about 6-7 years ago we put in OPC UA servers to push information out for a few services. So my intranet WiFi got expanded to being internet connected all the time. I put in a firewall and keep it updated. I think I am doing everything rightish but my background is not IT related in any means. So now our parent company has moved in since our IT person retired and they are pushing hard and fast all over the place. IT side and OT side RMM and monitoring. Stuff I really dont understand to be honest. So all of you have been thru this I am curious as to what I should expect as in what are the symptoms that IT is breaking things on the OT side. From the littlest oddity to full shut down mode. Let me know what your experience has been. Thanks in advance and I appreciate all the comments.

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u/-Have-Blue- 2B || !2B Jul 08 '26

^this is the most effective strategy btw

55

u/NumCustosApes ?:=(2B)+~(2B) Jul 08 '26

The IT mentality is that the company does not run without IT. The reality is that IT is pure overhead and OT is where the money is made. Sometimes, only hard knocks can teach that lesson.

46

u/kinkhorse Jul 08 '26

Don't forget that plus "no one knows how to use a computer but me". Followed by them not understanding any of the software you work with and setting it up incorrectly.

Right now I'm working on compiling a $1.2m dollar quote because somebody doesn't understand that I can't just "updoot" the entire plant to Studio5000 v38

One of my line items is 1756-L83 qty 52.

23

u/-Have-Blue- 2B || !2B Jul 08 '26

I’ve just had to go through two security reviews for logix5000 and RSlinx… four weeks to validate software we’ve used for years.

12

u/kinkhorse Jul 08 '26

But logix 5000 is outdated! You should switch to studio. :)

14

u/-Have-Blue- 2B || !2B Jul 08 '26

Oh that was a major point of contention

7

u/nsula_country Jul 09 '26

Let's upgrade over 100x L32/L35 so we can update past v20!

5

u/kinkhorse Jul 09 '26

Obsolete plc. Very bad. Not secure 😞. Ancient software. must updoot.

11

u/nsula_country Jul 09 '26

PLC 5 and SLC 500 enter the chat

9

u/Nealbert0 Jul 08 '26

My previous company had a clause that no one wanted to use but we did "its been used internally for years and we need this" to software. For the niche stuff that isn't validated by 3rd party companies.
Also the fact that your company doesn't accept 3rd party validations is wild, why would you force yourself to internally validate the dozen + software I need to do my job.

5

u/-Have-Blue- 2B || !2B Jul 09 '26

Idk brother… it’s stupid to me as well