{"id":429,"date":"2020-10-08T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-08T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azure.microsoft.com\/blog\/learn-how-the-azure-nested-edge-securely-unlocks-value-from-manufacturing-data"},"modified":"2025-06-30T09:54:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T16:54:42","slug":"learn-how-the-azure-nested-edge-securely-unlocks-value-from-manufacturing-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azure.microsoft.com\/en-us\/blog\/learn-how-the-azure-nested-edge-securely-unlocks-value-from-manufacturing-data\/","title":{"rendered":"Azure IoT Edge adds support for industrial environments to securely unlock value from manufacturing data"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Update<\/strong>: IoT Edge device nesting capability is now in public preview. For the most up to date information, please visit nested IoT Edge devices documentation<\/a>.\n

Around the world, customers are demonstrating the future of data-driven manufacturing. Dutch paint company AkzoNobel transformed from a manual operation to one focused on expanding a modern digital performance solution across its European factories. Swedish manufacturer Sandvik Coromant saw a 40 percent increase in engineering and operator productivity.<\/p>\n

How others can replicate data-driven manufacturing success<\/h2>\n

We\u2019ve recently developed a white paper<\/a> to help our customers understand how they can replicate that success in their own facilities. For manufacturers, the promise of Industry 4.0 lies in breaking down silos and gaining a holistic view across the entire operation, from asset data to insights across all manufacturing processes. However, there are some big challenges in getting there\u2014the data path is generally several layers deep, and enabling those layers to communicate freely can be an expensive proposition.<\/p>\n

The manufacturing industry has a series of standards and compliance requirements, such as the International Society of Automation\u2019s ISA-95. The ISA-95 automation structure is a generally accepted standard for manufacturing control systems that supports long-term reliability of operation. Still, it also makes interactions with control systems and automation devices all but impossible from an internet-connected system. However, building the capabilities from scratch to integrate the layers of the automation pyramid requires intense networking effort and expertise. Many companies are unable to fully realize their vision for a functional solution.<\/p>\n

Microsoft Azure offers a path to overcome the ISA-95 compliance and interoperability conundrum. Azure Industrial IoT enables both established plants and new plants to be equipped with future monitoring and optimization functions for Industry 4.0 needs, in addition to the classic automation pyramid\u2014through a safe, secure, and open approach that does not compromise existing implementations.<\/p>\n

Our white paper shows how customers can use an Azure nested edge solution<\/a> to unlock Industry 4.0 in their own facilities. It offers guidance on how customers around the world can build cloud-native industrial solutions on their terms and be ready for the future. The Azure nested edge is your path to meeting ISA-95 requirements without getting stuck in networking limbo.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at what Azure nested edge allows you to do<\/h2>\n