TECHNOLOGY n 21 www.drivesncontrols.com April 2026 SIEMENS HAS ANNOUNCED a cybersecure industrial private 5G network technology, developed in collaboration with the AI cybersecurity specialist, Palo Alto Networks. It says that the system will allow manufacturers to achieve security, while maintaining critical performance from their production lines. “Palo Alto Networks and Siemens are not just connecting the factory floor, we are building the central nervous system for the future of industry – a future that is intelligent, autonomous, and secure by design,” says Dharminder Debisarun, Palo Alto Networks’ smart industries cybersecurity executive. Data-driven production systems need wireless connections for sensors and mobile assets, making private 5G networks essential, says Siemens. But these networks could be targeted by cybercriminals, resulting in costly downtime or affecting worker safety. In addition, regulations such as NIS2 mandate defence-in-depth security architectures that comply with IEC 62443. Off-the-shelf IT security systems often create performance bottlenecks or fail to address OT-specific threats in industrial environments, according to Siemens. Its collaboration with Palo Alto Networks is intended to tackle this gap. Palo Alto has optimised its NGFW (next-generation firewall) technology for Siemens’ private 5G infrastructure, with Siemens conducting extensive tests in a variety of deployment scenarios. This verification process has shown that the system delivers industrial-grade security without compromising the low latency and high throughput needed for real-time production systems – distinguishing it from generic IT security. “A pharmaceutical plant has different security requirements from an automotive assembly line,” points out Michael Metzler, vice-president of horizontal management cybersecurity at Siemens Digital Industries. “Siemens’ verified solution with Palo Alto Networks addresses these industry-specific needs through purpose-built architecture. Manufacturers get secure 5G connectivity tailored to their operations, without performance trade-offs.” Siemens has tested and verified the technology at its Digital Connectivity Lab in Erlangen, Germany. For enhanced cybersecurity, it combines three elements: n Siemens’ private 5G Infrastructure, which provides on-premises, deterministic wireless connections for mobile assets, with built-in security that protects the core network infrastructure. It ensures data sovereignty and low-latency communications, independent of the mobile network operator. n the Sinec Security Monitor, which identifies communications anomalies, unauthorised devices, or potential threats, without affecting production. It is designed for passive, non-intrusive, continuous on-premises security monitoring during production. n Palo Alto Networks’ Firewall, which delivers Layer 7 security and dedicated OT protocol analysis optimised for industrial environments. Unlike generic IT security systems, it provides deep packet inspection of OT protocols, while maintaining the low latency needed for real-time control applications – now also in private 5G networks. This includes protection against malware, intrusion and data exfiltration, without the loss of performance typical with off-the-shelf security tools. The verified architecture meets IEC 62443 requirements for industrial automation and control security, while maintaining the performance characteristics essential for time-critical production applications. The technology is available now as part of Siemens’ Xcelerator portfolio. www.siemens.com/private-5g-networks Cybersecure private 5G: ‘the nervous system for the future of industry’ Siemens and Palo Alto say their technology offers cybersecurity for industrial 5G networks without compromising their performance
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