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Unified Namespace (UNS): A key concept for industrial digitalization?

The increasing digitalization and networking of industrial processes presents companies with the challenge of efficiently integrating complex data structures. This is where the Unified Namespace (UNS) offers an innovative solution: a central, event-driven data platform that provides all company data in a consistent and structured manner. As a single source of truth, UNS connects all levels of a company as a single, consistent data source. But what does this mean for cyber security? At the Pharma Forum 2025, we will talk about the opportunities and challenges of the UNS in modern and regulated environments.

Unified Namespace (UNS) is an open, event-driven architecture that centralizes data from various sources such as sensors, machines and IT systems.

Instead of linking these systems in stages or via direct point-to-point connections as in the classic automation pyramid, the UNS serves as a central hub. It records the current status of the company in real time, organizes the data logically and makes it available to all relevant applications in a structured manner. This structure reduces the complexity of point-to-point connections and facilitates the integration of new systems.

A key advantage of the UNS is its flexibility: By using open standards such as MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport)What does MQTT stand for?MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is an Internet of Things communication protocol that enables data exchange between devices and cloud services. companies can Vendor lock-insWhat is vendor lock-in?Vendor lock-in prevents customers from switching providers. Freedom of choice is essential, especially in the rail sector. CTE provides all project data so that customers can freely plan with other partners at any time. avoid these issues and design their systems to be scalable. In addition, UNS enables efficient data contextualization, ensuring that information is presented in a transparent and well-structured manner.

Initial tests in a pilot environment

However, implementing a UNS also presents challenges. These include ensuring data integrity and CybersecurityWhat is cybersecurity?The totality of measures taken to protect systems, networks, and data from digital attacks and misuse.. The central data platform must be reliable and secure against external threats. Compliance with regulatory requirements in highly regulated industries, such as the pharmaceutical industry, as well as the technical complexity of integrating existing systems, must also be addressed. Especially in regulated environments, validation processes such as GAMP 5 GuidelinesWhat does GAMP stand for?GAMP (Good Automated Manufacturing Practice) is a set of guidelines for the validation of automated systems in the pharmaceutical industry. must be followed to ensure compliance and quality.

As part of his bachelor’s thesis last year, OT Solutions Engineer Patrick Furtwängler evaluated two approaches to UNS implementation: a concept by Walker Reynolds and an open-source solution from the United Manufacturing Hub (UMH). Both approaches were tested in a pilot environment. Initial results showed that both solutions have the potential to revolutionize data integration and processing. Nevertheless, challenges remained, such as connecting to OPC UAWhat is OPC UA?Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture is an industrial communication protocol that enables the secure exchange of data between machines, as well as between machines and computers. and the development of data consumers.

Picture of Andreas Langer, COO at ControlTech Engineering AG.

How can a unified namespace be implemented securely and in compliance with regulations?

Book a non-binding meeting with Andreas Langer, COO.

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Topic focus at the Pharma Forum 2025

The idea of a fully networked system landscape sounds tempting: all machines, control systems and IT systems are directly connected to each other, data is available in real time and can be accessed by everyone involved. In reality, however, unrestricted networking harbors considerable risks - particularly in the area of cyber security.

In industry in particular, there have been numerous incidents in recent years in which production facilities have been encrypted by cyber attacks. Uncontrolled data networking up to the control level could further exacerbate these risks.

How can a unified namespace be implemented securely and in compliance with regulations? It was precisely this area of tension between ultimate flexible data availability and the enormous challenges of cyber security that we addressed at the Siemens Pharma Forum.

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Stable operation without downtime - including protection against cyber attacks? Use external resources for legal requirements such as NIS2 Kritis.