After deciding to charge for a previously free service, I have been exploring alternative options. If you have experience with any of these services or knowledge to share, please do so. Storing all my eWONs on separate accounts would now cost £17,000 per year, which is not feasible. Here is my research on potential alternatives, listed in no particular order as I discovered them. Weidmuller offers quick access for simplified maintenance, either stand-alone or with extended Industrial IoT functionalities. The service appears to be free for the first 6 months, but pricing information for subsequent periods was difficult to find due to excessive irrelevant information on their website. Automation Direct provides a basic free VPN service, or users can opt for paid services such as cloud logging and alarm notifications. The initial device cost is $400. Omron's Remote Access Solution appears to only have a Windows client available. Pricing information was inconsistent, with some sources stating the device had been discontinued. Welotec offers VPN and Industrial Remote Access solutions for secure networking. Deployment seems to be handled in-house by the company. Moxa's Remote Connect Suite, while secure, is priced over $1000 per device, making it a costly option. MB connect line's mbNET industrial router is a versatile and secure option for connecting machines to the Internet. They offer a basic free type, but the company is affiliated with Redlion and HMS Networks. Secomea's remote access solution offers scalable plans, but pricing details have to be requested through a quote. IXON Cloud provides transparent pricing with a free standard package. The device price is around £405 from a UK supplier. INSYS ICOM's VPN service offers a free trial, but pricing information must be obtained from a local partner company. KEB Automation's C6 ROUTER allows for remote maintenance of industrial plants with a specially designed VPN router. There is no mobile app connectivity available. Beijer Electronics' CloudVPN Gateway Ethernet device is priced at $710 with no apparent ongoing charges. Siemens' Remote Networks Overview requires an IT department to set up a VPN server system. If you have additional information on any of these systems or know of any other companies or devices I may have missed, please share your insights.
According to BryanG, the Phoenix Contact mGuard Secure Cloud requires an in-house VPN server, making it ideal for companies with an IT department. To access the free Secure Cloud, users must purchase and set up a Phoenix Contact mGuard Router and install a VPN client on their computer. Exor offers a similar solution with Corvina Cloud, available in HMIs or gateway devices. Users can opt for pay-as-you-go VPN access or an unlimited option at an affordable price.
To enhance the security of your network, it is recommended to add a Phoenix Contact mGuard Router, available in various versions, and ensure a VPN client is installed on your device. Phoenix Contact offers support for several compatible VPN clients. Are you looking for an Ethernet mGuard Router part number and pricing information? Additionally, are you interested in mobile phone VPN clients? Feel free to provide any corrections or additional details.
Another option to consider is the Tosi-box, although the pricing may fluctuate. It is expected to be in a similar range as the Beijer one. Alternatively, Tailscale VPN is a potential solution that claims to be user-friendly within networks, eliminating the need for router and firewall configurations. It might be beneficial to explore this option, especially since they offer a free tier for testing purposes.
BryanG stated his thanks for the correction and inquired about the part number and price for an Ethernet mGuard Router, as well as the availability of mobile phone VPN clients. The entry-level option would be the CLOUD CLIENT 1101T-TX/TX - Router with the Phoenix Contact part number 1221706, priced at around $590. The product page for this router can be found here. According to Phoenix Contact mGuard Secure Cloud documents, it is compatible with iOS VPN clients, although this compatibility has not been tested yet. More information can be found on the Phoenix Contact website.
Appreciate it, nOrM!
It seems like you've done quite thorough research on the topic. Based on my personal experience, I'd recommend taking a closer look at IXON Cloud and Automation Direct. IXON Cloud has been quite reliable for me and their transparent pricing policy is a big plus. The initial cost might seem on the higher side, but the standard package offering free services make up for it. Automation Direct, on the other hand, provides essential services free of charge which is a good solution if your needs are basic. Also, their paid services are worth considering if you require more advanced features. Remember though, in the end, the best solution depends heavily on your specific needs and budget.
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Answer: - Weidmuller offers a free service for the first 6 months, Automation Direct provides a basic free VPN service, and IXON Cloud has transparent pricing with a free standard package.
Answer: - MB connect line's mbNET industrial router is a versatile and secure option for connecting machines to the Internet.
Answer: - Secomea's remote access solution offers scalable plans, with pricing details available upon request.
Answer: - INSYS ICOM's VPN service offers a free trial, and pricing information can be obtained from a local partner company.
Answer: - Beijer Electronics offers a CloudVPN Gateway Ethernet device priced at $710 with no apparent ongoing charges.
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