The importance of PLC backups

In today’s fast-paced industrial environment, it is crucial to ensure that your production processes are running smoothly and efficiently. However, one critical aspect that often gets overlooked is the importance of PLC backup and version control practices, which we explore within this blog post.

These practices are essential to maintain the integrity of your production systems, ensure that the latest software is being used, and prevent costly downtime.

Why are PLC backups so important?

PLC backups are crucial because they ensure that the program and configuration data stored in the PLC are not lost in the event of a hardware failure, power outage, or other unexpected events.

If a PLC fails, the consequences can be severe. Without a backup, it can take a significant amount of time to recreate the program from scratch, which can result in downtime and lost productivity. Additionally, the cost of replacing a faulty PLC can be expensive, and without a backup, it may be challenging to restore the system to its previous state.

A PLC backup provides an easy and efficient way to restore the system to its previous state quickly. In the event of a failure, the backup can be used to reload the program and configuration data onto a new or repaired PLC, allowing the system to resume normal operation with minimal downtime.

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Are your current practices putting your production at risk?

Without proper PLC backup and version control practices, you are putting your production at risk of failures, loss of critical data, and extensive downtime. This can result in costly repairs, missed production deadlines, and reduced customer satisfaction.

Moreover, if you rely on outdated software, you may also be putting your systems at risk of cyber-attacks, which can lead to severe operational consequences.

To mitigate these risks, it is crucial to implement robust backup and version control practices that can ensure the integrity of your production systems.

That’s where we come in.

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Our services

We have a range of services that can help to optimise your production process. They include:

PLC Backup: we can provide secure and reliable backup solutions that can help protect your critical production data. We offer both on-site and off-site backup services, ensuring that your data is safe and easily accessible.

Version Control Management: we can help you maintain the latest version of your PLC software, ensuring that your systems are up-to-date with the latest patches and bug fixes. This can help prevent system failures and improve system performance.

Disaster Recovery: In case of any system failures, we can provide disaster recovery services that can help you get your systems up and running quickly. This can help minimize downtime and ensure that your production processes are back to normal as soon as possible.

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In conclusion

PLC backup and version control practices are essential for the smooth and efficient running of your production processes.

We can help you implement a customized backup and version control strategy that meets your specific requirements, ensuring the integrity and efficiency of your production systems.

These above services are just three examples of the comprehensive Service Support program, ServConnect, that we offer here at iconsys. Each contract is tailored to client requirements.

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A recent example

Following an extended power outage for a major UK Food Manufacturer, a PLC system failed to restart, having lost its programs.

The root cause of the problem was failed backup batteries (the business had forgotten to replace them). We provided phone support to talk through the order in which several backups needed to be reloaded in sequence as we could work through our offline copy as a “virtual twin”.

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Do you need help to build a reliable PLC backup & version control strategy?

We’re here to help, just get in touch to chat through your requirements.