# A Review of Industry 4.0 Manufacturing Process Security Risks
## 4 Solutions
### Efficient and Secure Scaling of Information Networks
#### 4.2.2 Software-Defined Networks and Network Function Virtualization
Furthermore, the software-based nature of the network controller allows the network to be programmatically configured instead of hand-configuring multiple devices on the network. The advantages in terms of downtime and network maintenance that SDNs offer are clearly apparent. As is the case with many other technologies that are adapted on a broad scale between multiple industries, the issue of standardization is always a key role player in the effectiveness and success of a particular technology. SDNs allow the use of standardized application programming interfaces and protocols to implement and connect to various networking services, such as routing, bandwidth management, access control and policy management, thus simplifying the overall maintenance task of the network while simultaneously optimizing network services. Network automation is another promising feature that SDNs can offer. By dynamically analyzing network traffic and the demand of network services, the network infrastructure and management of network services can be automatically adjusted in real-time in order to make optimal use of all the available network resources. As a consequence, the overall network complexity also reduces, since the functionality of many networking tools (both stand-alone and integrated) that require manual operation are now contained and managed within an automated network management platform. However, standardization of the communications protocol and processes will be a key determining factor in the efficiency of these automated network management platforms. One example of such a standardized protocol is the OpenFlow protocol developed by the Open Networking Foundation. The OpenFlow protocol was the first standardized communications interface that allowed the direct control and manipulation of network devices and networking services within an SDN [48]. Currently, it is also the most commonly used protocol for SDNs in both the research and commercial sectors [49]. One great advantage that the OpenFlow protocol offers is its ability to be deployed within existing networks, both of a physical and virtual nature. IT personnel can thus progressively introduce OpenFlow-based technologies into existing industrial information networks, and can assess and become familiar with this new technology with minimal impact on the underlying processes. Other technologies such as forwarding and control element separation [50], open virtual switch database [51] and protocol oblivious forwarding [52] are also examples of SDN technologies that are currently being researched and developed. The concept of the SDN can be extended further to the wireless domain as well. Software-defined wireless networks (SDNNs) utilize the concepts and core principles of SDNs together with wireless technologies to form a truly scalable and efficient network model [49]. SDNNs are ideally suited to IoT and IIoT applications, where multiple devices are wirelessly interconnected to form the various nodes in an industrial information network. The adoption of SDNNs will thus undoubtedly be of tremendous value to manufacturing industries that seek an efficient yet practical networking solution for equipment interconnectivity.