Data is not a resource anymore, but a lifeline in the era of industrial hyper-connectivity. Smarter factories with more self-governing warehouses and more closely integrated industrial control systems mean data integrity, confidentiality, and availability are in the spotlight. And with it, greater exposure to cyber-attacks, network exposure, and disruption to operations. This is where robust security measures like OpenVPN and Firewall IR2005G Features become essential, ensuring secure, uninterrupted, and reliable data communications in mission-critical industrial environments.
In order to remain competitive, businesses are quickly implementing private LTE and 5G CBRS networks to provide customers with faster, more secure, and more reliable connections. Speed and coverage are only part of the package. What is really needed is an infrastructure with a security focus that protects data at each step along the way, starting at the edge devices and continuing all the way up to centralized command systems.
This is the IR2005G from Horizon Powered—not quite more than a tough Indoor Routers LTE/5G gateway. It is an industrial-grade, security-hardened 5G CBRS router for demanding IoT networks, factory automation, and mission-critical use cases. Security and performance were foremost in mind when it was created. It is a tough solution for use cases where security is not an option.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the IR2005G’s layered security architecture—focusing on its VPN tunnelling, IPSec encryption, OpenVPN support, and advanced firewall capabilities—and explore how these technologies come together to secure data, systems, and productivity across modern industrial landscapes.
Industrial connectivity meets industrial security
Deploying connectivity solutions in industrial settings—where uptime, resiliency, and integrity are not negotiable—takes more than bandwidth. Whether factory floor robotics, energy or utility control, a reliable data path must be ensured. The IR2005G delivers:
- Private CBRS LTE/5G connectivity
- Band 48 support
- Physical wide voltage and temperature tolerance
- Strong VPN and encryption algorithms
But what actually sets apart the IR2005G is its stack of multi-layered security that has been designed for performance-critical uses like smart manufacturing, utilities, and logistics.
1. VPN features: A protected tunnel through untrusted networks (Or, How VPNs Drive secure remote access and site-to-site conns)
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are the pillars of remote access and site-to-site security. With the ability to support multiple VPN protocols, the IR2005G enables secure, encrypted communication between the device and remote sites or back-end servers, mission-critical to distributed industrial IoT installations.
A. Key VPN features:
- IPSec, OpenVPN, and GRE tunnel support
- AES-256 data-in-transit encryption for maximum security
- Multi-tunnel support for sites with high numbers of networks
- Flexible authentication: RSA certificates, pre-shared keys (PSK), and X.509
This guarantees that whether the IR2005G is deployed as a CBRS factory indoor CPE or an LTE/5G router for warehouse control, the information is protected from outside attack, even when in the open or hybrid infrastructure.
2. IPSec: Industrial-Strength Site-to-Site Security
IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) is a gold standard for secure IP communication. Applying IPSec to the IR2005G provides remote field devices point-to-point encryption to central management systems, isolating industrial traffic as private and tamper-proof.
Why IPSec is Significant in industrial environments:
- Confidentiality: Safeguards against snooping of data in transit between smart sensors and central platforms
- Integrity: Real-time alert of packet tampering attacks, which are avoided
- Authentication: Authenticates endpoints to prevent spoofing and impersonation
Imagine an Industrial-grade CBRS router for IoT networks powering a fleet of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) in a smart factory. All vehicles send telemetry and control messages back to the central controller. IPSec encrypts and authenticates data like this to avoid eavesdropping or command spoofing.
The IR2005G also supports IPSec NAT traversal (NAT-T), enabling secure tunnelling even behind firewalls or in NAT environments—a necessity in advanced factory networks.
3. OpenVPN: Lightweight, Versatile, and Field-Proven
OpenVPN is perhaps most renowned for its versatility, platform independence, and high level of encryption. IR2005G provides support for OpenVPN to enable remote or mobile support of field technicians, secure over-the-air software deployment, and remote diagnostics.
Applications of OpenVPN in IR2005G:
- Remote access of industrial equipment
- Secure access to HMI/SCADA dashboards
- Encrypted communications with third-party ISPs
- Load-balancing or fallback tunnels
- With OpenVPN, a field engineer can securely access a dirty CBRS indoor modem installed within a metal-cased building remotely, without exposing the system to the public internet.
IR2005G implements OpenVPN client and server mode, TLS encryption, and optionally two-factor authentication (2FA). It’s perfect to protect incoming and outgoing data streams for automation systems, utilities, or smart grids.
4. Enterprise-Class firewall: Industrial perimeter protection
IR2005G is VPN only. It features an intelligent, programmable firewall engine as the network edge’s first line of defence.
Firewall features:
- SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection)
- Custom filtering by IP address, port, and protocol
- MAC address filtering
- Intrusion prevention & rate limiting
- As an industrial private LTE router used in a factory, the IR2005G firewall can:
- Segregate mission-critical control VLANs from the rest of the office traffic
- Block unauthorized access to PLCs or control units
- Protect from brute-force logins against open services
The rule-dense sets of features within the firewall enable operators to specify what devices, services, and ports are open, enabling zero-trust segmentation of industrial networks according to CBRS.
Putting It all together: Industrial applications in the real world
Let’s examine how the IR2005G’s end-to-end security stack insulates real-industrial environments:
Factory floor automation
Challenge: AGVs, robotic arms, and PLCs need to communicate without interruption or data exposure.
IR2005G Solution: Data integrity from IPSec tunnels and VPN; firewall separates machine networks; OpenVPN grants secure technician access.
Utilities and smart grid control
Challenge: Remote control devices and substations must send data securely via CBRS and public networks.
IR2005G Solution: End-to-end IPSec encryption + dynamic routing using policy-based firewall protections based on OpenVPN.
Warehouse management
Challenge: IoT sensors and inventory management systems require secure and reliable connectivity.
IR2005G Solution: Tunnels securely through Band 48, firewall enforces access controls between zones, and OpenVPN enables secure mobile access.
Advanced features beyond the basics
In addition to its built-in VPN and firewall capabilities, the IR2005G also features:
- Multiple SSID support with VLAN tagging for segmented Wi-Fi access
- Admin access control and remote configuration lockdown
- Secure boot support and signed firmware update support
- Failover detection and automatic backup tunnels
Employed either as a factory floor automation CPE indoors or included within a CBRS-based solution for automated connectivity, these features provide a hardened security posture against physical and network-based threats.
Mission-critical performance design
Security functionality is not singular, so it has to be able to mesh with the performance capability of the device. The IR2005G can:
- Qualcomm 5G chipset for low-latency CBRS operation
- 5 Wi-Fi (802.11ac) for high-throughput wireless
- Multi-carrier SIM support, edge computing, and 4G fallback support
- Its ruggedized housing, wide operating temperature, and industrial design–DIN rail mount make the IR2005G an industrial-grade LTE/5G router for smart operations and control systems that must never go down.
FAQs
Q1: Is private CBRS network support available on the IR2005G?
Yes. It is fully compatible with Band 48 (CBRS) and can thus be applied to private LTE and 5G networks rolled out in industrial and enterprise environments.
Q2: Is the IR2005G dual-WAN failover capable?
Yes. It has dual-WAN failover capability between Ethernet and LTE/5G to ensure constant connectivity in case there is an outage or loss of service.
Q3: How many VPN tunnels does the IR2005G support?
The IR2005G accommodates multiple concurrent VPN tunnels, such as IPSec, OpenVPN, and GRE, based on configuration and performance needs.
Q4: Is the product reliable enough for the tough conditions in industrial environments?
Yes. The IR2005G features a metal case, DIN-rail mount, and a wide operating temperature range, specifically designed for high-EMI, dirty, and vibration environments.
Q5: Does the firewall feature logging and intrusion prevention?
Yes. Traffic logging, rule-based alerting, and intrusion prevention are built into the firewall, providing IT personnel with visibility into all data traffic and security activity.
Q6: Is VLAN and multi-SSID support for segmented access included?
Yes. The IR2005G supports multi-SSID and 802.1Q VLAN tagging to securely segment devices and users on factory floors or in warehouse networks.
Q7: Is there remote management of the IR2005G?
Yes. The device is controlled remotely via HTTPS, TR-069, and CLI/SSH, and it also features role-based access controls for secure third-party integrator or central IT remote management.
Q8: What encryption is used on VPN tunnels?
AES-128 and AES-256 encryption are supported on VPN protocols like IPSec and OpenVPN by the IR2005G, offering end-to-end security protection for industrial data.
Q9: Will this device be used in mobile or portable industrial applications?
Indeed. Its small footprint, hardened enclosure, and multi-band LTE/5G support make the IR2005G ideal for mobile control stations, wheel-mounted kiosks, or field sensor trailers.
Q10: What use cases is the IR2005G ideal for?
The IR2005G is ideal for smart manufacturing, factory automation, industrial IoT connectivity, utility and energy grids, and logistics centers—basically any use case that needs secure, reliable CBRS connectivity where it’s difficult.
Final thoughts: VPN, IPSec, OpenVPN and firewall IR2005G features
In this networked industrial era, cybersecurity is not an option; it’s a necessity. With more and more operational systems being remotely controlled digitally, remotely manipulated, and data-driven, the threat mounts through every layer of the network. From cyber-attacks on control systems to unauthorized access on factory floor devices, threats are real—and in progress.
That is the very reason the Horizon Powered IR2005G is not constructed with security as an afterthought. It’s architecturally designed from the ground up on a multi-layer, industrial-grade security stack that is responsive to the realities of CBRS-based deployments and mission-critical applications. Whether it is IPSec tunnels encrypting telemetry, OpenVPN delivering extensible remote access, or a stateful firewall isolating sensitive subsystems, each layer cumulatively builds upon a secure, high-performance communications pipe.
If you’re deploying a CBRS router for heavy-duty IoT networks, managing automated workflows on the factory floor, or maintaining uptime in a control system that can’t afford failure, the IR2005G delivers both performance and peace of mind. It serves not only as a reliable LTE/5G router for industrial operations but also as a cornerstone of a secure, private LTE infrastructure.
In brief, IR2005G is not just a connectivity solution—it’s a secure platform for your future-proof industrial network to facilitate un-compromised change.
Learn more about OpenVPN and Firewall IR2005G Features here.
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