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Cogent DataHub Real-Time Middleware For Industrial Automation

Cogent DataHub is real-time middleware for industrial control systems (ICS), providing a secure way to connect, integrate and move operational data between SCADA, HMI, OPC servers, historians, databases, enterprise applications and cloud platforms.

For organisations modernising industrial control systems, Cogent DataHub can help reduce point-to-point integrations while supporting secure OT-to-IT data exchange. It connects technologies including OPC UA, OPC DA, MQTT, Modbus and databases, allowing industrial data to be shared without giving external systems unnecessary access to the production network.

How Cogent DataHub Supports Industrial Data Integration

Cogent DataHub® acts as a secure, real-time data layer between plant-floor systems, SCADA and HMI platforms, historians, enterprise applications and cloud services. By bringing different data sources and protocols together in one place, it helps reduce point-to-point integrations, improve visibility and move live operational data where it is needed. Whether you are connecting legacy OPC infrastructure, publishing MQTT data, creating dashboards or supporting wider Industry 4.0 projects, DataHub provides a practical foundation for reliable industrial data flow.
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Why Choose DataHub for Industrial Middleware?

  • Secure by Design: Role-based access control, encrypted connections, and firewall-friendly tunneling.
  • Real-Time Data Mirroring: Enable live data synchronization between geographically distributed sites.
  • Protocol Translation: Seamlessly translate data between multiple industrial communication standards.
  • Cloud Integration: Connect to Azure, AWS, and other cloud platforms using MQTT, REST, or custom adapters.

OPC UA/DA Tunneller

Effortless, resilient, and protected OPC connectivity

Connect OPC Classic (DA), OPC UA, OPC A&E, OPC UA A&C and other systems across any networks with maximum security and automatic reconnection after outages.

  • No VPNs.
  • No inbound firewall ports – Firewall friendly.
  • Multiple connections through the same tunnel.
  • Security encrypted.
  • Fast, seamless, bidirectional data.

IoT Cloud Connectivity

Stream real-time data to any on-premise or cloud hosted MQTT compatible systems.

Built-in security, ultra-low latency, and full support for modern MQTT standards.

  • Real-time OPC data to MQTT brokers.
  • Supports bi-directional Publish & Subscribe models.
  • Customisable JSON payloads.
  • Secured communications, including TLS, X.509, username/password etc.
  • Full compliance with modern MQTT protocol standards.

Historian Connectivity, with Store’n’Forward

Store, forward and access industrial data across local and cloud hosted historians.

DataHub ensures high-performance storage, historical access, and reliable transport.

  • Seamless connection to databases and industrial historians.
  • Combine with DataHub tunnels for data across and between networks.
  • Analyse and display data using historian analytical tools, DataHub WebView or OPC UA HDA clients.
  • Including; InfluxDB & InfluxDB Cloud, Amazon Kinesis, AWS-native streaming, AVEVA™ Historian & Insight, OSIsoft PI, RESTful APIs, OPC UA HAD, Azure Event Hubs, Apache Kafka, ODBC Historian.

DataHub® Redundancy

Hot-Standby Redundancy That Keeps Your Data Flowing

Intelligent, seamless, real-time, automatic switchovers between multiple data sources : OPC servers, MQTT brokers, or other critical data endpoints.

  • Supports Hot, Warm, and Cold Standby
  • Monitors data quality and responsiveness
  • Triggers switchover based on custom criteria

OPC Protocol Conversion

Bidirectional communication between OPC UA and OPC DA, clients and servers.

  • Bridging between OPC UA based systems and legacy OPC DA systems.
  • Bridging between client <> client and server <> server.
  • Full OPC UA hierarchy and metadata, with no flattening or data loss.
  • Automatic data discovery.

MQTT Broker

Aggregate, standardise, tunnel, transform and securely transmit MQTT data, on-premise, in the cloud or both.

  • Aggregate, standardise and secure your MQTT data.
  • Integrate multiple JSON formats and Sparkplug V2.2 / 3.0.
  • Leverage IETF JSON schemas.

DataHub® WebView™

WebDeployed HMI with minimal footprint.

  • Built-in web server & designer with zero code and zero deployment.
  • Design, deploy, and monitor real-time industrial data from any browser.
  • Real-time dashboards, trends, alarms, and control widgets.
  • Multiprotocol integration.

Where Cogent DataHub Fits in an Industrial Control System

Cogent DataHub is typically deployed between the control layer and the applications that need operational data. This makes it useful where an industrial control system has to share information with historians, MES, databases, dashboards, cloud services or other business systems without creating a separate point-to-point connection for every destination.

01 — CONTROL LAYER

PLCs, SCADA & OPC sources

Machine and process data originates in PLCs, RTUs, DCS platforms, SCADA systems, HMIs and OPC servers. Older OPC DA and newer OPC UA systems can often exist side by side in the same plant.

02 — DATAHUB LAYER

Connect, bridge & secure

Cogent DataHub aggregates live data, converts between protocols such as OPC and MQTT, supports tunnelling and mirroring across network zones, and applies access controls before data is exposed to other systems.

03 — CONSUMER LAYER

Historians, MES, IT & cloud

Historians, SQL databases, MES, dashboards, analytics platforms and cloud services receive the operational data they need without requiring direct connections to every control device.

This kind of Cogent DataHub architecture can be introduced incrementally rather than replacing an existing control system. For wider data-model planning, see our Unified Namespace architecture guide; for segmented OT environments, our secure industrial data tunnelling guide explains the network-side considerations in more detail.

Discuss your DataHub architecture

Cogent DataHub FAQs

What Is Cogent Datahub Used For?

Cogent DataHub is a middleware that bridges the gap between OT (operational technology) and IT/cloud systems, making it a popular choice across industries like energy, manufacturing, and utilities.

Can Cogent DataHub Connect OPC UA and OPC DA Systems?

Yes. DataHub can operate as both an OPC UA server and client and can help bridge OPC UA with OPC Classic systems. This supports phased upgrades where legacy OPC DA equipment still needs to communicate with newer applications.

What Protocols and Systems Do Cogent Datahub Support?

Cogent DataHub uses open, industry-standard data protocols including OPC, MQTT, ODBC, Modbus, DDE, and TCP to provide a wide range of connectivity options. It also integrates live processes and connects SCADA systems, data lakes, and historians.

How Does Cogent Datahub Protect Operational Technology (OT) Networks From Cyber Threats?

The Cogent DataHub Tunnellers let you integrate your data without exposing your networks. With no DCOM hassles, no VPNs, and no inbound firewall ports into the operations network. Additionally, DataHub allows bidirectional transfers with industry-standard protocols in a transparent, secure, and reliable way without opening ports in the perimeter.

How Do I Know Which DataHub Modules I Need?

The right configuration depends on your protocols, sites, security model, historian or cloud targets, and whether you need redundancy or WebView. MAC Solutions can review your architecture and recommend a suitable DataHub package.