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Upgrading your longstanding network monitoring and management system can feel intimidating. Legacy solutions often have deep roots within your infrastructure, and you've come to trust the stability they've provided for years or perhaps decades.
On the other hand, today's rapidly evolving cybersecurity requirements and user expectations demand more advanced tools. As legacy platforms struggle to keep up with modern encryption standards, integration options, and usability improvements, it becomes increasingly clear that a well-planned upgrade is required.
Recently (in my role as a DPS Telecom sales engineer), I had a detailed meeting with one of my clients. These were technical professionals who needed to explore exactly these challenges.
Our conversation focused on how modern solutions can help you meet current needs while preparing for future growth. Let's review the lessons you can learn from this conversation, then look at specific equipment examples to make things more tangible.
For over a decade, RTUs like the NetGuardian 832A G5 served as workhorses in the field. They delivered reliable alarm monitoring that clients could depend on. While installed G5 units will continue to work well in isolation, times have changed a lot since their original 2008 release.
"The G5 platform," I explained to my client, "is still reliable, but its hardware isn't powerful enough to support newer encryption standards required by modern browsers and cybersecurity frameworks."
As clients increasingly adopt secure protocols (like TLS 1.2) to meet new regulations, older platforms simply weren't designed to keep up. New web browsers and security policies are less forgiving of outdated TLS/SSL standards. At some point, legacy hardware can't do better, even with a firmware upgrade.
My client also understood the challenge of having multiple, separate devices for various tasks: "If you can do it in one box, why buy two? It makes things easier for everyone."
This sentiment is the best way to understand legacy complexity. With older systems, your network might rely on multiple separate devices - an RTU here, an environmental sensor controller there, plus a separate box just to handle a single protocol. Modern integrated solutions reduce cost, complexity, and deployment time.
Picture a scenario where your alarm monitoring doesn't feel like juggling multiple technologies. Instead, all your devices communicate securely, from the smallest RTU at the network edge to the central master station that oversees thousands of alarm points.
You have real-time visibility through a fast, intuitive web interface. The encryption algorithms are up-to-date. Protocol translation happens automatically. Legacy inputs coexist with newer protocols on a single device.
As I told my client during our meeting, "With the G6 platform, you gain not only improved processing power but also a streamlined interface that eliminates refresh delays and enhances real-time monitoring. It's like going from a flip phone to a smartphone in terms of user experience."
The NetGuardian G6 series represents an evolutionary step forward in alarm monitoring hardware. By redesigning the platform and introducing a newer, more powerful processor, the G6 can handle tasks that once required multiple devices.
It provides native TLS 1.2 encryption for modern browsers, supports integrated sensor systems, and can parse protocols like Modbus locally. The G6's more robust computing power also allows for smoother scaling as your network grows or changes.
During our conversation, I explained the advantage of the G6 platform to my client: "About 2022, we started hearing stronger demands from utilities and other industries to meet NERC and FERC cybersecurity standards. Chrome dropped support for older encryption protocols, so we needed modern hardware that could handle TLS 1.2. That's where the G6 NetGuardians came in, first with one model and now with about 5 currently."
This wasn't just about meeting one specific standard. It was about building a future-proof foundation. The G6 line simplifies complexity.
For instance, if you currently rely on a NetGuardian 832A G5, the G6 offers pin compatibility. This means an upgrade can often be as straightforward as swapping one unit for another. "We didn't change anything we didn't have to," I noted. "We kept the pinouts the same. Upgrading shouldn't mean rewiring your entire infrastructure."
Even as we strive to build RTUs and alarm masters that serve you faithfully for 15, 20 years, or even longer, the world doesn't stay still. Over the life of your current monitoring equipment, your network environment will likely evolve in unexpected ways.
Security standards will tighten, web browsers will stop supporting older encryption methods, and data traffic will grow in volume and complexity.
As one Central Office Supervisor said, "I've got to tell you, Andrew, you guys make great gear. It's solid, it lasts a long time, and in our throw-away society, I gotta applaud you guys."
A different Outside Plant Supervisor has told me, "We haven't had to change units in about... forever."
When your monitoring devices outlast trends and fads, you know you're dealing with a fundamentally sound product. Still, while our philosophy rejects built-in obsolescence, external pressures - regulatory changes, cybersecurity mandates, and evolving integration needs - will eventually drive you to consider upgrades.
This doesn't mean our devices fail. On the contrary, their long lifespan is a testament to their engineering. But a reliable piece of hardware built 15 years ago simply cannot support the latest encryption standard demanded by a new security policy, or effortlessly handle a new protocol from a critical piece of third-party gear.
When you do decide to upgrade, it's never because the device itself quit on you. It's because the world has moved on. Our job is to give you the backbone - solid gear that will be there for you as long as possible.
When the time finally comes to modernize, it will be on your schedule, not because your RTU gave out. And when that day arrives, we'll be here to guide you through a smooth, cost-effective transition (including trade-in discounts).
Of course, an RTU upgrade can only be half of the story. At the heart of any well-managed network is your master station.
Our T/Mon platform has evolved significantly in recent years. While you may have older versions that still get the job done, the newest T/Mon enhancements offer improved user interfaces, more options for northbound reporting, and flexible device modules that simplify integration with third-party equipment.
During my recent call, my client asked about T/Mon's graphical interface: "I was going to ask you about the newer T/GrafX and where you've gone with that."
In response, I explained that T/Mon now supports web-based graphical dashboard maps with smooth zoom, OpenStreetMaps integration, and easy-to-build dashboards. Whether you need a map-based view of all sites or a logical diagram of your data center layout, T/Mon now makes it simpler than before.
As I described, "You can quickly create dashboard 'pods' displaying alarms, controls, and even geographic maps overlaid with alarm icons. If an alarm appears, you can drill down with a click, see what's happening, and even launch third-party web interfaces for deeper analysis."
As always, T/Mon gives you the option to build custom alarm groups and consolidate all your legacy and modern alarms into a single pane of glass. Unlike prior models, newer prebuilt Device Modules on T/Mon LNX make that process more straightforward than ever...
Modern networks rarely consist of a single vendor's devices. From rectifiers to HVAC systems to specialized generators, each piece of equipment might speak a different protocol. In the old days, integrating these was a challenge. Now, it's standard procedure.
"We have various Device Modules that act as templates," I explained. "You just tell T/Mon what device you're monitoring - be it an Eltek rectifier, a Bard HVAC controller, a Calix system, or about 100 other device types. The Device Module pulls in all relevant alarms and data points automatically. No more manually mapping OIDs or guessing at parameters."
My client was intrigued by integration with ticketing systems and other software platforms: "What if you need to get alerts into Microsoft Teams or a ticketing system?" I reassured them that the engineering team is open to adding new capabilities.
"We've done APIs, RESTful integrations, and custom development for unique needs. For Teams notifications, we might create a two-way integration, letting you acknowledge alarms from within Teams itself."
By upgrading to modern solutions, you'll also gain new options for alarm interfaces.
For example, G6 NetGuardians can locally process MODBUS data from generators or other equipment. This means you can see everything - environmental conditions, generator fuel levels, and HVAC states - all from a single device.
"Local protocol processing is a new thing we're seeing a lot more of," I explained. "Instead of needing an external box just to talk MODBUS, the G6 can handle it directly. It's one less piece of equipment you need to buy, maintain, and learn."
One of the biggest benefits of choosing a forward-looking solution is avoiding the need for another upgrade just a few years down the line.
With support for SNMPv3, modern TLS, and ongoing firmware improvements, the G6 and T/Mon platforms are designed to adapt. If tomorrow's standards shift, these systems provide the code space and processing power to accommodate.
As I put it: "We don't stop supporting older platforms, but we focus new features on the G6 platform now. When you invest now, you're positioning yourself to handle roughly the next decade's foreseeable security and integration requirements without a forklift swap-out."
Upgrading is always an investment, but it doesn't have to break the bank.
At the end of our meeting, I mentioned our trade-in program: "If you upgrade to G6 units, we'll give you a 30% discount for trading in your old G5 units." This made an immediate impression.
"Let's move forward with the proposal," my client said.
This trade-in approach ensures that you get cutting-edge capability without discarding the value you've already built with your existing infrastructure.
If your network monitoring gear is more than a few years old, it's worth exploring modern upgrade options.
Consider what future requirements your organization might have. Will you need higher security standards, more analytics, better integration with ticketing systems, or mobile-friendly dashboards?
Planning now ensures that, when the time comes, your system is ready.
If you're experiencing the telltale signs of an aging monitoring platform - sluggish interfaces, unsupported encryption, multiple disparate devices for simple tasks - now is the time to consider an upgrade. You can gracefully transition to a next-generation solution that handles both legacy and modern demands.
As I told my client in our web meeting, "I'll put together a proposal that includes an upgrade path to G6, a maintenance agreement renewal, and we'll look into integrating ticketing and Teams notifications."
Don't settle for outdated technology. Let DPS guide you to a solution that's reliable and ready for the next decade.
Give us a call at 1-800-622-3314 or send us an online message to discuss your needs, request a proposal, or even schedule a factory tour (at our Fresno, CA, USA headquarters).
Andrew Erickson
Andrew Erickson is an Application Engineer at DPS Telecom, a manufacturer of semi-custom remote alarm monitoring systems based in Fresno, California. Andrew brings more than 17 years of experience building site monitoring solutions, developing intuitive user interfaces and documentation, and opt...
