Manufacturers are faced with the constant demand to increase productivity and reduce operating costs. Industrial Ethernet provides the highest level of visibility, control and flexibility to accommodate evolving networking requirements, such as decentralization of control, integrated diagnostics and simplified maintenance. Used to connect various machines, devices and office equipment, networks enable manufacturers to visually manage all production parameters for continuous and complete control over data. By understanding the need for enterprise connectivity, the various challenges and considerations associated with implementing network protocols, users can maximize data acquisition and management capabilities.