System and method for automated drilling network

A system, comprising:

• a first control system coupled to a first plurality of network elements that define a first security zone in a drilling management network, wherein the first control system comprises one or more programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that perform a drilling operation;
• a virtualization services manager coupled to the first control system and the plurality of network elements, wherein the virtualization services manager generates at least one virtualization service on a virtualization services layer of the drilling management network, wherein the at least one virtualization service controls the drilling operation, and wherein the at least one virtualization service comprises at least one of a virtual machine and a software container;
• a firewall device coupled to the first security zone and a second security zone comprising a second plurality of network elements, wherein the drilling management network reconfigures, in response to validating a new network device, the first security zone to enable the new network device added to the first security zone to communicate with a destination device in the second security zone;
• and
• a virtual connection controller configured to establish a switched virtual connection between the first security zone and the second security zone to allow for communication between the new network device added to the first security zone and the destination device in the second security zone under a first predetermined condition in which the switched virtual connection is in a closed state, wherein the switched virtual connection between the first security zone and the second security zone prevents communication between the new network device added to the first security zone and the destination device in the second security zone under a second predetermined condition in which the switched virtual connection is in an open state.

A system, comprising:

• a control system coupled to a plurality of network elements that define a drilling management network, wherein the control system comprises one or more programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that perform a drilling operation;
• a virtualization services manager coupled to the control system and the plurality of network elements, wherein the virtualization services manager generates at least one virtualization service on a virtualization services layer of the drilling management network, wherein the at least one virtualization service controls the drilling operation, and wherein the at least one virtualization service comprises at least one of a virtual machine and a software container;
• a configuration manager coupled to the plurality of network elements and the control system, wherein the configuration manager installs an update on the control system using a security agent on the control system;
• and
• a virtual connection controller coupled to a first security zone and a second security zone, wherein the virtual connection controller is configured to establish a switched virtual connection between the first security zone and the second security zone to allow for communication between a first network device of the first security zone and a second network device of the second security zone under a first predetermined condition in which the switched virtual connection is in a closed state, wherein the switched virtual connection between the first security zone and the second security zone prevents communication between the first network device of the first security zone and the second network device of the second security zone under a second predetermined condition in which the switched virtual connection is in an open state.