An edge gateway must have the following features:

• The ability to gather data from different industrial data sources through OPC or by implementing interfaces that are directly connected to the Fieldbus protocols (such as Modbus, ProfiNet, or EthernetIP).
• The ability to establish a secure channel with the I-IoT Data Hub and to manage certificates and authorization.
• The ability to send data to the I-IoT Data Hub and, in some situations, to compress it.
• Implements a store-and-forward mechanism so that it is resilient against the instability of the internet connection.
• Provides the option to extend its features by means of plugins. An example could be the implementation of a connector for a specific industrial protocol.