A data processing system and method for use with a process control system
enables a plurality of process plants associated with different business
entities to share a remotely situated data processing facility. The data
processing facility includes a cluster of redundant servers that are
communicatively coupled via a local network. Each of the redundant
servers is adapted to acquire and process data received from the
plurality of process plants. The data processing facility also includes a
plurality of redundant data historians that are communicatively coupled
to each other and to the cluster of redundant servers for storage of
process data and analysis results. Each of the plurality of process
plants includes internet-enabled field devices, internet-enabled field
device interfaces, and/or internet-enabled data concentration nodes that
send information to and receive information from the data processing
facility via the Internet.