Abstract: Increasing security of a group of automated devices includes designating, by a processor, a host machine to provide a communication path for each of the group of automated devices and a communication-capable resource; limiting communication between each of the group of automated devices and a) any communication-capable resource other than the group of automated devices, or b) at least some members of the group of automated devices, to the communication path provided by the host machine; monitoring, by the host machine, at least a first communication characteristic or pattern related to any one of the group of automated devices; identifying, by the host machine, a communication-related anomaly in the monitored first communication characteristic or pattern; and providing, by the host machine, an alert when the communication-related anomaly is identified.