The Cloud has fundamentally changed the way organisations across a range of sectors design, manage, and scale their IT infrastructure. In many cases, this has allowed them to stay abreast of unexpected shifts in the digital landscape while retaining full control of ongoing costs and turning their growing volumes of data into a powerful source of business insights. But when it comes to digital transformation, there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. At Vysiion, we've seen this over and over again throughout our work with organisations operating in some of the harshest environments, with some of the most rigorous security and compliance requirements.
In many such cases, where critical applications and data need to be available in as close to real-time as possible, the only answer is to locate hardware at the edge, which naturally limits opportunities for Cloud transformation. However, now more than ever, technology tends to evolve to fulfil the most specific requirements, especially when organisations and their technology partners work in close collaboration to drive new innovations. In fact, we may already be seeing such solutions emerging in response to these singular requirements…
Hyperconverged Infrastructure opens the door
to next-gen hybrid Cloud
Azure Stack HCI, for example, offers a new approach to Cloud transformation that enables specific systems to be maintained at the edge, where necessary – a true hybrid approach that allows Cloud platforms to be seamlessly integrated with edge computing environments to achieve the desired functionality.
The use of containerisation and virtual machines offers a level of control and flexibility that would be difficult, if not impossible, to execute exclusively with on-premises systems, while still ensuring data sovereignty and compliance obligations can be met. For additional layers of security and resilience, integration with Azure Security Center and Azure Defender is available, along with built-in redundancy.
All of this can be manged through a centralised control panel, allowing for complete visibility of operations and data flows, even for the most remote locations.
This approach has huge implications for AI and IoT projects at the edge, allowing for real-time monitoring and analytics, combined with intelligent automation of routine processes to maximise operational efficiency.
But, once again, this is not without its limitations, as standard hardware is rarely suitable for the harshest, most challenging environments – such as military zones, highly remote energy sites (e.g. oil rigs and offshore windfarms), or industrial conditions – which may make Azure Stack HCI challenging to implement.
Is ruggedised Azure HCI the ultimate edge computing solution for Defence, CNI, and Manufacturing?
It is clear that Azure Stack HCI's potential across these sectors is enormous. We must therefore consider how it can be implemented in such a way as to access all the possible benefits, while still maintaining the security and resilience of critical infrastructure in situations when environmental conditions may lead to failures.
However, based on a range of ongoing conversations with our customers and technology partners, we would argue that such measures are already available. By combining Azure HCI's full range of capabilities with high-quality, ruggedised hardware, true 'always-on' operations can be established, with seamless, highly secure flows of critical data between edge devices and the Cloud.
Whatever environments you operate in, and whatever your digital goals are at the edge, in the Cloud, or both, do not hesitate to contact us. Drawing on our deep experience designing bespoke digital transformation solutions to the most rigorous specifications, our teams will work closely with you to achieve your long-term goals, and so help establish a new standard of digital best practice across the most challenging sectors.
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
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The ongoing evolution of our nation's Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) requires large-scale CAPEX investment in core infrastructure, along with the introduction of digital initiatives that support the convergence of physical and digital systems, enhancing performance, efficiency, and availability. This presents a multi-dimensional challenge for CNI organisations, who are often forced to accelerate or adapt their long-term transformation roadmaps, whether this means scaling, restructuring, preparing for an exit or investment, or a combination of all three.
In parallel, the increasing deployment of digital technology amongst Operators of Essential Services (OESs) has led to a range of new security and compliance challenges. When shareholders are made aware of these risks, they - correctly, demand reassurance that their high-value investments will be protected.
For this reason, technology partners supporting CNI verticals must be alert to the requirements of a diverse stakeholder community, offering informed advice throughout the investment process, providing an accurate assessment of risk and compliance challenges, and translating often conflicting priorities into deliverable actions that will drive business growth.
Let's consider how this should work in practice...
Enabling data-driven decision-making throughout mergers and acquisitions
When physical and digital assets are seamlessly and securely interconnected, operators enjoy access to rich veins of real-time data around the status of key platforms. This data can be used to accurately benchmark all security and operational risks against technical and regulatory compliance, establishing their potential impact on service availability and, in turn - the predicted ROI.
When this level of visibility has been achieved, improvements in both efficiency and profitability are unlocked, benefiting the wider stakeholder community and enabling more informed decision-making throughout every stage of mergers and acquisitions, including:
- Pre-acquisition due diligence: Identifying technical debt and flaws, establishing security and compliance risks with a concrete value for their remediation.
- Post-acquisition investment: Establishing OPEX costs needed to support effective systems and processes to ensure the continued security and compliance of critical infrastructure.
- Exit readiness: Creating a definitive, auditable log of critical assets, reflecting full regulatory compliance and the ability to meet investor scrutiny.
Specialist IT / OT advisory and support to protect investments
This role can be taken further, with technology partners serving as advisors to PE firms and mid-cap boards, providing them with the technical and operational oversight they need to protect and validate their investments. This should begin with rigorous technical (i.e. the IEC62443 standard) and regulatory (i.e. NIS-2018 / CAF) assessments, conducted in line with the overall risk appetite and corporate strategy. Once these information streams have been established, they can be used to augment CIO and CISOs' capabilities, bridging the knowledge gap between enterprise IT and OT systems and optimising governance and risk management.
When it comes to making informed investments in critical infrastructure, the value of objective, strategic guidance from experienced specialists cannot be overstated. Technology partners who are able to support IT leadership in this way will evolve from pure providers to true enablers of business growth, providing tangible value to investors while optimising the performance, security, and availability of critical services.
If you require guidance around any planned or existing investments in CNI infrastructure, contact us to arrange a consultation of potential risks and a detailed assessment of how they can be mitigated, based on globally recognised standards and our deep experience across multiple CNI verticals, including Energy, Utilities, Transport, Defence, and Industry.
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
800 Hits
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