< Previousadvertisement feature www.networkseuropemagazine.com 20 RebuildingBusiness Safety Instillingconfidenceinstaff&visitorswill bekeytothemreturningtoyour premises.Occupancy&roombooking systems,likethosefromiDACS’ technologypartner,IM&M,willencourage socialdistancing,managestaggered occupancyandcleaningschedulesand allowfortracking&tracingifacaseof covid-19isidentified. Occupancysoftwarecanalsobeusedto makecostsavings.Bymaximisingspace utilisation—youmaybeabletomoveto smallerofficeswithlowerrent.Youcan alsointegrateothermodulesintheIM&M softwaresuitetomanageenergyuse, assets&environmentalconditions. CostSavings COVID-19haswreakedhavoconbusiness, somanycompanieswillneedtomake costsavingsinordertostayafloat. Smarttechnologiesoffersignificant energysavingsthroughoutthelifecycleof thebuilding.Energyaccountsforapprox. 32%ofLCC*,withlightingmakingupover a1/3ofthat. Smartlightingsystems,likethosefrom iDACStechnologypartnersIST,notonly reduceenergybillsbydetecting occupancy&switchingoffunitsinunused areas,butalsolowermaintenance& replacementcosts. DesignBuildOperationDemolition 1-2yrs2-5yrs30-50yrs0-1yrsadvertisement feature www.networkseuropemagazine.com 21 Offeringemployeespersonalised workspaceswherelightingintensity andcolourcanbetunedaccordingly helpsestablishahealthier,happier andultimatelymoreproductive environment. ISTLightingClient iDACSolutions(iDACS)canhelpyouprepareforthistransitionthroughthe implementationofsmartbuildingsystems.Weworkcloselywithyouandour technologypartnerstomakeyourbusinessplansareality;creatinghealthyworkplaces whicharemoreenergyefficient,moreproductiveandmoreprofitable. Profitability ISTSmartLighting,alsoprovidesflicker- freecircadianlighting,whichhasproven benefitstowell-being&productivity. AccordingtoresearchfromtheGreen BuildingCouncil,betterlightingcan improveproductivityby23%.Whenyou applythe3-30-300rule,(which demonstratesacompany'scostsfor utilities,rentandwages),a23%gainin productivitycanhaveasignificantimpact onprofitability-apotentialgainof£69per sqftperyear! +44(0)2380279999 Growth Ifyoucan'tjustifyacompletesmart buildingroll-outnow,installingahigh performancecablingsystemfrom Datwyler,witha25-yearwarranty&on- goingiDACSsupport,willgiveyouthe scopetogrowwhenbusinessallows. Bydeployinga smartnetwork upfront,youcan addIPdevices simplyinthe future,allowingyoutoexpandand integrateyoursmartsystemswithless disruption. Andasyourintelligentbuildingservices expand,youwillbenefitmoreandmore fromtheeconomicandoperational advantagesthatthesesolutionsprovide. Halfof2020hasbeendecimatedbyCOVID-19;fromrestrictedbusiness travelinJanuary,tolock-downinSpringandacautiousreturntothe widerworldinJune. Tosalvagewhat’sleftof2020andmoveyourbusinessesintoasaferand morestablefuture,youneedtoconsiderthreemajorfactors; Safetyforstaff&visitors-instillingconfidencetoreturntowork Short&long-termcostsavings-toweatherthefinancialdownturn Profitability&futuregrowth -toremaincompetitivedata centre of tomorrow www.networkseuropemagazine.comwww.networkseuropemagazine.com 22 In 2018, the global volume of data was a 'mere' 33 zettabytes (ZB). By 2025 though, IDC predicts that number will balloon to 175 ZB. With the amount of information gathered and processed by businesses growing all the time, legacy data centres are beginning to struggle under strain. The era of big data demands a new approach. Today, businesses require a flexible data centre solution that can scale upon demand. This is one of the reasons why the cloud has become so popular in recent years. The other big factor is latency. When looking to adapt offerings in real-time from data from sources such as transactions or social data, that data needs to be accurate and up-to-date. To facilitate this, data centres need to be able to get the right data to the right applications as quickly as possible. Any delay could leave a business using inaccurate and outdated information to drive their decision-making. As BIS Infotech notes, big data has had a significant impact on how data centres handle traffic and processing, with batch and stream processing expected to be handled in real-time. "To support all these transactions/processes that are happening in real-time, a data centre must be equipped with enough processing power, storage I/Os and network bandwidth." Big data demands The demands of big data are undoubtedly having an impact on IT professionals' thinking when it comes to choosing a data centre. One trend is clear. Very few businesses have the money or resources to build their own dedicated data centres. The odd big corporate – such as a big bank or pharmaceutical company – may be able to justify the investment, but that is usually for regulatory or security reasons. The vast majority of businesses are instead turning towards colocation and the cloud. As well as the obvious cost benefits of having no capital expenditure, moving to a cloud-based solution also gives businesses access to a greater amount of processing power than they would often be able to achieve on their own. In the past, this kind of processing power was either the domain of large enterprises or would have meant a large bill from a data centre provider. Yet, as technology has advanced, this type of capability is becoming more and more affordable for small and medium-sized firms too. The data centre of tomorrow Philip Bridge President Ontrack With the digital transformation of the world we live in accelerating in recent times, every business has been forced to make some big decisions about how they approach their data. And the mountain of data continues to get bigger and bigger.www.networkseuropemagazine.com 23 data centre of tomorrow www.networkseuropemagazine.com 23 Once it was thought that data centres had to be sitting right on top of the exchange to provide the type of low- latency, real-time results today's businesses demand. However, this is no longer the case. Facilities are now just as likely to be located in rural locations where costs such as rent and staffing can be considerably cheaper. Any concerns that these facilities would offer poorer performance compared with more central urban locations have been assuaged in recent years, as IT pros have had the chance to see what they are capable of. The negative impact that the surge in data centres is putting on the planet is well documented and needs to be addressed. The energy consumption of the world's data centres is predicted to account for 3.2 per cent of the total worldwide carbon emissions by 2025 and as much as one- fifth of the total amount of electricity used worldwide. By 2040, storing digital data is set to create 14 per cent of the world's emissions, around the same proportion as the US does today. However, there have been a few shining lights in recent times. Facebook's facility in Lulea, Sweden uses natural air cooling from its location in the Arctic circle and renewable hydropower to keep its carbon footprint down. Similarly, Switch's data centre campus in Las Vegas is seeking to codify its sustainability practices including the ability 'to run forever without water', energy storage system redundancy and 100% renewable power from local, new, renewable projects. Finally, the use of a cooling economiser and the removal of heat through low-temperature ambient air at Google's flagship data centre has led to it using 50% less energy than the typical data centre. Sustainability There is no doubt that data is one of the world's most valuable commodities today. Across the world's business hubs, data centre demand has been driven by the rapid adoption of cloud services and the emergence of digitally transformative business models born out of the Internet of Things (IoT). With sustainability now at the forefront of many people's minds – and deservedly so – it would be great to think that the data centres of the future will impact the planet far less than they do now. However, that remains to be seen. n The data centre of tomorrow With the digital transformation of the world we live in accelerating in recent times, every business has been forced to make some big decisions about how they approach their data. And the mountain of data continues to get bigger and bigger.network visibility www.networkseuropemagazine.com 24 As Europe gradually recovers from the virus’ first wave, businesses plan their return to the office and strive to rebuild and become stronger amid the economic crisis. The pandemic has undeniably impacted key business functions such as IT and security - what with remote working, pressurised network defences and cybercriminals exploiting the situation with COVID-related scams. Infosec teams were tasked with overseeing this migration while protecting organisations from new, unknown threats - and, in many cases, have done so successfully. However, security incidents have increased as a result of WFH, making resilience and operational continuity a business-wide priority over the coming months. Now, with companies expecting 50% of their staff back in the office by September, this new flexible approach to work is set to complicate networks further. The way to secure these intricate environments is having a clear, unclouded view of what goes on there - ensuring constant awareness of possible threats and enabling prompt defence, should Ollie Sheridan Security Principal Gigamon How network visibility can protect businesses in the new tomorrownetwork visibility www.networkseuropemagazine.com 25 attacks take place. Only then will employees be empowered to work safely, wherever they are, maintaining security across the business. Adapting to an evolving situation One of the most destabilising aspects of this year’s events is the speed at which the workplace drastically changed: companies had to quickly change gears to manage and protect a workforce that became remote overnight. Businesses, many of them unprepared for this shift, saw employees suddenly access company resources with their own unsecured devices, or use company laptops with personal WiFi connections. This made corporate networks infinitely more complex, broadening the attack surface and increasing risks. Now, with staff transitioning back to the office, or working flexibly between business premises and their homes, network traffic will constantly and unpredictably switch from LAN to WAN and back, making monitoring and control even more difficult than with a permanently-remote workforce. Now more than ever, IT and security teams must have uncompromised visibility across the network, to ensure all traffic is analysed and potential threats spotted, regardless of employees’ changing work locations. Because it’s hard to predict how things will evolve - whether remote working will be enforced again, or what cyber-risks will arise - organisations must strive for resilience and be prepared to quickly adapt their security approach. When devising their strategies in these uncertain times, businesses should seek threat detection solutions that can be easily installed and that can rapidly improve security outcomes and generate ROI, thereby driving agility and cost-efficiency. Enhancing visibility and security on a budget As revenues shrink due to the crisis, companies are forced to resolve unprecedented problems on a tight or reduced budget. In a new tomorrow where customer demand can drop unexpectedly due to global events, working with optimisation in mind is fundamental. When it comes to network monitoring, there are ways to drive cost-efficiency while ensuring threat protection - for instance, eliminating duplicate traffic and data from low-risk applications. Due to limited resources and cautious policies aimed at retaining profits, companies are currently unable to invest in new solutions to battle new challenges - instead, they can redeploy unused network monitoring tools to make the most of existing assets. Optimising resources also means using employees’ time and energy more efficiently: with teams overwhelmed by IT requests from remote and fluid workers, technology must be leveraged to speed up repetitive jobs and improve results. These measures combined can enable significant cost savings and enhance security capabilities by up to 70%. At a time where cyberthreats are fierce and ever-changing, this can be of vital help. Embracing new strategies All periods of crisis, while causing unwelcome disruptions, can be an opportunity for evolution and positive change. For example, defending company networks in an entirely new cybersecurity landscape requires rethinking traditional approaches to security and adopting innovative methods. The unpredictability of fluid working - with staff cooperating remotely from virtually anywhere, with whatever device or connection is more convenient - means networks with a defined perimeter are now ancient history. Therefore, considering assets “safe” just because they sit within the network can be incredibly risky - in other words, no user should be granted implicit trust. That’s why many organisations are finally abandoning privilege-based access management methods, unsuitable to secure the modern digital workplace, and are embracing a Zero Trust framework, in which access to resources is given based on user behaviour. Gathering and analysing the necessary information is only possible by thoroughly monitoring all network traffic - you can’t monitor what you can’t see, so at the heart of a ZT architecture is complete network visibility. No one expected this year to be as testing as it has been so far and few organisations were prepared for the financial difficulties, IT issues and security threats created by this new norm. The road ahead is challenging to say the least but, with network visibility as the cornerstone of their cyber-strategy, organisations can to optimise investments, adapt agilely and ensure protection in the next phase of the pandemic and beyond. n How network visibility can protect businesses in the new tomorrowThere is growing recognition of the power for IP-based networks to transform the built environment. Increasingly building systems and infrastructure are being standardised on IP-based networks, and this in turn is opening up very real and tangible new opportunities for building owners and technology vendors to reimagine the ‘smart building’ in more meaningful ways. IP-based building networks and connected services are helping to enhance the ‘data view’ of buildings – boosting the sustainability, comfort and security of buildings. IP networks are also enabling the creation of new personalised experiences for the users of a building. Indeed, these IoT-enabled services are increasingly seen as a must-have to boost occupant satisfaction and maximise property values. And the commercial benefits of IP-enabled buildings are clear too. A study by The Center for Real Estate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (referenced by PwC) suggests buyers and tenants will pay an 8.2% premium in rent and a 23.7% premium in transaction price for fully digitised buildings and personalised occupant experiences. However, despite these clear benefits, we are still in the early days of the transition to the IP-based world. The full potential of the IP approach is only being realised in pockets – not across the built environment as a whole. The problem with siloes The obstacle facing developers and installers in the modern marketplace is clear: the deployment models for building technology – including IP-based systems – are often firmly stuck in the past. Currently, the vast majority of buildings – even where IP infrastructures have been installed – have their security, AV and other systems handled in various disconnected siloes. Installation and management are handled by separate specialist contractors. This model only serves to add unnecessary complexity to the digitisation of our buildings, and is holding back the potential to truly transform the built environment through technology, boost occupant satisfaction and maximise property values. How, then, can we simplify deployment processes to unleash the full power of IP networks across the built environment? Simplicity is key Rather than the scattered, inefficient deployment models that are typical, we need to embrace converged ‘all-in-one’ deployments of network, devices and service management for buildings. Disrupting the built environment with converged network infrastructure converged network infrastructure www.networkseuropemagazine.com 26 Mike Hook Executive Director LMGThis converged approach means that all of a building’s systems – from communications and security to AV and digital signage – can be deployed and managed by one central supplier or master systems integrator. This is a crucial step to simplify processes, reduce complexity, ensure interoperability and increase speed of deployment – to make the full potential of IP networks a reality. Everyone wins with converged infrastructure The benefits of a converged approach can be delivered throughout the whole lifecycle of the building. During the construction and fit out, a converged technology deployment can give main contractors one central point of accountability to de-risk projects, keeping sites safe, secure and running efficiently. And, of course, having one unified technology deployment means that multi-system interoperability can be guaranteed, and scope gaps eliminated. Once the building is occupied, having a truly converged IP backbone to the building doesn’t just greatly increase process efficiency, but it gives access to a far richer pool of data than would be otherwise possible. This goes far beyond what is possible with a traditional BMS. More than simply lights switching off as a room is vacated, joined-up IP- based solutions provide the backbone of connectivity that collects data from cameras, sensors, motors, robotics and more. This exponential increase in information is extremely powerful – allowing cross-referenced insights from multiple sources that empowers predictive maintenance, optimised use of space and resources, and hyper- personalised services. And once you have the data to enable this personalisation then the whole experience of the building can be made more attractive to its occupants through more flexible work spaces and smart automation. These are just a few examples, but while switching to a converged deployment model may seem like a relatively minor change, it shows that the move can have significant additional benefits. Making buildings fit for the future Ultimately, the IP platform is central to the future of the ‘smart building’. Without that platform to provide the data you need to maximise health, well-being and security, buildings will never be truly smart. But we cannot ignore the more operational side of the issue too. This has been emphasised with the current pandemic. The crisis has rapidly accelerated changes to working practices that were already well underway. However, rather than limit investments in the corporate office, I believe that the situation has served to amplify the business case for more smart buildings systems and a better approach to the technology infrastructure of workplaces. Technology needs to be at the heart of the building design process for the workplace, not an afterthought. Now, in a world where flexibility is king, more intelligent and joined-up tech infrastructure is essential, not a nice to have. Traditional, siloed network infrastructure deployment and management is no longer fit for purpose. So, regardless of how buildings and the support requirements evolve in the coming years, the intelligent convergence of building management and IT systems will be vital to enabling the digitised buildings of the future to reach their full potential, reduce operating costs, drive sustainability, and optimise the occupant experience. n converged network converged network infrastructure www.networkseuropemagazine.com 27AI and machine learning Data centres need to differentiate themselves to survive AI and machine learning www.networkseuropemagazine.com 28As Gartner highlights, the number of enterprises implementing AI tripled in the past year. However, with Gartner also claiming that more than 30% of data centres that don’t deploy AI and machine learning won’t be operationally and economically feasible by 2020, Peter Ruffley, Chairman at Zizo, discusses how we can best use AI and what its role is within the data centre. The promise of AI At present, the IT industry is doing itself no favours by promising the earth with emerging technologies, without having the ability to fully deliver them, see Hadoop’s story with big data as an example - look where that is now. There is also a growing need to dispel some of the myths surrounding the capabilities of AI and data led applications, which often sit within the c-suite, that investment will give them the equivalent of the ship’s computer from Star Trek, or the answer to the question ‘how can I grow the business?'. As part of any AI strategy, it’s imperative that businesses, from the board down, have a true understanding of the use cases of AI and where the value lies. If there is a clear business need and an outcome in mind then AI can be the right tool. But it won’t do everything for you – the bulk of the work still has to be done somewhere, either in the machine learning or data preparation phase. AI ready vs. AI reality With IoT, many organisations are chasing the mythical concept of ‘let’s have every device under management’. But why? What’s the real benefit of doing that? All they are doing is creating an overwhelming amount of low value data. They are expecting data warehouses to store a massive amount of data. If a business keeps data from a device that shows it pinged every 30 seconds rather than a minute, then that’s just keeping data for the sake of it. There’s no strategy there. The ‘everyone store everything’ mentality needs to change. One of the main barriers to implementing AI are the The interest in adding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to business models is fast gaining momentum as organisations look to find patterns within their data that can deliver greater business and customer intelligence, and predict future trends. AI and machine learning www.networkseuropemagazine.com 29 Peter Ruffley CEO ZizoNext >