< PreviousFEATURES 20 of EMEA, where there is a stronger level of cohesion across various industry practices and regulations, global organisations need to consider the requirements of each region before deploying a standardised solution. The alternative is a localisation approach, where a standardised design is customised to comply with all local requirements. This way forward is particularly appealing in regions with unique building codes, standards and regulations that can prove challenging in traditional installations, potentially slowing down deployment. By localising a solution, organisations can simplify compliance with local requirements and accelerate the deployment process - while still reaping many of the standardisation benefits. While standardisation offers benefits such as consistency, scalability and cost efficiency, localisation helps with compliance and adaptation to regional regulations and preferences - and striking the right balance is crucial for successful data centre deployments across different territories. It’s important to consider the environmental impacts of the processes. And, as efficiency and sustainability continue to be prominent topics across all regions within EMEA, hyperscalers are exploring how data centres can benefit local communities - for instance, utilising waste heat for district heating or vertical farming. Incorporating sustainable materials and manufacturing methods into prefabricated solutions will also help to strike a better balance in the future. Exploring the benefits of this new approach The data centre industry revolution is being driven by the rise of prefabricated modular designs - so what are the benefits operators can expect from taking this approach? One key benefit is their ability to integrate critical components, such as advanced cooling systems and power distribution within controlled factory conditions. This approach allows for parallel construction processes, significantly reducing the time required for on-site assembly and integration. With each project, assembly staff gain valuable skills and insights, honing their expertise and discovering better installation solutions. The result? Expedited deployment that enables businesses to swiftly respond to changing needs, whether it's sudden increases in data processing requirements or the establishment of new locations. The flexibility and adaptability of prefabricated modular data centres make them a powerful tool in the arsenal of modern businesses. These innovative designs bring additional advantages that set them apart from traditional data centres. They have a positive impact on the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and reduce the physical footprint. The modular nature of these data centres enables organisations to scale their infrastructure in line with demand, avoiding overprovisioning. By using modular uninterruptable power supply (UPS) and cooling systems that can be expanded as the IT load increases over time, organisations can optimise their resources and achieve cost savings.FEATURES 21 Security is a paramount concern for data centres, and prefabricated modular designs address this concern from the outset. By constructing the units off-site and implementing security measures during the manufacturing process, these facilities are delivered with security already in place. This proactive approach mitigates risks and avoids potential vulnerabilities or delays associated with retrofitting security measures after installation. Data centre operators can rest assured knowing that their facilities are equipped with the necessary security features, enhancing overall reliability and integrity. The advantages of modular data centres continue to stack up. In addition to the benefits already mentioned, they also allow for parallel building works to take place while the unit is being constructed off-site. This parallel construction approach saves time and increases efficiency as various components and systems are fabricated simultaneously. Electrical and mechanical works can progress alongside the construction of the modular unit, resulting in reduced project duration. Design and installation can also be certified by an independent body in the factory before dispatch, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. Operators can seize the opportunity to test and inspect the data centre at the factory, assessing quality and functionality before it reaches its final destination. An adapting industry As the data centre industry continues to evolve and adapt to the growing demand for digital services, the adoption of standardised construction practices in prefabricated modular data centres holds immense promise for operators. By embracing modular components and building blocks, the industry not only gets uniformity in design and infrastructure but also optimises resource use, leading to cost savings and improved operational efficiency. However, achieving these goals requires collaboration and knowledge sharing within the industry. Operators, manufacturers and stakeholders must come together to share their experiences, insights and best practices. This collective effort can drive innovation, facilitate the development of industry standards, and establish benchmarks for excellence. Investment in research and development is also crucial for the industry's continuous improvement. By investing in cutting-edge technologies and exploring new solutions, the industry can push the boundaries of what is possible in data centre design and operation. Collaboration between industry players, research institutions and technology providers can also accelerate innovation and drive the industry forward. Ultimately, the industry's future of prefabricated modular data centres lies in embracing standardised construction practices and fostering collaboration. By working together, sharing knowledge, and investing in research and development, the industry can unlock new levels of efficiency, scalability and adaptability. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the data centre industry must remain at the forefront of innovation to meet the growing demands of businesses and consumers alike.FEATURES 22FEATURES 23 With energy prices escalating across the globe, most businesses are being hit hard and are having to pay more for the energy they use. But what is the knock-on impact on network operations and, in particular, what effect has it had on the wider network sustainability agenda? Is the energy crisis accelerating the transition to a greener network future, or slowing it down? To answer some of these pressing questions, we commissioned an independent report entitled ‘The energy crisis: is it hurting enterprise networks?’. Conducted with senior decision-makers across a range of industry verticals, the respondents have a decision- making role in large companies (4000+ employees) in the US, UK, France and Germany. The findings reveal that many leaders have concerns over the immediate future, with 35% worrying about the ongoing impact of high costs in the year ahead. Escalating energy prices and their impact on network operations are actually the prime concern for over half (53%) of business leaders, but many are also anxious about possible energy supply shortages with 43% citing this as their second-biggest worry. So major are the issues, that 45% of leaders have admitted to having suffered significant stress over the recent energy price surges, with 14% going so far as to say that the situation is actually causing them to lose sleep. The pricing impact Higher prices are the key issue for European businesses’ network operations - with concern peaking among German leaders at 66%. An overwhelming 82% of leaders say that increased energy costs in the network have had a medium or high impact on the way they price their own services. As a result, 69% have raised their own prices, effectively passing on some or all of their heavier-cost burden. This is especially the case in Europe and particularly in Germany where 78% have pushed up their own prices to customers. Mattias Fridström, VP and chief evangelist at Arelion www.arelion.com The impact of the energy crisis on enterprise networks FEATURES 24 Surprisingly, 18% of decision makers across all the markets surveyed say they have reduced prices to their customers, perhaps swallowing the additional costs to boost competitiveness in a distressed business environment. But the findings of the research were not all bad news. The twofold blow of high-energy prices and uncertainty over supply has seen businesses striving to make their network operations more energy efficient. In fact, 61% of business-leaders admitted to it having spurred them on to increase investment in their network operations. In Europe, 69% of German decision-makers lead the way followed by 49% in the UK and 48% in France. The sustainability impact Alongside enhanced energy efficiency, another positive effect of the energy crisis has seen over half of businesses (52%) speeding up and strengthening their network sustainability efforts. US businesses appear to be taking the lead over Europe with 65% of US decision-makers saying that they are boosting their sustainability efforts versus 55% in Germany, 42% in France and 40% in the UK. That said, some cause for concern remains from the finding that, overall, 29% of businesses have seen their sustainability efforts impeded by the energy crisis. Looking to the future and identifying which sustainable energy sources business leaders in these key markets believe have the greatest potential for powering network operations, 40% of respondents elected for clean, renewable solar power. That said, we find the view that solar power will fuel the networks of the future to be puzzling, especially considering the intermittent nature of solar power. Successful network operations depend upon a reliable and consistent source of energy, and until we see a paradigm shift in battery technology, we believe that solar and wind power are essentially just complementary power sources that serve to reduce the costs and carbon footprint of a network. While solar was the first choice for businesses in most countries, the notable exception was France, where 51% of leaders see nuclear power as having the most potential - compared with a maximum of 18% elsewhere. This seems to reflect France’s long history of investment in nuclear power production, relatively high dependence upon it, and cultural pro-nuclear acceptance. In a nutshell National energy legislation, production and policies have a large impact on attitudes to the energy crisis and the business impact of network energy consumption varies across different industry verticals. What’s clear is that, for businesses whose networks are a significant part of their operational expenditure, the impact is ultimately far greater and network operators are particularly vulnerable to a volatile energy market. But if there’s one silver lining to this cloud, it’s that the transition towards more sustainable networks has hastened as a result of the energy crisis, and investments in power efficiency are shortening the upgrade cycle for network infrastructure.FEATURES 25FEATURES 26 HOW TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE CYBER RESILIENCE TRAINING WHEN CYBER THREATS MOVE FAST Max Vetter, VP of Cyber at Immersive Labs, on people- centric training FEATURES 27 In an era of advanced persistent threats where the digital landscape is dynamically changing every second, the importance of cyber resilience cannot be dismissed. As cyber threats continue to evolve in complexity and sophistication, organisations must ensure that their workforce is equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively respond to these threats. Max Vetter, VP of cyber at Immersive Labs, delves into the concept of cyber workforce resilience. 1. What is cyber workforce resilience? Can you shed some light on its significance in today's rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape? Cyber workforce resilience can be defined as the confidence to effectively prepare for, and respond to, cyber threats. It is a measure of how well an organisation can respond to and recover from cyber incidents while maintaining operational continuity. This concept is of paramount importance in today's digital landscape, where cyber threats are not only increasing in volume but also in sophistication. A key aspect of cyber workforce resilience is the ability to continually test, measure, and optimise the cyber knowledge, skills, and judgement of the workforce. This has to be done through a comprehensive platform that provides real-time insights into an organisation's cyber resilience posture. By doing so, businesses can identify areas of vulnerability, address skills gaps, and ensure that their workforce is equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively respond to cyber threats. This proactive approach to cyber resilience is what enables organisations to stay one step ahead of potential threats and ensure business continuity. TIVE CYBER RESILIENCE THREATS MOVE FAST 2. What are the key components of a cyber resilience training programme that effectively prepares an organisation for potential threats? Cyber resilience programmes should be tailored to the unique needs and threats faced by an organisation. The programme should be designed to enhance the technical skills and knowledge of the workforce. This includes understanding the latest cyber threats, the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by threat actors, and the appropriate defensive measures. It’s also critical that such programmes focus on developing the judgement and decision-making skills of the workforce across teams and individuals. This is particularly important in a real-world scenario where employees may need to make quick decisions under pressure. Security training should incorporate metrics and assessments to measure the effectiveness of the training and identify areas for improvement. Our latest research at Immersive Labs found that 46% of organisations lack the necessary metrics to demonstrate their workforce's resilience, underlining the need for measurable outcomes in training programmes. Lastly, the training programme should be dynamic and adaptable, mirroring the fast-paced and ever-evolving nature of cyber threats. Cyber threats today evolve more quickly than content for classroom training sessions can be developed, tested and embedded across the organisation. 3. How can people-centric cyber resilience strategies help organisations to identify and address the skills gap within the workforce? Adopting a people-centric strategy can help organisations achieve a comprehensive view of its real cyber capabilities. In fact, our research found that people-centric strategies are the top strategic priority of organisations in 2023. Such strategies include improving both the security team and general workforce’s cyber resilience, integrating new solutions to reduce human risks, and upskilling teams and individuals. However, to make such strategies effective, organisations require a robust set of metrics to measure and benchmark their current human-cyber capabilities. Our study revealed that although organisations are currently using a variety of methods to measure cyber capabilities, many of these methods are haphazard and lack a comprehensive approach. Response times to historical cyber threats are one of the most common metrics used, but they only provide an approximate assessment of future cyber capabilities. Other organisations use testing methods, such as phishing simulation tests, but these only Maintaining cyber resilience in the face of rapidly evolving cyber threats requires a shift in traditional training paradigms. provide insight into how an individual responds to a single type of cyber threat. Some organisations use the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, which offers standards, guidelines and practices for managing and reducing cybersecurity risk. However, the use of the framework requires a tailored approach by each organisation and does not offer a certification program or endorsement of implementation. Only a small percentage of organisations use robust cybersecurity metrics, such as response times to addressing vulnerabilities, tracking intrusion rates, rate of internal data loss, and incidence rates of various threat types. These metrics can provide valuable insights into how the organisation deals with cybersecurity threats and incidents. 4. Given the fast-paced nature of cyber threats, how can we ensure that our cyber resilience training remains relevant, effective and agile? Maintaining cyber resilience in the face of rapidly evolving cyber threats requires a shift in traditional training paradigms. In fact, 37% of organisations today run classroom training sessions on cyber threats that were active three months ago, which is reactionary and ineffective. To address this, organisations need to find an approach to developing cyber resilience that aligns with the speed of cyber threats. This involves regularly updating training content to reflect the latest threats and vulnerabilities, and delivering this content in a manner that allows for immediate application. This could be through interactive, scenario-based training exercises that simulate real-world cyber threats, enabling employees to apply their knowledge and skills in a practical context. At the same time, training programmes should be designed to foster a culture of cyber resilience within the organisation. This involves promoting open communication about security, encouraging all employees to take responsibility for cybersecurity, and fostering a security-first mindset. Businesses should also leverage advanced solutions to enhance the effectiveness of training. This means investing in tools that can provide real-time insights into an organisation's cyber resilience posture, identify areas of vulnerability, and track improvements over time. In addition, there should be a greater emphasis on cyber resilience at a board level. Everything should be placed in the context of cyber resilience, rather than just focusing on the status of piecemeal inputs such as deploying new cybersecurity solutions. These measures can go a long way in helping businesses achieve robust resilience in this dynamic threat landscape and adopt a continuous, comprehensive and effective approach to training. that is aligned with the speed and nature of cyber threats. yber threats requires a shift in traditional training paradigms. Next >