< PreviousModernising an ageing grid Much like the famous London Underground network, most existing electric grids in the United Kingdom are decades old and unfit for purpose, built for a time when electricity needs were less complex. Recently, numerous 'upgrades' have been implemented that have simply patched over the core infrastructural issues present. Modern energy needs necessitate a two-way dialogue between a utility and its customers for reliable, efficient supply. The current electrical grid infrastructure is incapable of supporting this. The UK has advanced significantly in the renewable space in the last 10-20 years, and pioneering technology and innovation in our infrastructure should reflect that, but currently, it is not. The ever-changing and rising energy demands of the 21st Century necessitate modernising our electric grids. A smart grid is an intelligent digitised energy network optimally delivering energy from source to consumption. It introduces a two-way dialogue where electricity and information can be exchanged between a utility and its customers. It's a developing network of communications, controls, computers, automation, and a combination of new technologies and tools working together to make the grid more efficient, reliable, secure and greener. Although their irrefutable environmental benefits are invisible to the naked eye, smart grids are vital for sustaining a green recovery in an electricity-dependent world. green recovery www.networkseuropemagazine.com 50A new approach to energy management Increasingly, digital solutions provide the answer for many utilities providers seeking to optimise existing grid assets and go beyond technical limitations to push the boundaries of operational efficiency. As technology advances and new energy opportunities present themselves, investing in distributed energy resources (DERs) can help utilities to improve responsiveness, agility and reliability. Digitising the grid delivers benefits beyond revenue generation to the owner, including reduced losses, risk mitigation, environmental benefits, and economic development through local infrastructure projects. As DERs produce power closer to the load, this aids the versatility and responsiveness of utilities, resulting in cost and carbon savings. This is amplified by the capability of DERs to store power to administer during peak load times and reduce transmission utility charges. With a growing demand for affordable, low-emission energy, it is now more critical than ever that the industry, with government support, implements the right infrastructure to ensure the new energy revolution is unhindered by the potential shortcomings of legacy infrastructure. Improving energy resiliency and reducing energy waste with microgrids A decentralised energy supply network is a reliable alternative to the traditional central power grid. Microgrids are self-contained electrical networks that allow you to generate your own electricity on-site and use that energy when you need it. A microgrid system can connect to the primary utility grid, store excess energy in battery energy storage systems, or "island" to autonomously distribute energy locally even when disconnected from the centralised grid. Microgrids offer seamless connection and reconnection to the main grid without interrupting the power supply, a key advantage of adopting such technology. Imagine the grid powering your facility suffers an outage. Using the intelligent controls from your system, you can automatically switch your energy source from the main grid to your on-site microgrid, minimising the amount of downtime incurred from the outage. In addition to acting like insurance policies for uninterrupted supply, microgrids can also boost energy efficiency efforts by feeding any excess energy back into the system, reducing waste. Building a grid fit for the digital future In the effort to reduce our national carbon footprint, time is not on our side. Utilities, governments and individuals need to consider what the future holds if fundamental change isn't delivered imminently. One part of the solution is embracing the current electrical grid's challenges and seeing them as opportunities. The change will not happen overnight, although a complete paradigm shift towards a sustainable model of active energy management is required if we are to transition to a new energy landscape. n With a growing demand for affordable, low-emission energy, it is now more critical than ever that the industry implements the right infrastructure to ensure the new energy revolution is unhindered by any shortcomings of legacy infrastructure. green recovery www.networkseuropemagazine.com 51Rob Hancock Head of Platform Giacom The pandemic has forced many companies to re-think their current processes in order to maintain continuity, drive productivity and, in some cases, just survive. 12-18 months after the first lockdown, society and business are settling into a new normal, but continue to face similar productivity challenges. Achieving these aforementioned goals though, has required an increased dependency on technology and new processes across companies of all sizes. Therefore, many organisations have taken on digital changes to navigate these challenging times. But, within this new world - and new normal - we wonder if the pandemic has created an environment that is more suitable for SMBs (small-medium sized businesses) to gain the upper hand? Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, representing 99% of businesses and employing over 16 million people. Fast-growing and innovative, they help to drive long-term economic productivity and growth. It is therefore vital that SMBs are equipped with essential digital tools and technical support. Rob Hancock, Head of Platform, Giacom explains why SMBs are the future of the new normal and what the channel can do to enable and equip this growing sector more effectively. Agility is important SMBs tend to be more agile than larger enterprises because they don’t have the same level of bureaucracy to manage. Many SMBs can bring on services and tools at a much quicker pace than larger organisations, that may have to go through many layers of approval. During the pandemic, agility has never been more crucial, too, with the necessity of remote working, collaboration tools and security protocols to implement. In 2020, 45% of SMBs changed their business models in response to Covid-19. Small The future Rob Hancock, Head of Platform, Giacom explains why SMBs are the future of the new normal and what the channel can do to enable and equip this growing sector more effectively. future of the new normal www.networkseuropemagazine.com 52 businesses: ure of the new normal future of the new normal www.networkseuropemagazine.com 53Over 50% of UK business leaders say the shift to a cloud business model, ultimately, saved their company from collapse during the height of the pandemic. Further, there is also a misconception that SMBs can’t deploy similar technologies to that of larger businesses. This is untrue. Today, SMBs can quickly develop a strong infrastructure that is based in the cloud, including key applications like security, customer data management, data backup and more. The channel is key to SMB cloud deployment In addition to this, research shows that the cloud will continue to be crucial for the SMB market and channel. 71% of companies plan to adopt cloud tech directly and more than a third of organisations will rely on the channel for support here (MSPs, VARs, retailers, or distributors). Alongside this, consider that, anecdotally, many SMBs have fewer internal IT resources at their disposal to support with managing IT (no in-house team or staff with little IT management knowledge). In these cases, they could really benefit from outsourcing IT requirements to specialist SMB- focused MSP channel partners who can support them. That way they can focus on growing their business. Additionally, many entrepreneurs often don’t have the spare time for, or access to, the training that they need to manage IT. Therefore, the MSP, and wider channel, has an opportunity to educate this market and provide complete offerings to it. As you can tell, the opportunity is there for the taking. Cloud penetration and changing needs What is more, the need for cloud technologies drastically changed for SMBs in recent years. The SMB IT market research and industry analyst firm, Techaisle, points out that: “as recently as five years ago, most SMBs were still evaluating cloud’s use to address business needs and operations. By 2020, the cloud was no longer a future issue: 80% of small businesses and 99% of midmarket organisations use the cloud to support some or all of their business processes.” All of this, exacerbated by the pandemic, no doubt. Traditionally, it was thought, too, that cloud services were used more by larger enterprises with well-developed IT departments, than by the SMB market. Even before COVID-19, there were questions about how businesses would adopt the cloud, as many large organisations were starting to explore and implement digital transformations. And, although cloud-based productivity solutions have become well established in the enterprise market, reach and service to the SMB market has traditionally been more challenging. But, this is changing and most of the vendor community recognised the available SMB opportunity. As a result, it sought out relationships with SMB focused CSPs, who can aid MSPs. As we’ve all seen, the Covid-19 pandemic has driven a dramatic increase in cloud adoption too, with social distancing restrictions recently increasing the need for remote working and cloud solutions. Over 50% of UK business leaders say the shift to a cloud business model, ultimately, saved their company from collapse during the height of the pandemic. Also, when it comes to embracing the cloud, it’s easier for recently established SMBs; as they’ve typically been ‘born’ in the cloud when it comes to their technology usage and adoption. These smaller organisations that take a cloud-first approach are a ‘new generation’ of business owners too. They understand the opportunities and risks of cloud services. Opportunity vs risk Mindset is everything when it comes to business survival and often means comparing benefits to risks. When it comes to rolling out digital changes, the opportunities that come from new technologies tend to outweigh the risks. The cloud benefits businesses by providing them with the resilience and scalability they need. SMBs can adapt as they grow and react to market changes; such as their move to remote working, using appropriate cloud software - rather than being restricted by an on-premise infrastructure. Add in the importance of flexible financial models and future of the new normal www.networkseuropemagazine.com 54It’s the resilience and creativity of this SMB community that will continue to drive business success into the new normal. better business protection during a time when cybersecurity is also a priority, the cloud becomes more compelling. And, with 43% of small businesses being victims of cyber-attacks, it’s clear that SMBs would want security to be included in the cloud too. However, despite the confidence and opportunity that the cloud provides, it can be seen as a risk for IT teams, whether they’re in-house or outsourced partners. This is because when implementing cloud, IT must ensure that any technology used truly contributes to the business and keeps information safe, rather than seeing that firm accidentally become the next ‘data breach’ news headline. This means that the CSP community needs to provide MSPs confidence that they have a strong technology roadmap, that will be able to protect their clients’ data from security breaches and more. How the channel can support Often after an economic downturn, there is an increase in new smaller businesses that enter the market, as insurance companies have seen large year-on-year increases of SMBs. Going forward, these new SMBs aim to have flexibility and scalability, especially if hybrid working is here to stay, as they’ll require more bespoke cloud-based solutions. So, SMBs will turn to IT service providers for their tech needs, as 73% of small businesses identify that developing a digital infrastructure is a key priority. But to be successful, MSPs should be choosing the right services for their customers to benefit from. This means MSPs must provide the right mix of technology to their customers as they build their IT estate, beyond offering unified communications suites. Monitoring market trends and understanding the needs of their customers is vital here. Again, this is where the role of cloud solution providers (CSP) is key, in that they need to collaborate effectively with their MSP partners to ensure they are aware of the latest technologies available to them, to offer to their clients. Specifically, for SMB end-users, working with a partner who’s focused on the smaller business market enables them to access the right products to support their growth, as they move from basic requirements to more advanced needs. Once more, specialist SMB-focused CSPs, with strong and relevant vendor partnerships, and a solid technology roadmap, can play a key role in supporting MSPs effectively, as they strive to capitalise on the SMB market and grow their customer base. Conclusion Small businesses are the engine of the UK economy. They provide jobs for local people and contribute to driving forward innovation, exporting to the world, and investing in the next generation of talent. Agile business models have never been more important in today’s climate too. To be able to respond to unexpected situations, such as Covid-19, SMBs are paving the way for future growth. Moreover, the landscape is ever-changing as we increasingly move into a digitally-led world. However, it’s the resilience and creativity of this SMB community that will continue to drive business success into the new normal – but only if MSPs can provide them with the right tools, technology and education to survive and grow. n future of the new normal www.networkseuropemagazine.com 55Make the most of your presence NETWORKS EUROPE magazine is the longest established and industry leading technical journal for the network infrastructure and data centre marketplace. • NETWORKS EUROPE features editorial contributions from worldwide industry figureheads, ensuring that it’s the world’s best publication for information on all aspects of this constantly evolving industry. • Published every other month (x6 per annum), the magazine is produced in digital format, with a magazine viewing link (readable on all major electronic devices) e-mailed directly to subscribers on publication. • The readership consists of 26,000 industry professionals across Europe; with its core circulation covering the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy and Spain. • The magazine's highly focused editorial content caters exclusively for an informed audience consisting of network infrastructure professionals, including; data centre managers, facilities managers, CIOs, CTOs, ICT directors, consultants and project managers. • Key editorial content areas include; news, legislation and technical information from industry-leading companies and commentators, with detailed case studies, as well as the latest thinking in technology and practices. Advertising Advertising can be in the form of company or product promotion. You can contact our advertising team for details on costs. We accept adverts that are submitted to us in the form of image files saved as high resolution (>300dpi) *.pdf, *.png, *.jpg or *.eps format files. Sponsored content We publish sponsored or branded content in the form of advertorials, case studies, white papers and product/company features. Our advertising team can help with advice and costs. Contact sales@networkseuropemagazine.com for more details. NETWORKS EUROPE The magazine for network and data centre professionals Every electrical system ever invented will fail at some point. We can consider the average number of hours it takes to fail as the Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF). Creating resilience in a power protection solution therefore, means looking at every element of a system and its associated infrastructure and removing single points of failure to improve the overall resilience. When we work with a client, we need to determine what level of resilience is needed to design the most optimal power protection solution from the outset. For data centres, we need to understand load profile, plans for future expansion and the tier classification they want to achieve. This information is the starting point. There are different configurations to explore to achieve the required level of protection. However, it must begin with the UPS because it is directly coupled to the load and the mains at the same time. Then, everything else: the batteries, cables and other infrastructure, needs to be created to the equivalent resilience level, to ensure the whole system always performs as required and expected. For example, it’s pointless having an ultra-resilient UPS if it’s only supported by one string of batteries. Experience has shown that battery failure is probably the leading cause of loss of load as opposed to the actual UPS. Increasing the number of strings in a battery system to a minimum of two improves resilience. If battery failure leads to system failure, why take the risk? Resilience is also influenced by levels of redundancy built into the system, the level of availability due to the architecture of the equipment, the quality of components used within the design plus how well it is maintained. With clear guidelines and some joined-up thinking, the most modern technology can deliver a resilient system that puts legacy UPS in the shade. At Centiel, we can provide the same level of resilience as a traditional UPS, with a more available power protection solution in half the space, attracting a significantly reduced total cost of ownership. Within a single footprint, our industry-leading modular UPS CumulusPower™ offers the same level of redundancy but can utilise as little as half of the batteries. This results in a compact, cost-effective, highly efficient solution with minimal risk of downtime. While CapEx and OpEx are reduced, it’s also flexible enough to be configured to suit any power protection situation or design requirement while also offering maximum resilience. In a typical data centre, the value of the IT equipment and the data it is processing is often incalculable. Even the shortest interruption to power may cause damage or significant financial losses, which is why only very high- quality UPS solutions should be used. Centiel’s response is to focus on technical excellence which has resulted in the creation of CumulusPower™. Our truly modular UPS solution is now known for its industry- leading 99.9999999% (nine-nines) availability, high levels of efficiency and reduced total cost of ownership. This is achieved through Centiel’s unique Distributed Active- Redundant Architecture (DARA) which increases system intelligence and resilience and as a result, system availability. CumulusPower™ maximises efficiency in a reduced footprint while its flexible frame sizes and module ratings enable facilities to “pay as they grow”. The high quality of components used, ensure that CumulusPower™ modules are also robust, they can be re-deployed as necessary if an organisation moves or requires a UPS module at a different location. CENTIEL’s Triple Mode communications bus, a patented technology, further increases system availability by improving the speed and resilience of the UPS’ internal communication infrastructure. It’s just another example of where we have worked to remove single points of failure to increase availability and resilience even further and provide the highest quality solution. Resilience is, of course, also influenced by how old any system is. Therefore, our experienced service team are always happy to discuss individual projects to help our clients determine if it is better to repair or replace elements of the UPS and associated infrastructure, ensuring facilities can always maximise the resilience of their power protection solution. n The Importance of Resilience If you look at the definition of resilience you will come across words such as durability, toughness, strength and bouncebackability. Resilience is the capability to recover quickly from difficulties. www.centiel.co.uk ADVERTORIAL www.networkseuropemagazine.com 57 Louis McGarry Sales and Marketing Director CENTIEL UKThe compounding benefits of sustainable network management sustainable network management www.networkseuropemagazine.com 58Sustainability has been made more important as an exponential rise in global connectivity continues to add complexity to enterprise network environments. As this digitalisation progresses, company network environments must be developed to take advantage of new technologies and keep pace with their competitors. Recent trends that have added complexity include the proliferation of edge computing and IoT, multi-cloud uptake, and – accelerated by Covid-19 – the spread of Bring- Your-Own-Device (BYOD) as a widespread working practice. Supporting these technologies requires investment in and the evolution of the corporate network, but to ensure ROI and to optimise network efficiency, evolving the network within a sustainability framework is key. This digital transformation starts with the network, and while rapid innovation, and the opportunities it brings, may look great on paper for IT leadership, many businesses find themselves in impossible binds and are forced to relinquish control during their digital transformation. For any network manager interested in the effortless transfer of data, seamless migration between platforms and uninterrupted service as they onboard a recent company acquisition, the answer is sustainable networking. Magnus Bjornsson CEO Men&Mice g nable ment sustainable network management www.networkseuropemagazine.com 59Next >