Technology is rapidly changing the way manufacturers do business. The integration and adaptation of IIoT, AI, and smart manufacturing has created a digital plant floor that most legacy equipment was not designed to operate on. Plant floor digitization has seen many benefits, but with that is increased risk. Industrial Data Centers (IDC) are the scalable solution manufacturers need to store and share data securely and consistently across the enterprise.
It can seem as though all Industrial Data Centers are the same, but the real differentiator is the partner you choose to help manage and support your OT infrastructure. Growing infrastructure needs can become overwhelming for in-house teams. Managed services supporting an IDC will free your staff from maintenance and management to focus on core business goals. Choosing a partner who understands both IT and OT and how to maintain visibility across both environments is integral to your data collection and security. It is important to choose a partner who realizes the value of providing flexible, reliable equipment that can grow alongside your organization. When choosing IDC and Managed Services from Rockwell Automation, your organization chooses reliability, flexibility, agility, and continuity for your OT infrastructure.
There are six key considerations when selecting an IDC and a partner for your industrial environment:
- Location
- Physical security
- Virtualization
- Compliance and Certifications
- Support and monitoring services
- Scalability
Location
- What are the conditions on your plant floor? Will your IDC be exposed to harsh environments such as extreme temperatures, high-pressure water, corrosive debris, or more? If so, the IDC Gen 5.0H is the right fit, it is rated for extreme conditions, delivers longer equipment lifespan in these applications. We also offer the IDC Gen 5.0S, offering the same size and scaling capabilities, on a standard platform.
- Many production floors are limited; there isn’t room for multiple desktop computers, each hosting their own data locally. The newest generation of IDCs (Industrial Data Center) have a minimal server footprint, saving critical production space.
Physical Security
- IDC Gen 5.0 can be fully supported by Rockwell Automation, increasing critical data security. When industrial organizations switch from local data storage to the cloud, as offered with the Gen 5.0 IDC, the risk of an on-site compromise drastically decreases. The latest generation of IDCs also features a badge scanner on the front and back doors of the cabinet to allow for monitored access, reducing the physical security risk on the plant floor.
- New to IDC Gen 5.0, Veeam backup is provided to help reduce data loss. Cloud backup will let you immediately shut down operations without losing critical data, should a cyberattack or emergency occur on your plant floor.
Virtualization
- Industrial Data Centers help organizations break the link between the operating system and physical hardware, extracting compute and network in a distributed environment. When using an IDC for critical data storage, a seamless digital environment is created across all applications and operating systems, running on just one server. Manufacturers can reduce the total cost of ownership, increase compute power, reduce downtime, and enable redundancy, when creating a comprehensive, connected, infrastructure.
Compliance & Certifications
- When vetting potential partners, compliance and certifications are critical. Rockwell Automation Managed Services are delivered leveraging the highest standards of information security.
- Rockwell Automation is ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 27001 certified. This certification demonstrates that Rockwell Automation has invested in the people, processes, and technology to protect data at a global level.
- Because Rockwell Automation has been certified as managing information security according to international best practices, you can be confident implementing Managed Services to support your IDC.
Support & Monitoring
- An IDC is only as valuable as the services and expertise that support it. Managed Services from Rockwell Automation provide IDC customers with 24x7 phone support and online ticket management. When downtime is critical, minutes matter and seconds count, which is why partner support is available when and where you need it is imperative for IDC optimization.
- One of the biggest challenges facing industrial organizations today is the lack of skills to manage the OT infrastructure. The complexity of systems is increasing, and so is the ability to troubleshoot these systems should an issue arise. With managed services, you eliminate the guesswork and get the answers you need, backed by industry-leading engineers.
- As production demands increase, the ability to have a continuous, holistic view of your data is extremely important. When you choose an IDC, you are creating a single, comprehensive, view across each asset in your plant and across your enterprise. Data and analytics are readily available via Veeam backup to equip your organization with the information you need to make decisions that support business objectives.
Scalability
- When choosing a virtual environment, it is imperative to consider not only the current state of your infrastructure, but scalability for the future. If your organization plans to grow, you need a data center solution that can grow with you. The IDC is seamlessly scalable for customers who currently use the VersaVirtual Series B for compute, networking, and storage. IDC Gen 5.0H can scale up and out in the future as your requirements and business objectives change.
The manufacturing industry will continue to change at a rapid pace, forcing businesses to evolve equally as fast. Storing critical data and reporting in the cloud with an Industrial Data Center is a simple way your business can stay competitive and secure. When selecting the right Industrial Data Center for your application, it is important to remember the six key considerations: location, security, connectivity, compliance, support, and scalability. IDC Gen 5.0 checks all the boxes, making it the ideal solution for small-to-mid-sized industrials looking to invest in equipment to keep their data secure and accessible today, with scalability and flexibility for the future. Partnering with Rockwell Automation to support your IDC on your visualization journey provides you with the latest technology, industry-leading expertise, and accessible resources at a global scale.
Learn more about IDC Gen 5.0 here.
