Enterprise networks are no longer rooted in a single, large centralized data center facility. The hybrid distributed compute model has led to a heavily decentralized edge environment that mirrors a traditional data center. It is outfitted with server racks, power, cooling, connectivity, and physical security infrastructure but probably lacks trained IT staff to monitor and manage the physical IT infrastructure.
Future-Proofing Distributed IT Edge Deployments
In today’s high-stakes business environment, edge computing has pivoted from a “bleeding edge†to a “transformative†technology — a critical enabler for turbocharging low latency and quality of service (QoS)-centric industrial and enterprise applications — even in the remotest of settings. But the always-on, edge-dependent sites such as warehouses, manufacturing floors, and hospitals depend upon the physical IT infrastructure to power hardware — servers, storage, and network gear, vital for 24*7 connectivity customers expect at all times.
This underlying infrastructure is more mission-critical in facilities struggling to keep up with the global outbreak — think healthcare that consists of a mix of edge devices. The efficiency of these IT systems hinges upon the network of uninterruptible power suppliesOpens a new window (UPS) and rack-mounted power distribution unitsOpens a new window (PDUs). In this scenario, any unforeseen disruption like a power outage due to aging and legacy systems can prove costly.
Amid hyperconnected, digitized ecosystems, this hybrid IT infrastructure — the power, cooling, environmental monitoring, and security technologies — aren’t separate, siloed systems. They are key to driving cost efficiencies, uptime and availability — the holy grail for IT managers. As edge buildouts ramp up, IT leaders tasked with setting up scalable and adaptable infrastructure architecture should invest in remote monitoring and management (RMM) solutions that can significantly simplify the deployment and maintenance of distributed IT assets.
Instead of crowding the tech stack with additional RMM tools, the move to a cloud-based, vendor-agnostic monitoring software provides a standardized interface that lends greater flexibility, scalability, improved cost efficiency and visibility into networked physical infrastructure assets. Plus, IT administrators can centralize the management of devices through a single dashboard, upgrade the firmware, configure alarm thresholds, and avoid overprovisioning equipment.
Securing the Edge from Environmental Hazards
Though organizations of all sizes are positioning themselves to capitalize on the edge strategy, they are still not fully aware of the physical and environmental threats lurking in edge deployments that can have a far-reaching impact on the business. A recent Ponemon Institute reportOpens a new window , Data Center Downtime at the Core and the Edge, reveals cyberattacks, IT equipment failures, human error and UPS battery failures as the leading causes of outages.1
To curb downtime in edge facilities, almost two-thirds (61%) of surveyed functional leaders revealed that stepping up investments in equipment is their top priority, followed by improving security practices. Other measures include investing in monitoring and management tools (36%) along with preventive maintenance (31%). Besides safeguarding against cyber threats and networking data loss, environmental hazards also pose a serious risk and bring services to a standstill.
With edge infrastructure being deployed across harsh, remote sites and geographically distributed branch offices, more and more IT equipment is located in less-than-ideal conditions, such as network closets and industrial floors that aren’t originally designed to house business-critical physical infrastructure. This equipment is exposed to threatening environmental conditions such as increased temperature or humidity levels that can result in equipment failure and unforeseen downtime, leading to a total shutdown of facilities. For instance, increased humidity and temperature in rack enclosures can disrupt operations in edge deployments. Meanwhile, leaks, smoke or dust building up inside densely packed network closets can balloon maintenance costs and significantly impact the distributed IT strategy.
Often, IT teams managing remote edge locations with different types of hardware deployed struggle to monitor environmental risks that can disrupt computing and storage resources. Not just that, most edge locations are unmanned and remote, which means IT managers also need to safeguard mission-critical infrastructure against physical threats. As a result, an environmental and security monitoring solution that uses a range of sensors and cameras can lower the risks of environmental hazards, track unauthorized access in real-time and help IT managers avoid equipment failure.
The benefits go beyond environmental and security monitoring. A scalable environmental management solution such as NetBotz applianceOpens a new window from a trusted tech behemoth like Schneider Electric gives IT real-time visibility into assets, helps reduce hardware malfunction and avoids overprovisioning resources, thereby lowering operating costs. At a time when business continuity matters more, an intelligent environmental monitoring solution allows IT managers to centralize management and monitoring across multiple remote edge sites and boost IT systems’ resilience.
Managed Remote Monitoring Key to Solving Hybrid IT Infrastructure Challenges
It’s no surprise that IT decision makers (ITDMs) are under pressure to increase operational efficiency in edge environments and drive business growth. Overstretched IT teams with limited staff have to do it all — managing the distributed physical IT infrastructure to troubleshoot technical issues, even as they run servers and applications at top-notch levels. In addition, as edge networks grow, IT needs to be able to monitor the hardware, update its firmware with new features, and proactively maintain systems around the clock.
Today, a big question many IT managers face is whether to walk down the path alone and adopt a DIY approach or engage a managed service provider (MSP) who can help bring all the pieces together by providing the right blend of edge monitoring software, dispatch services with spare parts and environmental monitoring appliances to drive efficient and cost-effective IT management.
While most service providers offer remote monitoring solutions, none offer a comprehensive suite of solutions that paves the way for true hands-off IT management. To truly drive hands-off, autonomous operations, IT leaders should tap a solutions provider that delivers end-to-end services by tightly integrating a SaaS-based monitoring and management portal supported by field technicians for on-site troubleshooting and resolution.
Schneider Electric, a dominant player in energy management and automation solutions, has considerable leadership in data center infrastructure management (DCIM). A trusted advisor with deep roots in industrial automation and data center management and operations, the company provides a suite of software solutions bundled with on-site support delivered by experienced technicians and environmental monitoring products. These transformative solutions enable organizations to gain operational efficiency and maximize uptime, which is impossible to achieve with a software-only approach. And even as more devices get added to your edge computing ecosystem, ITDMs can scale their hybrid strategy without hiring technical support staff to manage IT systems.
Here’s a look at three solutions to meet your varying edge infrastructure needs:
1. Extend visibility across multiple edge sites and mitigate downtime
As companies deal with leaner budgets, Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure IT ExpertOpens a new window — a proven, vendor-agnostic cloud-based remote monitoring and management platform gives complete visibility and control over power and networked critical infrastructure assets through a single dashboard supporting preventive maintenance without an additional technical workforce. As a result, the scalable pay-as-you-go software enables companies to extend visibility across multiple edge sites, remotely monitor IT systems’ real-time health, and proactively address equipment issues, reducing unscheduled downtime from anywhere and on any device. In addition, IT Operations and edge facility managers can correlate the data collected to make informed business decisions related to inventory management, patch management and retiring aging equipment. In short, a solution such as EcoStruxure IT Expert Opens a new window will give you increased operational efficiency, reduce the risk of false alarms by defining clear notification parameters, and lower security risks by ensuring devices are updated.
2. Advance IT service delivery with on-site support
Having access to machine data is only the start. Without the right technical resources and technicians, IT managers can’t establish effective preventive maintenance. If you prefer a hands-off approach, Schneider Electric’s Monitoring and Dispatch services Opens a new window help organizations with distributed IT infrastructure advance proactive device maintenance and management by benefiting from their extensive network of trained technicians. IT managers can now set up scheduled maintenance tasks through Monitoring and Dispatch services, significantly reducing time spent on troubleshooting malfunctioning hardware and maximizing uptime in edge environments.
Often, IT teams lack the expertise to remediate issues arising in operational technology (OT) ecosystems, such as faulty UPSs, leading to server downtime. Getting top-level technical support with spare parts the next business day for quick remediation can save costs, reduce the chance of unscheduled downtime and increase IT resiliency. Rather than investing limited resources in building up your OT talent, Schneider Electric’s software and on-site technical support allow organizations to stay behind the scenes and let technical experts monitor the fleet of IT assets across distributed sites around the clock and lower mean time to repair (MTTR).
3. Overcome physical threats and environmental risks at the edge
Most edge deployments present a slew of challenges to IT managers — disparate legacy systems, hybrid architecture with OT increasingly intersecting with IT technologies, and tight budgets. Now combine this with environmental threats — mechanical errors arising from heat, humidity, fluid, smoke or dust collecting in densely packed server rooms and network closets that can disrupt your IT infrastructure and halt business operations. The answer lies in an environmental monitoring and security solution that reduces threats in remote environments, improves asset utilization and helps IT managers get ahead in connected environments.
To protect the edge from physical threats and environmental hazards, a solution such as Schneider Electric’s NetBotz applianceOpens a new window , which comes with built-in sensors, access controls, and cameras, can help avoid security risks and increase equipment lifespan.
Bottom Line
Physical IT infrastructure has been a foundational layer within organizations since the very beginning. But as infrastructure ages and more devices are added to the legacy ecosystem, technical complexity grows, in turn, swelling OpEx and straining overwhelmed IT teams who can’t be present on-site all time to troubleshoot issues. As edge becomes a core element of digital strategy, ITDMs thinking of scaling distributed, physical architecture should prioritize smart automation platforms to embed the highest level of intelligence. This helps gain greater flexibility and address unplanned downtime over the long term. A comprehensive vendor-agnostic cloud-based platform can help overcome technical complexities, cut down on expensive third-party software licenses and centralize third-party device management of hybrid physical infrastructure.
Bundled IT automation solutions such as integrated EcoStruxureâ„¢ IT Expert and Monitoring and Dispatch services Opens a new window from Schneider Electric enable IT managers to create a scalable, resilient enterprise architecture, maximize uptime and maintain a high level of end-user satisfaction by increasing operational efficiency. Additionally, organizations can further simplify complex edge IT environments with scalable environmental monitoring solutions such as the NetBotz product line. By leaning on a single trusted advisor like Schneider Electric for remote management, maintenance and upgrade of distributed IT infrastructure at the edge, organizations can optimize their OpEx with software-as-a-service solutions.
Sources:
1 Data Center Downtime at the Core and the Edge by Ponemon Institute, 2021Opens a new window