NCN March 2018

THE UK’S NO.1 NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE MAGAZINE

Network Communications News

March 2018

Keep your cool!

Andrews Air Conditioning looks at the benefits of having a dependable back-up plan to secure your assets in a crisis

inside...

Data Centres Dynamically driven data

Switchers and Routers Seriously supportive hardware

Cable Management and Labelling Taming the tiger

CONTENTS

In this issue‌ Regulars

Knowledge Network

4 Editorial

14 Blended Connectivity

Power to the people

One of the biggest challenges facing businesses is the confusion regarding access to Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs) that is essential to support the deployment of IoT at scale. Nick Sacke of Comms365 explains

6 Industry News A network of international news

11 On the Case Deals and dollars

18 NCN Q&A Riding the transitional wave Alex Mawson, product director (voice services) at Daisy Group, gets personal

20 Project Focus Cavendish Communications used EnGenius products, supplied by technical distributor Solwise, to deliver the cutting-edge technology to a forward-looking school

6

16 Connected Care Nicole Hill, who leads the healthcare division at ALE, explains why now is the time to capitalise on connected care

36 Company Showcase New initiatives and innovation

38 Know How

32

Arthur D. Little knows a lot about the future

Cable Management & Labelling 32 Spaghetti Anyone?

Excel to the rescue, as the sheer abundance of today’s cables makes cable management an arduous challenge for all

34 Getting It Right First Time Cerberus Systems reviews a new innovative tool from IDEAL

14

@NCNMag 2 | March 2018

CONTENTS THE UK’S NO.1 NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE MAGAZINE

Network Communications News

March 2018

March 2018

Switches & Routers

Keep your cool!

Andrews Air Conditioning looks at the benefits of having a dependable back-up plan to secure your assets in a crisis

30 D-Link

inside...

Switchers and Routers

Data Centres

Seriously supportive hardware

Dynamically driven data

NCN takes a look under the hood of the new Gigabit stackable smart managed switches from D-Link

Cable Management and Labelling Taming the tiger

Editor-in-Chief: Daniel J Sait 01634 673163 | dan@allthingsmedialtd.com

Data Centres

Assistant Editor: Jessica Foreman 01634 673163 | jessica@allthingsmedialtd.com

Designer: Jon Appleton

22

2

22 The Rise of Hyperscale Data Centres Simon Bearne, commercial director at Next Generation Data, digs deep into the benefits of hyperscaleclass infrastructure

jon@allthingsmedialtd.com

Sales Director: Ian Kitchener 01634 673163 | ian@allthingsmedialtd.com

Studio Manager: Ben Bristow 01634 673163 | ben@allthingsmedialtd.com

Business Support Administrator: Carol Gylby

25 Keep Your Cool!

01634 673163 | carol@allthingsmedialtd.com

Carl Webb, HVAC & specialist hire director at Andrews Air Conditioning, explains the benefits of having a dependable back-up plan to secure your assets in a crisis

Managing Director: David Kitchener 01634 673163 | david@allthingsmedialtd.com

Accounts: 01634 673163 | susan@allthingsmedialtd.com

28 Change Is Coming Chris Wellfair, projects director at Secure I.T. Environments, takes a look at some of the key events and trends that are going to influence the data centre this year and beyond

16

www.networkcommunicationsnews.co.uk

ABC membership approved, pending first audit.

The editor and publishers do not necessarily agree with the views expressed by contributors, nor do they accept responsibility for any errors in the transmission of the subject matter in this publication. In all matters the editor’s decision is final. Editorial contributions to NCN are welcomed, and the editor reserves the right to alter or abridge text prior to publication. © Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.

Suite 14, 6-8 Revenge Road, Lordswood, Kent ME5 8UD T: +44 (0)1634 673163 | F: +44 (0)1634 673173

March 2018 | 3

EDITORIAL

A brave new world

R

ecently the whole DCN and NCN teams de-camped for two days to attend the Data Centre World trade show in London’s Excel centre in the heart of the capital’s regenerated docklands area. The theme of the show was of course looking forward to new abilities and opportunities that cuttingedge tech can provide. A highly suitable venue to examine just such a theme, as only a relatively few short years ago, the docklands area of London was completely different – being made up of housing and mostly disused dock side buildings. Your editor had a ring side seat at the transformation that occurred in the area, working on the site of Canary Wharf as it morphed from the old to the new.

Gleaming towers and smart office blocks replaced the bustling docks and residential areas of old. Aside from the physical changes, the most stark difference was the transformation from a place to live and work to a place mainly just to work. Yes there were the luxury apartment developments, but the age when the area was a significant residential site was gone. To many people at the time though, this was a shame and a mistake to not involve those who already lived in the area more in its transformation, and

4 | Marvh 2018

Daniel J Sait, editor-in-chief, ATM

this theme, once again, popped into the mind whilst chatting to people at the show. A big topic of conversation was of course the storm surrounding Facebook and Cambridge Analytica’s unauthorised accessing of personal data. It felt relevant to hark back to the transformation of the site we were standing in, as, once again, it was the ordinary members of the public who had been on the end of some poor decision making. We at NCN feel that technology has the power to free people and companies to make change for the better by engaging with and bringing along the people who make it all work, that’s you and me. Allowing people’s data to be used illegally, is not just wrong, it damages confidence in tech that can and should be making things better.

At the show we heard inspiring stories about how networks are helping to deliver education in hard to reach areas of the globe and how improved tech is helping to limit environmental impacts. We also learned how new AI’s could help transform working patterns and allow people to spend more time with their families, filing their lives with more meaning other than the cycle of travel, work, sleep, which let’s face it, if we could change, we would. But we can only change things for the better if we collaborate and not dictate what technology can and will do. Improvements in tech which create better lives have to include everyone other wise we are doomed to make the mistakes of the past and create yet more have and have nots, just this time in the digital sense.

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Shaping our industry. Enabling business growth. Getting you specified.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Trump puts an end to the Broadcom/Qualcomm saga We have closely followed this relationCHIP saga from its conception here at NCN; anticipating whether, or not, it had the potential to be one of the biggest tech deals the industry has ever seen. In the world’s race to create the new generation of wireless that is 5G, it has come as an unfortunate revelation that US President, Donald Trump, called time on the unfolding takeover on the grounds of national security.

The takeover, blocked by Trump, also came amid concerns that it would give China the upper hand in mobile communications. According to a White House official, the presidential order reflected a calculation that the United States, leader in creating technology and setting standards for the next generation of mobile phone communications, would be lost to China if Singapore-based Broadcom took over San Diego-based Qualcomm.

In his order, Trump cited ‘credible evidence’ that the proposed $140 billion (£100 billion) deal ‘threatens to impair the national security of the US’.

The potential takeover of Qualcomm

by Broadcom would have created the world’s third largest maker of microchips, securing a spot behind Intel and Samsung. In the chip-making sector, the race is on to develop chips for the latest 5G wireless, and Qualcomm is considered to be a leader, followed closely by Broadcom and China’s telecoms giant Huawei.

Analysts say Qualcomm is highly regarded for its commitment to research and development (R&D), particularly in the field of 5G technology; the same

of which is said about the equally committed Huawei. Broadcom, however, better known for selling assets and growing through acquisitions, it is deemed weaker in the field of R&D. With this in mind, analysts have acknowledged that a deal between Qualcomm and Broadcom could have given Huawei the chance to take over the top spot in years to come – a situation US politicians wanted to prevent, given their ongoing security concerns around Chinese telecom firms doing business with US carriers.

Others have speculated that Trump’s decision was more about competitiveness than security concerns. “ G i ve n t h e c u r re nt p o l i t i c a l c l i m ate i n t h e U S a n d ot h e r re g i o n s a ro u n d t h e wo r l d , eve r y o n e i s ta k i n g a m o re c o n s e r vat i ve v i ew o n m e rge r s a n d a c q u i s i t i o n s a n d p rote ct i n g t h e i r ow n d o m a i n s , ” s a i d M a r i o M o ra l e s , v i c e p re s i d e nt o f e n a b l i n g te c h n o l o g i e s a n d s e m i c o n d u cto r s at g l o b a l re s e a rc h f i r m I D C .

“We are all at the start of a race, and you have 5G as a crown jewel that everyone wants to participate in – and every region is racing towards that.”

M a r io a d d e d , “ S e mi co n d u cto r te c h no l o gy a n d co m p a n i e s l i ke Q u a l co m m w i l l b e a n i m p o r ta nt we a p o n in t h at 5 G a r ms ra c e [a n d ] t h e U S , l ike ot h e r n at i o n s a n d re g i o n s, wa nt s to b e f i r st . ” Could there be a pattern emerging in President Trump’s use of national security concerns as an international economic weapon?

Qualcomm, qualcomm.co.uk

5G going for gold at the Olympics A full two years before most of us are lucky enough to get our hands on the super fast future of wireless technology that is 5G, and it has already made its debut at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

But why choose to debut the fastest bit of tech at the games? Well, there is actually a surprising reason behind it. The countryside, surrounding the area where many tourists resided for the duration of the games, is prone to rampaging wild boars. Though this may sound like a somewhat bizarre threat, it is just that, a prominent and very serious hazard which has the potential to impact the safety and lives of civilians in the area.

Unlike 4G, 5G has the ability to relay information at a much faster rate, successfully warding off the porcine pests that roam the mountainous region. By employing a 5G network, the games have been able to deploy fastacting systems that shoot rays, spew gases and emit tiger roars.

But that was not all they used the new found wireless technology for.

Acknowledging that its commercial roll-out date is not set until 2020, the games boasted that 5G was used to run shuttle buses with no humans at the wheel and generate 360° images in real time, showing competing figure skaters as they glided around the ice.

Winning the race Fifth-generation wireless networks aren’t messing around, they are designed to be wicked fast – around 100 times faster than 4G. At 10 gigabits

6 | March 2018

INDUSTRY NEWS

Living up to the 5G hype

a second, 5G can send a full-length high definition movie in a matter of seconds. It also paves the way for the IoT, whereby devices from speakers to traffic lights, heck, even dog collars can talk to each other.

Everyone in the tech industry will be wanting a slice of the 5G pie and its capabilities. The super fast wireless technology is set to be, “Instrumental for developing artificial intelligence, drones, self-driving vehicles, robots and other machines that transmit massive data in real-time,” detailed Sandra Rivera, Intel Corp.’s Californiabased senior vice president overseeing network platforms.

“It really is, we call it, the era of machines,” said Sandra. “Machines are coming, and the 5G is a big enabler with that true convergence of computing and communications.”

If all the hype is to be believed, 5G is going to be a major milestone in human civilisation. There have already been countless promises as to what can be achieved through the technology, but the latest one will likely please users the most. That’s because a new report from mobile operator O2 suggests that 5G networks could actually save UK households money. In fact, an estimated £450 a year could be saved on energy, council, and food bills.

Those who have followed the hallowed promises of 5G may be rolling their eyes back into their heads at this latest revelation, but O2 has broken down its findings. Basically, the network believes that through 5G’s ability to enable smart grids, it could potentially save users money on their energy bills. That’s only part of the equation, however. The company also believes that users will be able to reduce their food waste with smart fridges.

O2’s most revolutionary saving could come from a reduction in council tax bills. While 2018 could see the largest council tax rise in many years for households across the UK, the operator legitimately believes this one is possible. Theoretically it could be, as 5G and smart city technology could save the council money, but that doesn’t mean the savings will be passed back to council tax payers.

Other highlights of O2’s Smart Cities Report include: 145 will be shaved off household £ energy bills through the introduction of 5G-enabled smart grids that drive dynamic pricing, enable better distribution, and allow consumers to choose where they buy energy.

ouseholds’ council tax bills will be H £66 less, if councils pass on the saving created through smart refuse collection.

H ouseholds will save an additional £236 by reducing food waste thanks to the introduction of smart fridges, which will send ‘shelfies’ of their contents to consumers’ smartphones, helping them avoid buying un-needed food.

C ar owners could save an additional £1,600 in annual fuel costs, when an extra 1.3 million electric cars are brought onto the roads by 2025 as a result of 5G-proofed energy grids, that can withstand mass charging of electric cars.

It’s not just houses saving money, however. Councils could also collectively save an annual £2.8 billion from 5G and smart technology, according to O2. These savings include: n £890 million reduction in social A care costs for those living alone such as the elderly, facilitated by 5G telehealth and monitoring. This will allow families and councils to consider alternatives to private residential care or employing carers.

T he introduction of commercial and residential smart refuse collection, which will save councils £1.8 billion.

E nergy savings of £91 million, facilitated by the adoption of smart LED street lighting, which can be dimmed or brightened remotely as needed – like Telefónica’s projects in Malaga and Santander.

O2, o2.co.uk

Current 5G real, or not real?

Chipmaker Qualcomm, without specifically naming the test at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, has said 5G is not real 5G – that won’t land until 2019. Qualcomm’s product marketing director Sherif Hanna affirmed, “A lot of the demonstrations right now are, not based on the global standard for 5G ratified by the 3GPP. It’s using a competing specification that was used by a few select operators, but not adopted as the global standard.”

Either way, 5G is on its way and it will definitely shake up wireless network connections as we know them.

Intel, intel.co.uk

March 2018 | 7

INDUSTRY NEWS

All change to the platform of free connectivity Thanks to an investment by the Welsh government of £1.5 million, passengers across wales can now enjoy free Wi-Fi connection on all Arriva Trains Wales (ATW). And it’s not just the more modern trains either, the entirety of the ATW fleet has been retrofitted to provide this free-to-use Wi-Fi service including Pacer trains, Class 153’s and the carriages used on the north-south Express.

In order to maximise on this new service, Arriva will be running awareness campaigns for passengers, this campaign includes handing out free ‘I love free Wi-Fi’ chocolate treats during peak interchanges.

The WG’s economy and transport Secretary, Ken Skates, said, “This rollout should be a real boon to commuters and business users alike. I expect it to make a real contribution to our ambitions for a growing economy, with strong businesses in productive regions set out our Prosperity for All Economic Action Plan.

“Importantly, our investment means that Pacer trains, Class 153’s, and the carriages used on our north-south Express all now have free-to-use Wi-Fi for all passengers. These trains amount to almost one-third of the fleet.

“Passengers across the Valley Lines and West Wales – including the Heart of Wales line – will now benefit from this vital connectivity. This is another example of our strong record of investment in the current rail franchise where we continue to fund additional services and capacity across Wales.”

Adding to this, Tom Joyner, managing director for Arriva Trains Wales said, “The fact all our customers will be able to use our free Wi-Fi on every single one of our trains is brilliant news and we are delighted to mark the completion of the project.

“We kn ow how impo r ta nt co nne ct iv it y is a nd bei ng able to be product ive d u r ing y o u r j o u r ne y , che c k yo ur o nwa rd trave l p l a ns o r s im p l y c atc h u p on s ocia l media will m a ke a re a l d if fe re nc e to ou r cu sto mers .

“Customers have frequently been asking for Wi-Fi on-board our trains and this has been a really significant project which has taken careful planning and hundreds of staff hours to deliver successfully without impacting on services.”

ATW, arrivatrainswales.co.uk

Head in the clouds In advance of exhibiting at Cloud Expo Europe, IDE revealed some shocking statistics associated with cloud; revealing that many companies, 76% to be exact, are unable to control their cloud services and shape them to meet changing needs.

Accompanying this finding, research uncovered that relatively few companies (26%) feel able to conclude that their cloud strategy has been totally successful in achieving their targeted objectives.

Prior to exhibiting at Cloud Expo Europe, which took place at the ExCel London, March 21-22, IDE Group polled 100 IT managers at UK companies of between 500 and 5,000 employees, all of which had deployed at least one cloud service. The company says that the questions posed in the research study were focused on the prevalence and significance of challenges in real world cloud environments related to control of services.

Other key findings from the research study include: 4% have implemented a hybrid cloud solution, of which 68% don’t 6 have full oversight and control of their cloud services W hen considering control of multiple cloud services, the biggest areas of concern are security and sovereignty of data (75%) A t 55%, access to information is the second biggest area of concern 9 3% would value a service giving effective control over multiple cloud services “Maintaining complete control over cloud services is fundamental to aligning tactics with strategy and delivering the outcomes that companies want,” said Merlin Gillespie, strategy director at IDE Group.

“Our research shows significant gaps in control, often originating right at the start of a company’s cloud journey and widening as their environment becomes more complex.”

“Lack of control means companies struggle to optimise cloud service operations on a day to day basis, as well as not being able to adapt them to meet longer term needs. Unsurprisingly, the expected business outcomes of the cloud have not fully materialised for many of our respondents.”

A full report presenting the findings of IDE Group’s research can be downloaded from the company website. IDE says readers will discover the prevalence of common challenges that companies face in respect to controlling their cloud environments. They will also learn how matching individual workloads to the right cloud services delivers better service to users, and understand the significance of environment-wide cloud control in achieving business outcomes and minimising total cost of ownership.

IDE, idegroup.com

8 | March 2018

INDUSTRY NEWS

A smart, sustainable ‘Gigabit city’ VXFIBER, the Swedish provider of Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) Open Access solutions, has partnered with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to roll out Gigabit full fibre connectivity to residents and businesses.

With an initial project in the city’s Enterprise Zone, the rollout of a full city-wide fibre network is a vital part of Stoke-on-Trent’s move towards becoming a smart, sustainable ‘Gigabit city’.

As part of an initial project Stoke-on-Trent City Council said it plans to extend full-fibre Gigabit connectivity to the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone, one of 26 enterprise zones across the UK. Ceramic Valley is a 140 hectare site with excellent road and rail connectivity in a strategic central location with access to the whole UK. The enterprise zone is transforming brownfield land into sites tailor-made for businesses to locate to and has so far attracted more than 1,000 jobs.

“Stoke-on-Trent has a brilliant central geographic location, which is boosting its economic growth beyond what much of the rest of the UK is experiencing at the moment. We’re in the top 10 fastest growing economies outside of London, we already have some of the fastest average 4G mobile download speeds in the country, and are developing an innovative district heat network to supply sustainable energy to business and residents.

“We’re serious about becoming a sustainable, smart city.

However, the traditional part copper based broadband offering currently available simply isn’t good enough to keep pace with the fast-changing connectivity demands of today’s increasingly digital society and economy,” explained councillor Abi Brown, deputy leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Under the scheme, Stoke-on-Trent City Council says it will retain complete ownership of the city ring fibre network; it already owns the main ducts across the city and will utilise these to connect all parts of the city. VXFIBER role will be to ‘light up’ the fibre and supply the platform for operators and service providers to build and launch their own services to run over the network. The VXFIBER platform is set to enable the Council to monetise its infrastructure and receive a return on its investment in a completely open access ecosystem where all service providers are welcome to deliver their services.

The VXFIBER Open Access platform aims to deliver better value and reduced service delivery costs for Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which is in line with its objective to support disadvantaged citizens with affordable broadband access. Broadband plays an increasingly important role for delivering benefits online to those who cannot collect them in person.

The open access VXFIBER platform will also encourage healthy competition among service providers, whilst giving the users wider choice. It will provide a level playing field for operators and service providers of all sizes – including smaller, independent regional players – to host their services on and compete on features and price.

VXFIBER, vx.se

Bargain Bandwidth After a number of delays, the UK’s first auction of 5G spectrum is underway, with five bidders hoping to secure a share of the spoils.

EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone will all be bidding, alongside small cell operator Airspan. Fixed wireless broadband operator, Connexin, was also approved as a bidding participant, but withdrew from the process last week.

But what is it that these major players are bidding for ? Well, up for grabs is 40MHz worth of the 2.3GHz airwaves, which can be used right away to support existing 4G services, and 150MHz of 3.4GHz of bandwidth that is earmarked for 5G in 2020.

A fair spectrum cap The auction is the first to be subject to Ofcom’s new spectrum cap. The regulator says its intends to limit any one operator to just 255MHz of ‘immediately usable’ spectrum (800MHz, 900MHz, 1,400MHz, 1,800MHz, 2,100MHz and 2.6GHz) and 340MHz of all airwaves available in the UK – in effect a cap of 37%.

BT-EE already has its hands on 255MHz, and as a result will be unable to bid for the 2.3GHz band, however it is free to compete for the 3.4GHz spectrum. As a further example, Vodafone has 176MHz therefore would be limited to 85MHz of each; while Airspan, Three and O2 have no restrictions.

The auction will comprise two stages. The first, determines how much spectrum has been won by each bidder, and the second, will determine where in each band this is located. Notably the process could take several weeks.

Ofcom has been keen to stress that its role is to maximise the efficiency of the spectrum and its value to society – not to raise revenue. There were some suggestions that the £2.31 billion raised by the 2013 auction of 4G spectrum was disappointing given that some estimates were as high as £4 billion.

Many industry observers have expressed that they are wary and did not want a repeat of the infamous 3G auction in 2000. This auction generated £22 billion for the treasury and restricted the ability of operators to invest in infrastructure.

“Our job is to release these airwaves quickly and efficiently, and we want to see them in use as soon as possible,” said Philip Marnick, Ofcom’s spectrum group director.

“We are glad the auction is now underway. This spectrum will help improve people’s experience of using mobile broadband today, and also help companies prepare for future 5G services.”

Ofcom, ofcom.org.uk

March 2018 | 9

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ON THE CASE

Scouting for an NFV future NetScout System, a provider of business assurance, service assurance, cybersecurity, and business intelligence solutions, has announced a new multiyear agreement with VodafoneZiggo to support its Network Function Virtualization (NFV) transformation. NetScout said it will deliver end-to-end visibility and analytics into VodafoneZiggo’s converged, hybrid network to ensure the seamless delivery of services.

VodafoneZiggo is a joint venture of Liberty Global, the American telecommunications giant, and Vodafone Group. VodafoneZiggo is said to provide fixed, mobile, and integrated communication and entertainment services to consumers and businesses in the Netherlands.

“We chose NetScout after a comprehensive review because its software-based architecture delivers unprecedented flexibility. A single platform with multiple deployment options, NetScout’s solution is designed specifically for mixed environments like ours. As VodafoneZiggo heads toward an NFV future, it is critical that our customers

continue to enjoy a high-quality, seamless experience with our services. NetScout’s real-time network and customer intelligence gives us the granularity required to make it actionable, ensuring an outstanding customer experience as we transform our network infrastructure,” said Matthias Sauder, director of mobile networks, VodafoneZiggo.

“The same NFV and virtualisation technologies that drive service agility also bring significant challenges to identifying network and service performance. NFV networks do not usually operate in isolation, but rather work alongside existing physical network functions. With 360° visibility across the entire network, VodafoneZiggo can rely on our solution to rapidly pinpoint the exact location of an issue, wherever it occurs.

By selecting to partner with NetScout, VodafoneZiggo can move ahead with its NFV transformation with the confidence that new and existing services and applications are performing optimally,” said Anil Singhal, co-founder, president, and CEO, NetScout.

NetScout professed that its NFV assurance solution is designed specifically for service providers that are seeking to embrace NFV transformation by deploying network functions with little to no disruption to business practices, or the customers they serve. The company said the solution is three-fold: ne platform, multiple O deployment options.

Complete network visibility.

Power ful analytics.

NetScout netscout.com

Expanding market reach Aryaka, global SD-WAN provider, revealed that Cambridgebased Intergence will deploy Aryaka’s global SD-WAN solution in order to enhance global connectivity and application performance for its enterprise customers with offices in the UK and Europe. Through its partnership with Aryaka, Intergence’s infrastructure services proposition for its global enterprise customers is set to strengthen.

Intergence comprises a team of IT infrastructure experts that aim to help organisations realise their digital transformation objectives. Formed in 2003, the company say it uses innovative technologies like its Stratiam solution to provide CIOs with insights about IT performance and the customer’s digital experiences, and to simplify complex IT problems. Intergence proclaims that its infrastructure services provide IT leaders with greater flexibility, agility and cost efficiency.

The purpose of the partnership is to enable Intergence to provide global enterprises with significantly faster and more consistent application performance, as well as direct access

to cloud/SaaS services. It also intends to allow enterprises to reduce network maintenance and management hassles, increase agility, and save costs compared to legacy network architectures. For Aryaka, however, the partnership will represent further expansion of the company’s market footprint in the UK and EMEA regions.

“Intergence only works with best-of-breed technology partners, so when it came to improving WAN performance for our global clients, we wanted to work with an SD-WAN vendor that could really deliver fast and consistent performance for business-critical applications,” said Dave Poulton, Intergence’s CTO. “With its own global private network, guaranteed network uptime, and built-in WAN optimisation and application acceleration, Aryaka is a game-changer when it comes to global SD-WAN performance – effectively delivering the kind of connectivity that today’s cloud services and SaaS applications require.”

“Businesses in the UK and EMEA that are expanding internationally and migrating applications to the cloud need reliable SLA-based network connectivity and better application performance,” said Claudio Perugini, senior vice president of global channels at Aryaka. “For Intergence and its global enterprise customers, Aryaka’s global SD-WAN solution delivers the reliability and security of a cloud-native private network, application acceleration, and the flexibility and fast deployment of SD-WANs to achieve their business execution needs. Further, due to Aryaka’s as-a-service model, companies can acquire SD-WAN in the same way they buy cloud services today, using a consumption model.”

Aryaka aryaka.com

March 2018 | 11

ON THE CASE

ON THE CASE

Preferred platform and premier partner Opengear, provider of solutions that deliver secure, resilient network access and automation to critical IT infrastructure, has announced Flow Communications as its latest premier partner in the UK. Flow Communications, a network and security solutions provider, said its preliminary focus was on addressing the IT demands of the UK’s leading organisations. Flow recognises that it has strategic relationships with global vendors within the sector, as well as prominent connections with emerging vendors which provides the optimum solution to meet its customer requirements.

“We are proud to announce Flow Communications as our latest premier par tner in the UK, along with the kick-off of our first joint marketing campaign.

With their established position as a trusted supplier of Cisco, Palo Alto, Gigamon, Juniper, and other leading network devices, Flow is a natural par tner for the Opengear out-of-band solution” explained Derek Watkins, VP sales EMEA for Opengear. The campaign is said to include a significant market development budget to help generate leads through jointly run direct and indirect tele, and social media marketing, along with an educational seminar program.

“The market for critical infrastructure management has grown consistently over the last few years, and the prevalence of technologies such as 4G have opened up new opportunities for remote out-ofband, offering more flexibility and lower cost than legacy ISDN or DSL backup connections,” detailed Derek. “Working closely with Flow Communications, we aim to reach out to more mid–market organisations that may have an outdated notion of the scope and capability of modern solutions.”

Hertfordshire-based Flow Communications has proclaimed that it has maintained a 97% customer retention rate over its 9-year history through quality of service and an unprecedented focus on ‘customer intimacy’ with midmarket enterprise clients.

“Opengear has proven to be an incredibly focused and knowledgeable vendor to work with that has helped us deliver several significant client wins as well as an impressive attitude towards support,” explained Nick Sonigra, managing director for Flow Communications.

Alongside a shared customer-centric attitude, Nick alluded to the strength of the Opengear products. Of which include the seamless failover to 4G for outof-band communication, along with its power ful Lighthouse 5; which provides a centralised management portal not only for Opengear devices, but also supports many non-Opengear console servers, including Cisco and Vertiv devices.

Opengear opengear.com

A Mobile fleet modernisation Daisy Group, a B2B telecoms, IT and cloud service provider, has secured a new contract to supply mobile services to Hydrock, the UK-based multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy, providing services to the built environment across the UK.

The agreement, wor th £200,000 over the course of a twoyear term, is said to see Daisy upgrade Hydrock’s mobile fleet used by its engineers. The move aims to boost the company’s customer ser vice and add flexibility to Hydrock’s mobile offering, with the choice of O2 and Vodafone as carriers.

The agreement will mean that Daisy Group should benefit from more flexibility and an improved customer service; whilst, an upgraded mobile fleet means Hydrock can effectively and securely mobilise its staff across the UK. As well as this, the deal will reduce costs for Hydrock by improving efficiency, while helping it to improve customer response times. Daisy says it will provide ongoing support.

Carl Boughton, senior field account manager, Daisy Group said, “We are delighted to announce a new partnership with Hydrock. The company will benefit from reduced overall operation costs and improved customer communications by Daisy upgrading its mobile fleet.”

Daisy Group daisygroup.com

12 | March 2018

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KNOWLEDGE NETWORK

Bandwidth is useful, but IoT is far more impactful

Blended connectivity: the key to unlocking iot at scale One of the biggest challenges facing businesses is the confusion regarding access to Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWANs) that is essential to support the deployment of IoT at scale. Nick Sacke, head of IoT and products at telecommunications service provider Comms365 takes a look at the issues.

A

t a time when organisations are being actively encouraged by the government to invest in innovation to drive up productivity, the continued prioritisation of broadband as a digital economy enabler is shortsighted. IoT is a technology that is set to deliver far more value than many of the high bandwidth applications can – and the lack of availability is a concern.

All is not lost however.

LPWAN roll out is a constantly

14 | March 2018

changing situation, with both network standards and network deployments, licensed and unlicensed, still evolving. It is also a buyer’s market: there are a number of propositions ready that will enable organisations to leverage IoT and gain a competitive advantage. It is the independent providers, able to provide access to a blended network model, who will enable not only IoT at scale today, but also provide a long term solution that will drive new levels of efficiency and customer service.

Competitive disadvantage The state of IoT in the UK in 2018 is frustrating. While industry giants are making huge investments in hardware, software and database platforms, as well as unlicensed networks – both low power networks LoRaWAN and SigFox – the under investment in cellular LPWAN in the UK is a concern.

While progress in mainland Europe is patchy, with national LPWANs already in place across many countries, including the Netherlands and France, and licensed cellular variants such

KNOWLEDGE NETWORK as NB-IoT being rolled out across Eastern Europe, it is the unlicensed LPWANs – generally LoRaWAN – that are being rolled out fastest.

In contrast, the UK is largely lagging behind, there is no cellular LPWAN (or NB-IoT) technology being rolled out in any shape or form and the unlicensed variant being rolled out by SigFox will not deliver end-to-end coverage before the end of 2018. Where, you may ask, are the UK network operators? The answer, although not in the UK; Vodafone’s NBIoT project, for example, is being piloted in Ireland and Spain, with no plans announced for any UK deployment as yet.

There is, therefore, a risk that companies will hang back on crucial IoT investment until this confusing situation is resolved.

Need to blend However, it is also fair to say that there is, as yet, no single global network that can support all IoT deployment requirements. From cost to scale and architecture, the level of market segmentation globally is creating huge challenges for organisations planning future developments – not least of IoT at scale across national borders.

The problem is that with roll out of both licensed and unlicensed variants typically country by country, there is a clear need for cross-border roaming agreements, something that is only now beginning to be discussed. So, what are the options for multi-national businesses that require a seamless, pan-country IoT deployment to achieve, for example, end-to-end cold chain tracking or seamless asset management across Europe?

And how can UK businesses avoid lagging behind? To gain the benefits that IoT can deliver, a new model is required; one that can manage and blend a number of different networks, such as cellular and satellite – and agreements to achieve IoT at scale.

But this is a constantly changing situation, with the evolution of both network standards and network deployments, both licensed and unlicensed. Given the potential longevity of these IoT deployments, it is essential to future proof as far as possible. How, for example,

can an organisation achieve coverage without the IoT roaming agreements that have been standard in the cellular world for many years? How will the cost vary for different devices when connecting to a cellular versus a satellite network, or an LPWAN? What are the sensor options?

Consultative approach

“IoT is a technology that is set to deliver far more value than many of the high bandwidth applications can – and the lack of availability is a concern.”

Organisations need to embrace a consultative approach in order to understand the new complexity created by a blended network model. Right now, there is a patchwork quilt of no connectivity, some connectivity and full connectivity. To achieve full coverage, companies must invest in multiple networks to achieve a seamless solution. Plus, with many projects set to last five to ten years, it is essential to avoid tie in to specific networks.

To address this issue, sensor manufacturers are now creating hybrid devices that support more than one network, for example LoraWAN and cellular, giving companies the chance to move onto a new network as it is rolled out, rather than face expensive retrofitting of devices. Hybrid software gateways are also being developed, offering organisations a chance to support multiple networks. There is a cost implication but options are evolving to enable organisations to deploy IoT at scale across a blended network.

What has become very clear over the past few months is that successful IoT deployment now demands a robust ecosystem of expert companies, including sensor manufacturers and service providers, working together to

drive both standards and best practice deployment methodology across a blended network model.

This ecosystem needs to align, not around a network operator as in the past, but around a service provider able to integrate multiple different network types; phase networks out and in as they evolve; and with the commercial strength to support the customer over the longevity of the contract.

So where now?

While there is a concern that a lack of direction and confusion is creating a delay in IoT activity, this has become a buyer’s market. There are a number of propositions ready that will enable organisations to leverage IoT and gain a competitive advantage.

Blending together the network fabric in a way that ensures the IoT deployment can flex to the new platforms as they are rolled out, can enable not only IoT at scale today, but also provide a long term solution that will drive new levels of efficiency and customer service.

With network carriers continuing to focus on single network architectures, IoT at scale will now be enabled by a growth of independent providers able to provide access to multiple network architectures at one point, as well as proactively manage the traffic flow to the right destination as required. Essentially, it is service providers providing a blended network, with a single cost model and a single cross border Service Level Agreement that are set to enable IoT deployment.

Comms365 01234 865 880, comms365.com

How will UK companies keep up?

March 2018 | 15

KNOWLEDGE NETWORK

Connected care Healthcare’s second wave of digitisation moves beyond electronic medical records (EMRs), with technology that touches every step of the patient journey. Nicole Hill, who leads the healthcare division at ALE, explains why now is the time to capitalise on connecting healthcare facilities through a strategy for the digital transformation of healthcare providers.

H

ealthcare is going through a digital transformation of its own, with new technology, such as wearables, telemedicine, and IoT connectivity making its way into hospitals, clinics and care homes. Introducing this kind of new technology aims to optimise care pathways, reducing average hospital stays and improving patient welfare. Plans to improve connectivity in a healthcare environment is all well and good, however, without the right infrastructure in place to support new devices and applications, the

16 | March 2018

limitations of existing systems will hinder technology adoption, and the weaknesses in security will be laid bare. The inadequacy of current infrastructures have already been emphasised by recent attacks on the NHS in the UK and data breaches in the US. Nicole Hill of ALE is responsible for leading the worldwide AlcatelLucent Enterprise Healthcare business

Beyond hospital borders Healthcare providers are not immune from the rise in patient expectations when it comes to technology.

Patients now have access to a wide range of medical information online and are accustomed to digital services and connectivity.

The challenge for many healthcare providers today is to meet these digital service expectations while using enhanced connectivity to promote better health outcomes.

The answer lies in using technology to develop an optimised care pathway – one that reaches right across the healthcare ecosystem for a continuum of care. This means connecting with patients outside hospital or clinic boundaries through fast-response contact centres, automated patient reminders to cut down missed appointments, video diagnoses, and remote monitoring or health tracking.

KNOWLEDGE NETWORK The Internet of Healthcare Things On-site, any care pathway must presume the default mode of connecting most devices on the network are going to be wireless.

User devices such as workstations on wheels, tablets and smartphones, and clinical devices, such as mobile image capture, infusion pumps and location tags, all rely on being mobile and connected to the network.

Caregivers can’t be in two places at once, but with the right applications and tools, nurses can monitor wards and patient events 24/ 7. Simplified bedside voice and text communications, or integrated notification and alarm systems, can send information straight to caregivers’ workstations or mobile devices, meaning round-the-clock care, at the desk or on the move.

Clinicians can access EMRs at the bedside or easily connect and collaborate with colleagues without having to return to their desks. Not only does this save caregivers valuable time, it also streamlines patient care by communicating crucial clinical information to team members, regardless of location.

C on n ectin g depa r tm e nt s and staf f with enterpris e grad e m o bil e co l l a borat io n wil l be as i mpo r ta nt a s a rel ia b l e I oT conn ectivity, which is ce ntral to pro perl y s up p o r t ing mu lt i d i s cipl in a ry hea l th c a re a nd opt i mi sin g s taf f workfl ows .

Keep IT simple From a user perspective, IT needs to be intuitive or you risk alienating some of your patients and staff. This means simple but secure internet access on the front-end, where the needs of both patient and staff are met. But, behind the scenes, IT needs to be tightly controlled and delivered without a disruptive impact on critical network services – making sure authorised users can always access the resources they need.

With the right approach, access to networks and data can be based on set user profiles and predefined policies. The right people – and only the right people – can access and record information securely or use the

applications and tools they need on their mobile or fixed devices.

The IT department has the network visibility to see all the traffic and users, prioritise devices and applications, reserve or limit bandwidth, or blacklist devices.

ALE recognises the importance of connecting with patients outside hospital or clinic boundaries enabling an optimised care pathway

Security, under the knife If it wasn’t before, it’s now very clear that hospitals and care providers are not exempt from the threat of cyberattacks, which can result in stolen data or disrupted operations – just think WannaCry! Network security remains an aspect healthcare providers are struggling with. This is because the traditional approach to infrastructure design is to have separate network silos for different departments – such as biomedical devices, security, patients, and clinicians all on separate subsystems – and there is no overall view of ‘the network’. This respective approach is no longer considered a realistic option.

Connected healthcare devices need to be secured, but expanding separate networks to support all these new devices will be a managerial and financial nightmare. Moving these onto a single IP-based network offers significant maintenance and management benefits, as long as it is deployed in a secure way.

One of the core principles behind this is network segmentation – or IoT containerisation.

“The challenge for many healthcare providers today is to meet these digital service expectations while using enhanced connectivity to promote better health outcomes.

T h i s i s a met h o d of creati n g v i r t u a l e nv i ro n m e nt s on a s i n gle n et wo r k i nf ra st r u ct u re where e a c h v i r t u a l I o T ‘ co ntai n er’ c a n a ct a s i t s ow n n etwork, w h e re u se r s c a n o n l y i nteract o r ma n a ge d ev i c e s w i thi n t h at v i r t u a l e nv i ro n ment. For exa m p l e , t h e se c u r i t y team’s ‘ co nta i n e r ’ mi g ht i n c l ude the I P c a me ra s a n d a l a r m sys tems , b ut t h e se w i l l o n l y b e a cc es s i b le to a u t h o r i se d u se r s f rom that te a m . A s we l l a s c re ati n g an o pt i mi se d e nv i ro n m e nt to run co n n e cte d h e a l t h c a re dev i ces , a n y co m p ro mi se d d ev i ce won ’t sp re a d t h e t h re at to other co nta i n e r s, l i mi t i n g a breach i n a wo r st - c a se sc e n a r i o .

Giving healthcare a check-up There is huge potential for improved connectivity to have a massive impact in healthcare and help create positive outcomes for patients. Healthcare providers have the opportunity to put the right tools in the hands of caregivers, and deploy a network infrastructure capable of supporting them. To build optimised care pathways, and provide patients with an optimised healthcare journey, requires an approach to digital transformation which provides mobility, connectivity and security every step of the way.

ALE al-enterprise.com

March 2018 | 17

Q&A

Riding the transitional wave Alex Mawson, product director (Voice Services) at Daisy Group , independent unified communications provider, gets in on NCN’s QnA action.

What are you up to today?

Today I am reviewing the group voice services roadmap for 2018, ensuring that our projects are on track. In addition, I also head up our telecom fraud department and have a number of ongoing discussions with suppliers; assessing how we can look to improve our ability to detect and stop telecom fraud within our various business divisions.

How and why did you pursue a career in the Data/Comms industry?

From an early age I had an interest in technology, I studied computer science before falling into an IT role in a small business. The rest, as they say, is history. As the business grew so did my role, this was mostly a result of the growing reliance on IT systems, with data becoming more and more prominent too.

Starting in a small business, and growing with it, allowed me to get involved in many areas of IT and general business management – so I guess you could say that I have developed an all-round set of IT skills. I left my role of IT manager to join Daisy as a technical director when it started in 2001. As my previous experience in IT included managing the systems and connectivity for a large distributed contact centre, this gave me good insight and grounding in telecoms.

What project/work achievement are you most proud of in your career and why?

I have managed many projects within my career – far too many to mention in fact! I led the migration of Daisy’s WLR assets to WLR3 back in 2010, which was a huge undertaking and one which, to this day, still stands out.

18 | March 2018

Being part of the ‘Daisy journey’ over the past 18 years makes me feel very proud also.

Additionally, I thoroughly enjoy working with people and seeing them develop and progress. So, I guess, my answer here would be that I feel most proud when I see people I have worked with and assisted in their personal development achieving success and recognition.

“IP Voice has been the talk of many in the communications industry for years, and, after what seems like an age, we are now riding the transitional wave.”

What is one thing you’re tired of hearing either at work or about your job?

“It’s not my job…”

What is your favourite piece of technology right now?

A Google Home speaker – you can ask it anything and it gives you an answer and doesn’t argue or want a debate about it!

What product/s or concepts do you think will be the next big thing in the industry?

IP Voice has been the talk of many in the communications industry for years, and, after what seems like an age, we are now riding the transitional wave. The next big thing appears to be SD-WAN. With more and more ser vices becoming cloud-delivered, being able to control and manage the ser vices and data flow will become more critical.

You can invite three people living or dead out for a pint or over for dinner (not including family & friends) Who are they and why?

Winston Churchill – he is such a huge part of British history, it would be good to see who the man was under the image he portrayed and what inspired him.

Elvis Presley – a true showman, who appeared to be an engaging character. I am sure Elvis could talk for hours about his life and who he had met, maybe even sing the odd song.

Billy Connolly – my favourite comedian of all time.

Comedy is my preferred form of entertainment and I am sure the ‘Big Yin’ would have the table in stitches… Obviously between the odd Elvis tune!

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PROJECT FOCUS

A class apart Cavendish Communications used EnGenius products, supplied by technical distributor Solwise, to deliver the cutting edge technology this forward-looking school needed.

B

ishop David Brown School, part of the Unity Schools Trust, is a mixed secondary school on the outskirts of Woking, and with 575 students it is rapidly expanding. A refurbishment project was completed in August 2016. The refurbishment included an extension to provide two new classrooms, four new science laboratories, two ICT rooms, a

20 | March 2018

textiles classroom, as well as the refurbishment of ten English and maths classrooms.

At the heart of the refurbishment was the requirement for a new Wi-Fi system. This was designed to replace an existing solution that was poorly performing and not meeting the teaching requirements for an ever-expanding number of pupils. The student’s IT requirements were becoming more

intensive with new client devices being added to the network on a monthly basis. In addition to that, there was also a requirement for outdoor Wi-Fi to cover the external playing fields and gardens for ‘Sports Day’ and other potential learning activities.

Several manufacturers were invited to tender, including Ruckus, Meru and EnGenius.

The criteria were for site-wide coverage with fast handover to

PROJECT FOCUS

such as client fingerprinting, captive portal, network troubleshooting and its in-built roaming protocols. This ensured it met all the needs of Bishop David Brown School, allowing it to carry the teaching needs into the future.

The EnGenius Neutron Solution included the EWS360AP, which is a three-stream AC indoor access point with the ac radio offering 1.3Gbps throughput. For the outdoor requirement, the EWS660AP was selected, this unit also offers AC Wi-Fi at 1.3Gbps.

Both the indoor and outdoor access points can be managed either by a controller or the free ezMaster VMware management software, which is able to control in excess of 10,000 concurrent users and 1,000 access points. Ongoing firmware upgrades are free for life, and the school will also receive a

“At the heart of the refurbishment was the requirement for a new Wi-Fi system.”

EnGenius offered a strong price to performance ratio

limited lifetime warranty, as well as no licensing fees, saving valuable IT spend for other projects The installation by Cavendish Communications was rolled out over the half term holiday, with a total of 38 access points installed. All the access points were pre-configured off-site, saving valuable time once the installation was underway. The full EnGenius Neutron Solution was up and running the same day!

Bishop David Brown’s ICT technician John Dickinson comments, “The EnGenius Wi-Fi was up and running in just one day. There were no problems and it has per formed exactly as we were told. There has been a good cost saving to the school, enabling us to buy more.”

Solwise 01482 672872, solwise.co.uk Cavendish Communications 01273 615600, cavcoms.com

ensure seamless roaming. It also had to have the ability to handle intensive usage by multiple classrooms. Full surveys were conducted across the site by the various manufacturers, and the proposals presented to the Board of Governors.

The EnGenius WLAN Solution offered the best price and performance, and with its full feature set of management controls and statistic gathering,

March 2018 | 21

DATA CENTRES

Hyperscale facilities have to be highly connected, served by diverse high speed low latency fibre networks

The rise of hyperscale data centres What was once the exclusive preserve of major internet and cloud service providers, is now becoming more accessible to colocation business users.

Simon Bearne, commercial director at Next Generation Data, digs deep into the benefits of hyperscale-class infrastructure.

A

ccording to recent research findings from the Cisco Global Cloud Index (20162021) hyperscale data centres are experiencing quite an exponential growth surge; with the relatively small number in existence today expected to climb to over 600 by 2021. Alongside this projection Cisco has anticipated that these super-sized facilities, also known as mega data centres, will account for 65% of all data deployed globally, handling the vast majority (94%) of workloads and compute instances.

22 | March 2018

Hyperscale facilities were born out of necessity; designed to support the massively scalable architectures of the global web, social media and cloud providers.

These have, and continue to be, at the forefront of driving hyperscale data centre build outs. It has, in fact, become so commonplace that hardly a day to goes by without an announcement by one or another of them to reveal plans for expanding their regional data centre presence. They build them, or in a few cases turn to mega data colocation providers, to seamlessly provision essential

compute, memory, network and storage capacity when and wherever needed. In some cases this entails thousands, even millions, of interconnected servers being deployed around the world.

Beyond all the hype Hyperscale data centres are increasingly strategic to the worldwide digital economy, with their rise owing much to the need for significantly larger and highly secure facilities – hosting exponential growth in web, mobile and public cloud applications and

DATA CENTRES ser vices. But that is not all they are essential for, hyperscale data centres are also vital for powering and cooling the specialist high density environments required for H i gh Per fo rma n ce C o m p u t ing ( H PC ) , s uch a s tho s e d e p l o y e d by sc i e ntific res ea rch and fi nanc i a l s er vices organis at io ns .

A lso Bi g Data a pplicatio ns , wh e re t hey are n eeded for ma na ging t he vas t data s to ra ge a nd analy ti ca l requirements c re ate d by t he Internet of Thing s (Io T ) and edge co mputin g.

As the nervous system of the digital universe, hyperscale facilities have to be highly connected, served by diverse high speed low latency fibre networks capable of receiving and sending large volumes of data around the globe in a matter of milliseconds.

By default they are points of presence (PoPs) for leading international carriers and provide access to hundreds of ISPs. Deployment of cloud gateways that bypass the public internet and connect directly into public cloud subsea cable infrastructure, such as Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute, is also a prerequisite.

Furthermore, as they have emerged as the focal points for carriers, ISPs and internet exchanges, hyperscale data centre owners, operators and users are taking more control over the location and specification of global telecom networks.

With this shift in the status quo, carriers and network providers can no longer assume the leading role. The growing flexibility surrounding location is being helped significantly by the rapidly falling cost of fibre connectivity, allowing the construction of much larger facilities well away from city locations, where space and power is often constrained and real estate is more expensive.

Power and energy efficiency Power and connectivity are inextricably linked in hyperscale data centres. While multiple, high speed data networks are their lifeblood, it is power, and plenty of it, which makes high volume data storage and processing possible. The high density racks required to perform such tasks pull considerable amounts of power, so

an abundant and reliable supply is critical. Connection directly to a national grid can significantly boost reliability and ensure a smoother transmission.

Hyperscale data centres are also bringing into sharper focus power usage effectiveness (PUE).

With cooling typically accounting for 30-40 % of a typical data centre’s total energy bill, the more that can be done to optimise and reduce energy consumption and emissions the better; such as using liquid cooling, installing predictive cooling systems, deploying hot and cold aisle containment, more energy efficient servers, and intelligent energy management systems.

Finally, being able to generate most, or all, power from renewables is a further major requirement in light of increasingly rigorous environmental compliance demanded by governments, campaigners and customers.

Acquiring a piece of the pie On paper, the requirement for more hyperscale facilities offers significant opportunities for colocation providers hoping to gain a slice of the market. However, speaking from our own knowledge and experience, designing, building and operating data centres of this scale and calibre is not for the faint hearted.

Highly specialised construction and electro-mechanical engineering is essential and requires considerable financial investment. Considerable onsite

Hyperscale customers require their data centres to accommodate different IT infrastructures

“Hyperscale data centres are increasingly strategic to the worldwide digital economy, with their rise owing much to the need for significantly larger and highly secure facilities.�

engineering and IT support skills and services are a must too.

Hyperscale customers require their data centres to accommodate different IT infrastructures to the norm such as different types of network switching and cooling, specialised fully automated back-up and auxiliary power systems, and, specific power distribution needs for gaining maximum power efficiencies. However, above all, is achieving sufficient economies of scale, ensuring this category of facility remains financially viable as well as affordable to customers.

Fundamentally, these are not just larger and more secure places for housing data compared to smaller conventional data centres.

To be able to scale at the velocities required, they must of course offer exceptional space, but, at the same time, deliver abundant power and deploy high speed network technologies inside and out.

While a tall order, there are already a handful of colo operators bringing hyperscaleclass facilities within reach of the wider market; whether for colocation purposes or for hosting private and hybrid cloud workloads. This is allowing businesses of all shapes and sizes to benefit from scale economies and vast amounts of expansion space and forwards power; and state-of-the-art infrastructure for optimising resilience, cooling, energy efficiency and network connectivity.

Next Generation Data www.ngd.co.uk

March 2018 | 23

NEXT ISSUE

Wireless Networks

UPS

Next time‌ In addition to its regular range of features and news items, the April issue of Network Communications News will contain special features on test wireless netwoks and UPS. They will comprise major articles and comprehensive product round ups which will be used as a reference point by network cabling infrastructure installers, integrators and end users.

To make sure you don’t miss the oppor tunity to adver tise your products to this exclusive readership, call Ian on 01634 673163 or email ian@allthingsmedialtd.com

Network Communications News

24 | March 2018

DATA CENTRES

Keep your cool!

Carl Webb, HVAC & specialist hire director at Andrews Air Conditioning, explains the benefits of having a dependable back-up plan to secure your assets in a crisis.

D

espite frequent warnings about the consequences, very few companies give much thought to safeguarding the infrastructure – namely, the servers – that keeps them operational day-to-day.

When these overheat, your business enters a race against time to ensure this vital hardware is back online before any lasting damage is done. Failure to take swift action will have serious implications for any company that is dependent upon the continued functionality of networked computer ser vices. If the problem is not diagnosed quickly, you will almost cer tainly lose out on potential earnings.

This slow action may then

Heat-related data centre breakdown, though extremely common, is avoidable – providing you know how

manifest itself in disgruntled customers, employees working over time to rectify an issue and a damaged reputation as consumer confidence suffers.

Constant technological advancements have led to a frankly staggering internationalwide reliance on servers and computer facilities. And this is only expected to continue soaring.

By 2020, the amount of space and energy consumed by data centres in Europe alone could increase by as much as a fifth.

I t i s t h e refo re e sse nt i a l t h at ste p s a re ta ke n to e n su re a d e q u ate p re c a u t i o n s a re i n p l a c e b efo re c ata st ro p h e st r i ke s. He at - re l ate d d ata c e nt re b re a kd ow n i s ext re me l y co mmo n b u t e q u a l l y , ve r y avo i d a b l e .

The rapid advancement in technology – particularly over the past two decades – has led to businesses of all sizes becoming increasingly reliant upon it. Electronic servers are now capable of storing information and simplifying everyday tasks.

However, their propensity to overheat means that emergency temperature control solutions are not optional, but imperative.

Sourcing appropriate climate control equipment at the eleventh hour can be an arduous and stressful process, particularly when the repercussions of server failure are so crippling.

Fortunately, Andrews Air Conditioning offer clients a 24hour service where engineers can be dispatched to your site within a four-hour timeframe. As one of the

March 2018 | 25

DATA CENTRES

Professional suppliers to data centres and the telecoms industry should offer ree site surveys at times F convenient to you A full range of cooling equipment suitable for applications of any specification 4 -hour response F ully manned 24-hour service, 365 days a year Technical advice and solution recommendations C ontingency planning R apid reaction time D elivery, installation, collection and maintenance

UK’s leading providers of specialist cooling hire solutions, Andrews pride themselves on having a genuine nationwide presence with depots and bespoke equipment located all around the country.

By recognising the sensitivity of data centres and similar applications, their expert technicians are extremely wellplaced to recommend and install a cooling package that has been specifically tailored to suit your environment.

Even large firms can be caught out unexpectedly – as British Airways were last year when their servers were damaged – underlining the importance of planning for the worst-case scenario. On that occasion, the company was left with a hefty £80 million bill as 700 flights were cancelled and 75,000 passengers left stranded at Heathrow Airport.

A trustwor thy contingency ser vice will ensure daily strategies are protected and guarantee business continuity even when faced with a ser ver outage.

By constantly developing and improving the technology used in their modern air conditioners and chillers, Andrews are able to provide

26 | March 2018

“A trustworthy contingency service will ensure daily strategies are protected and guarantee business continuity even when faced with a server outage. ”

superior replacement equipment should your own cooling system falter without warning.

They pledge to respond to emergency callouts faster than any other specialist hire company and have more than 30 years’ direct experience of keeping data centres online.

Andrews’ range of split-type PAC units have been purposefully developed to ensure clients have the most practical solution to any planned maintenance or breakdown scenario. These units offer cooling capacities of up to 17kW and feature marketleading technology to ensure heat is easily dispersed via flexible connection lines.

In instances where larger volumes of cooling are needed, a temporary chiller hire may represent the best course of action. All chillers within the Andrews fleet have been designed to high specifications and use the industry’s most environmentally friendly gases. Starting at 10kW, a single chiller can offer up to 750kW of cooling while several units can be combined to create a multi-megawatt cooling solution.

A nationwide presence helps protect companies that have become increasingly

dependent on the continued functionality of electronic hardware. Understanding the potential impact of failed IT systems enables Andrews’ trained experts to react quickly, take preventative measures and install supplementary or substitute cooling apparatus to avoid costly downtime.

The round-the-clock availability of high capacity air conditioning units is coupled with an offer of no obligation site surveys when required by customers. Andrews have depots all around the country which allows them to handle demand on any scale, all while adhering to any preordained budget you may have outlined. Should something go wrong on site, clients will reap the benefits of professional technical advice preceding the implementation of an alternative cooling hire solution that befits your surroundings and process.

If you’re not sufficiently prepared for counteracting warm server room temperatures, now is the time to take action. With the stakes so high, why risk a reduction in output, astronomical costs and a dented budget when sourcing a hired air conditioning arrangement is so simple?

Andrews Air Conditioning 0800 211 611, andrews-sykes.com

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DATA CENTRES

The ever-evolving world of the data centre Chris Wellfair, projects director at Secure I.T. Environments, takes a look at some of the key events and trends that are going to influence the data centre this year and beyond.

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018 has already got off to an interesting start, with the stage one deadline for implementing the EU Ecodesign directive (EU Directive 2009/ 125/EC) launched on January 1. The directive, that was first introduced in 2009, defined a framework of mandatory requirements for products that use energy or are related to the use of energy. But it’s not the only ‘big thing’ we can expect to happen this year, and, that’s without delving into the potential trends that could set to affect the world of data centres.

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EU GDPR GDPR is the EU General Data Protection Regulation, and it comes into force on May 25, 2018, and will impact your business and the physical security aspects of your data centre. It completely updates the way that EU member states, and any company that transacts with the EU or holds data on its citizens (and those of the European Economic Area), must store secure and manage personal data. The fines for misuse and misappropriation of data are huge: up to 4% of global revenues or €20 million, whichever is the higher.

Focusing on physical seurity, GDPR is relevant for the data centre. If your data centre physical security is breached and equipment stolen, it is very possible that personally identifiable information covered by the regulation has left your possession. This is a data breach, it’s not simply about lost laptops and online hackers – the incident would need to be reported under GDPR within 72 hours. Physical security and access control both have a huge role to play under this regulation, so, with this in mind, make sure you have reviewed this as part of your GDPR preparations.

DATA CENTRES ISO 50001 This is the industry standard framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving a company’s energy management system and allows continual improvement on energy performance, including energy efficiency, energy security, energy consumption. Whilst it is not new, and the current version has been in place since 2011, a new version is in the process of being developed and will be released in June 2018 (it was originally not due until 2019). This means that if certification was on your agenda for this year, you should consider that the requirements will be different from June. ISO 50001 can be extremely valuable in helping a company reduce costs and meet its own carbon and energy efficiency targets, something that constantly grows in importance environmentally, politically and socially. Make sure you consider the changing criteria, so that your efforts in preparing for assessment are not wasted.

You can’t contain the container You’ve probably heard the term ‘containerised data centre’ and associate it with huge data centre projects, such as those run by the public cloud vendors with tens of thousands of servers and the need for constant growth. In those instances, they are chosen for speed, cost effectiveness and ease of installation; but those benefits are not only true when working at scale. There are several

“There is a lot happening the data centre world, both in terms of innovation and regulation…

Both are geared to making our data centres more secure, energy efficient and cost effective.”

scenarios where a containerised data centre might be just right for you, even if you are a much smaller business.

Containerised solutions can form small data centres where they help resolve space, deployment time, build complexity and cost challenges. But they are very flexible, and, depending on the internal configuration, can perform very well in high density applications. They are also stackable up to 9m and at the design stage can be extended if specified as a requirement. In an emergency, containerised solutions can also shine as part of a disaster recovery plan if already fitted out with the infrastructure, where they can be rapidly deployed to a site as a temporary solution.

The growing love for the micro data centre For decades, organisations with branches have had the ‘Comms or Server Cabinet’ lurking in the corner of a room to support their connectivity and IT needs. But, with more computing power being squeezed into smaller spaces, and energy needs dropping, that cabinet has evolved into the Micro Data Centre (MDC). Despite the move to centralised and cloudbased IT there are scenarios where localised, micro data centres make a great deal of sense. That said, they still require some serious thought to ensure they work well, especially if being used in multiple locations across a site. Certain workloads for example are more suited to this environment and you need to think carefully about placement, cabinet hardware, noise pollution and, of course, cooling.

Get the combination right and these can make a huge difference in your organisation and lower the cost and requirements for your central data centre.

Exciting times

GDPR is the EU General Data Protection Regulation, and it comes into force on May 25, 2018.

There is a lot happening in the data centre world, both in terms of innovation and regulation. Whilst the latter can often be viewed by those on the ground with a degree of pain – new regulation almost always creates some work for someone – both are geared to making our data centres more secure, energy efficient and cost effective. As these trends take affect we’ll begin to see this more than ever, and I for one can’t wait to see what we’ll all be talking about in another five years.

Secure I.T. Environments 01983 885182, siteltd.co.uk

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SWITCHES & ROUTERS

Rack’em and stack’em!

NCN takes a look under the hood of the new Gigabit stackable smart managed switches from D-Link.

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he D-Link DGS1510 Series is the latest generation of smart managed switches with 10G capability, available with 16, 24, or 48 10/ 100/ 1000 Mbps ports, plus additional fibre ports for physical stacking or uplinks.

The PoE-capable DGS-1510-28P and DGS-1510-28XMP switches provide additional flexibility for businesses looking to power IP phones, wireless access points, or IP cameras using existing network infrastructure. The combination of high bandwidth connections and PoE support make the DGS1510 Series a good fit for smallmedium enterprise (SME) and small-medium business (SMB) environments, says the maker.

10G SFP+ stacking/uplink ports The last two SFP+ ports of the DGS-1510 Series switches allow users to create a physical stack of up to six units in a fault-tolerant ring or linear topology using Direct Attach Copper (DACs) or any compatible SFP+ transceiver.

This creates a total of 288 Gigabit ports, ensuring high bandwidth while staying cost-efficient.

Me anwhile, the rema ining u p l ink por t s ca n be us ed fo r ot h e r fu nct i on s , s uch a s co nne ct ing to a large r n etwo rk. Us ers c a n a l s o confi gure a nd ma na ge a ny of t h e DG S-15 10 Series Sma r t M a na ge d sw i tc hes in a s ing l e s tac k . D - Link say s that with 20 Gbps f u l l d u plex ca pa bil ities , the D G S - 1 51 0 Ser i es of fers 10G co nn e ct iv it y to core n etwo rks a nd s e r ve r s whi le still ma inta ining fa s t d ata t ransfe r rates .

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Layer 3 traffic management The DGS-1510 Series provides static routing, allowing installers to segment a network into workgroups that communicate between VLANs and increase application per formance. With these capabilities, technicians can reduce the load on core devices, allowing the creation of a scalable and efficient network.

Extensive layer 2 features The DGS-1510 Series switches are equipped with a complete line-up of Layer 2 features, including IGMP Snooping, Port Mirroring, Spanning Tree, and Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP). The IEEE 802.3x Flow Control function allows servers to directly connect to the switch for fast, reliable data transfer.

Network maintenance features include loopback detection and cable diagnostics. Loopback detection automatically detects and shuts down loops created by a specific port or VLAN. The cable diagnostics feature, designed primarily for administrators and customer service representatives, can determine cable quality and can quickly discover sections of cabling that need to be replaced.

Traffic Classification & QoS The DGS-1510 Series supports Auto Surveillance VLAN (ASV) and Auto Voice VLAN, which are best suited for VoIP and video surveillance deployments. Auto Surveillance VLAN is a new technology built into D-Link Smart switches which consolidates data and surveillance video

transmissions through a single DGS-1510 Series Smart Managed switch, saving businesses the costs of maintaining expensive dedicated hardware and infrastructure. ASV also ensures the quality of real-time video for monitoring and control without compromising the transmission of conventional network data by giving ASV traffic priority over other packets.

SWITCHES & ROUTERS Keeping networks secure

IPv6 Ready

D-Link’s innovative Safeguard Engine protects the DGS-1510 Series against traffic flooding caused by malicious attacks. The DGS1510 Series supports both MAC and web-based access control.

This gives network administrators multiple authentication options, reducing deployment times, and removing the need for client software. The DGS-1510 Series supports IEEE 802.1X port-based authentication, allowing network users to be authenticated through external RADIUS servers. The Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) spoofing prevention feature helps to prevent attacks that may allow an intruder to intercept users’ traffic, while the DHCP Server Screening feature screens rogue DHCP server packets from user ports to prevent unauthorised IP assignment.

The DGS-1510 Series is IPv6ready and supports various IPv6 functions, such as MLD snooping, IPv6 security features, and IPv6 Quality of Service (QoS), ensuring integration with next-generation networks. The DGS-1510 Series also supports IPv4/v6 dual stack functionality, which allows the switches to act as a bridge between IPv4 and IPv6 networks.

“The DGS-1510 Series supports virtual stacking via D-Link’s Single IP Management (SIM), allowing up to 32 devices to be managed through a single IP address.”

Versatile Management The DGS-1510 Series supports virtual stacking via D-Link’s Single IP Management (SIM), allowing up to 32 devices to be managed through a single IP address. This simplifies management of small workgroups or wiring closets while significantly reducing the number of IP addresses needed to manage a network. The DGS-1510 Series provides the D-Link Network Assistant (DNA) utility and a web-based management interface that enables administrators to easily set up and remotely manage their networks, greatly reducing switch deployment time. The DGS-1510 Series also features an extensive

Command Line Inter face (CLI) and SNMP support, allowing centralised management of a large number of devices. Out-of-band management of the switches is also available via a designated console port. This provides access to devices in the event that there is a loss of connectivity or that the switch is overloaded with bulk or malicious traffic.

Energy Efficient The maker says all of the DGS1510 Series switches are capable of conserving power without sacrificing operational performance or functionality thanks to D-Link Green 3.0 technology. Using the IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) standard, the network will automatically decrease power usage when traffic is low. For environments that do not fully support this standard, these switches offer advanced powersaving settings, including port shut-off, LED shut-off, and system hibernation based on custom profiles. These profiles can also be applied to the PoE switches so that there is no unnecessary power consumption during off-hours.

D-Link dlink.com

March 2018 | 31

CABLING, CABLE MANAGEMENT & LABELLING

How to prevent and protect against a serious case of cable ‘spaghetti’ As the sheer abundance of today’s cables makes cable management an arduous, cable specialist Excel delves into how to protect installations using some smart solutions.

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h e is s u e of c a b l e m a na ge m e nt is b e co m ing m o re not ic e a b l e wit h in d ata c e nt re s . A n in cre a s ing ne e d fo r h igh d e ns it y in s tal l at io ns m e a ns t h at t h e re is a n a b u nd a nc e of c a b l e s ; f ib re o ptics , co p p e r c a b l ing a nd p owe r ca ble s , wh ic h c a n b e ins ta l l e d with in wa l l s , u nd e r t h e f l o o r, s us p e nd e d f ro m t h e c e il ing o r in overh e a d co nta inm e nt .

Managing cables efficiently can present a plethora of challenges. Many factors need to be considered during the

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installation planning phase to ensure the cables are mapped, routed, and organised in the most effective way. If insufficient consideration is given to cable management as par t of the planning process, problems can occur post-installation.

Investment in robust cable management solutions during the planning and implementation stage of an installation can help to ensure that a system is easy to both maintain and develop moving forwards.

Given the high per formance and high density capabilities

of fibre cabling solutions, the majority of data centre cabling is likely to revolve around optical fibre. The fragility of fibre cabling means it is absolutely critical that any chosen cable management solution provides enough support over long runs, and maintains optimum bend radius to prevent over-extension of the cable. This will ultimately prolong the lifetime of the installation.

But the all-important question really is, what are some of the most vital factors to consider when selecting a fibre cable management system?

CABLING, CABLE MANAGEMENT & LABELLING Cleanliness

Futureproofed

Does the system keep the fibre cabling free from dirt and dust?

We all understand the importance of keeping fibre clean.

Any contamination in the fibre connection can cause failure of the component, or worse, failure of the whole system. Even microscopic dust particles can cause a variety of problems for optical connections.

Aside from taking necessary precautions when installing the fibre using appropriate cleaning methods, the cable management solution can play an important role in continuously protecting the system throughout its lifespan.

A suitable fibre ducting system should be supplied with covers and lids to keep dust particles and contamination away from the cable.

Can the system be adapted for any future changes?

In a data centre environment, where cable is running from cabinet to cabinet and the network infrastructure is constantly evolving, there is likely to be a need for additional racks to be installed without disturbing or damaging the existing cabling.

Some fibre ducting systems would require an installer to cut into any existing installation to make room for additional segments to house the cabling for the new racks.

This would come with a high risk of damaging the existing network, or even cutting into the existing fibre cabling housed within the ducting system.

To ensure a system is fully ‘futureproof’ from the moment it is installed, it is worth investing in a system that provides side-access modules and segmented pieces of duct trunking, which would allow an installer to quickly and easily add in new routes without actually cutting into the existing network.

Stress relief Does the system help to alleviate stress on the cable and achieve optimum bend radii?

To ensure system longevity, it is important that any fibre optic cable maintains its optimum bend radius, without excessive strain on the cable. As soon as this is compromised, the whole network could be adversely affected.

In the first instance, there are a number of ‘within-rack’ cable management solutions that can help to alleviate strain. An angled V-shaped patch panel will create the ideal angle and bend radius for the patch cords, removing any stress on the cable and helping to maintain high performance levels. This also negates the need for additional front-facing cable management within the rack­, increasing available space. Frontfacing solutions in the form of cable manager bars or magnetic management solutions can be used to ensure patching cables are uniformly installed and controlled into a fibre panel, designed to maintain the correct bend radius to ensure maximum performance.

In addition to ‘within-rack’ cable management solutions, choosing an effective fibre ducting system is vital. Reducing strain by choosing a system with pre-defined elbow joints that can be easily suspended above the racks and out of the way of through traffic, will guarantee the longevity of the fibre installation.

Flexibiity Is the system dynamic and adaptive to a changing environment?

Piecing together in individual segments, a suitable and effective fibre duct trunking system should be flexible and adaptable to an endless array of installations. A range of unique trunking segments in a variety of bend radii and lengths should connect together in an infinite number of ways, allowing users to create a fibre storage solution that is fit for purpose.

The dynamic nature of a flexible fibre ducting system makes it an effective choice for an environment which continuously evolves.

Protect your installations with effective cable management solutions

“The allimportant question really is, what are some of the most vital factors to consider when selecting a fibre cable management system?”

protected to some extent from the effects of fire, then its housing should be manufactured from a flame-retardant ABS material, meeting the LS0H standards to further enhance the protection of the cable.

Life expectancy How long will the system deliver high levels of per formance for ?

M a n y ma n u fa ct u rers of fer a wa r ra nt y to su p p o r t t hei r cab li n g sy ste ms. A 2 5 - y e a r warranty d e m o n st rate s a m a n u facturers ’ co nf i d e n c e i n i t s so l u ti on s . Thi s co nf i d e n c e e c h o e s t h rough to t h e e n d - u se r safe i n the k n ow l e d ge t h at , p rov i di n g the c r i te r i a of t h e wa r ra nt y i s met, t h e i r i n sta l l at i o n w i l l conti n ue to o p e rate i n a cco rd a n c e wi th the o r i g i n a l sp e c i f i c at i o n .

Excel, mayflex.com/brands/excel

Flame retardancy How well would the system fair in the face of a fire?

With the recent review of the BS6701 and the Construction Products Regulations (CPR), it seems relevant to discuss the importance of flame retardancy of the ducting system used in an installation. If the cabling within the trunking adheres to the revised CPR legislation and is

March 2018 | 33

CABLE MANAGEMENT & LABELLING

The new FT-45 Feed Thru Modular Plugs and Crimp Tool from IDEAL can be used to complete installations more efficiently

Getting it right first time Electrical contractor, Cerberus Systems, tells of the improved speed and accuracy of terminating cat5e and cat6 data cables with RJ45 plugs thanks to new innovative tool from IDEAL.

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he speed and accuracy of terminating cat5e and cat6 data cables with RJ45 plugs has been improved for contractor, Cerberus Systems, thanks to the new FT-45 Feed Thru Modular Plugs and Crimp Tool from IDEAL. The company says jobs such as IP CCTV installations can now be completed more efficiently and profitably.

Cerberus Systems is an electrical contracting company that designs, installs and maintains intelligently configured and high quality electrical systems, IT networks, CCTV and access control systems to diverse client premises including radio studios, offices, warehouses, showrooms and shops. Regardless of the

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type of structured cabling required, Cerberus Systems’ clients need the work finished within tight deadlines, and with minimal disruption to people and processes.

Precision is key To avoid delays when installing data cable, it’s important for cat5e and cat6 cable terminations to be done correctly first time. However, the type of installations Cerberus performs often requires technicians to install RJ45 plugs at the end of links which connect directly to CCTV and access control systems.

Field-terminated RJ45 plugs are prone to installation errors because they require the installer to trim the conductors to a precise length prior to placing the plug onto the cable.

“If they are too shor t, there will be open circuits discovered when testing, and if they are too long, terminations look sloppy, or per formance can suf fer when pairs are exposed outside of the plug body/cable jacket,” explained Nick Shone of Cerberus Systems. “It’s also easy for a conductor to move during this process and go unnoticed until the cables are tested.”

“This makes identifying and resolving faults challenging and time consuming, particularly in the large areas we often work in, which can be up to 15,000sqft,” Nick adds. “Failed terminations can also mean that faults need to be investigated in difficult locations, such as in the case of externally mounted IP CCTV cameras.”

CABLING, CABLE MANAGEMENT & LABELLING No time, or room, for error On a recent large IP CCTV installation project, there were 160 plugs to terminate and no time for error. As a complex job where other trades were waiting to come on site, any delays would cost the client time and money. It was, therefore, vital for Cerberus to complete the work without having to go back and replace faulty terminations – a difficult task with the tools traditionally used. However, while preparing for the IP CCTV installation, the team discovered the new FT-45 Feed Thru Modular Plugs and Crimp Tool from IDEAL. “We’d been using electrical products from IDEAL, as well as IDEAL Networks testers, for a number of years,” confirms Nick. “I ordered this new solution straight away as I knew the upcoming job required multiple terminations in a very tight time scale.”

The new IDEAL FT-45 solution speeds up and simplifies termination of RJ45 plugs by eliminating the need to precisely trim conductors to length before inser ting the cable into the plug. Unlike the plugs with closed ends usually used for RJ45 connections, the FT-45 Feed Thru Modular Plugs feature open channels that allow the conductors to be fed completely through the connector before crimping. Thus, allowing installers to visually check conductor order and if necessary, remove the connector, reorder the conductors and replace the connector.

Once the accurate order is confirmed, the FT-45 tool crimps and trims the cable in one step.

This makes terminations faster, provides better performance by allowing the cable to fully seat into the connector and virtually eliminates connector waste.

Success for Cerberus Systems “Across our business, we like to invest in the equipment that helps us to get jobs right first time,” says Nick. “This helps us to reduce delays, meaning that we keep our clients happy.”

“In this case, preventing mistakes and delays ensured that all trades had access to the site when required so no additional costs were incurred by the client,”

he continues. “It also allows us to move on to the next job on time, keeping our operations productive and profitable.”

For Cerberus Systems, FT-45 proved to be ideal for working with patch cords in IP CCTV installations, as well as for fitting IP access controls. The company says it made installing extended patch cords easier, for example to enable video conferencing, while it can also be used to create a cat6 cable backbone for linking data cabinets together.

The FT-45 solution also proved simple to use. The modular plugs are suitable for cat5e and cat6 cable without a need for complex assembly, while the versatile crimp tool is capable of crimping and cutting feed-thru, standard and shielded connectors in one action.

“Since purchasing and using FT-45 we are now using it on most of our projects - I never take the FT-45 plugs and crimp tool out of my kit bag,” says Nick. “I would recommend the FT-45 package as you can genuinely reduce errors in terminations and get things done right first time.”

In addition, Cerberus Systems qualifies data cable installations with IDEAL Networks SignalTEK NT to provide proof of per formance to clients. As soon as the

“To avoid delays when installing data cable, it’s important for cat5e and cat6 cable terminations to be done correctly first time.”

installation is complete and has been tested, test data can be sent to a mobile phone. Using the IDEAL AnyWARE app, a PDF repor t is generated and emailed straight to the client to show that there are no installation issues.

“It is important for us to test our data cable installations to give customers assurance, just like we do on our low voltage electrical jobs,” states Nick. “This reduces unpaid call backs, but most importantly keeps customers happy - they are impressed to get a professional report, and to receive this from us so quickly.”

IDEAL Networks 01273 957 500, idealnetworks.net

March 2018 | 35

COMPANY SHOWCASE SPONSORED STORIES FROM THE INDUSTRY

New PASSPORT buttons down on cloud security Aryaka, a global SD-WAN provider, has unveiled PASSPORT, its multi-layered security platform and ecosystem. The company states that the solution will provide global enterprises with best-inclass application performance and security.

“In today’s cloud-centric world, global organisations are looking to SD-WAN to deliver solutions that offer reliable global connectivity, fast and consistent application performance anywhere in the world, and enhanced network visibility in an environment that assures the highest level of enterprise-grade security,” said Gary Sevounts, chief marketing officer at Aryaka. “Working closely with industry leaders like Palo Alto Networks, Zscaler, and Radware, Aryaka delivers a platform with unified, best-of-breed global SD-WAN, and security solutions that are affordable and accessible to all global enterprises.”

Aryaka acknowledges that its global private network supplies enterprises with an essential level of security, ensuring that business-critical application traffic

Aryaka’s PASSPORT solution is said to provide global enterprises with best-in-class application performance and security.

is not exposed to the public internet, and does not have entry points that can be exploited by threat actors. Each company’s traffic traverses through dedicated, not shared, layer 2 links with enterprise-grade end-to-end encryption.

Aryaka’s network is fortified with industrial-grade security measures, including DDoS attack prevention using Radware’s Hybrid Cloud Attack Mitigation.

The maker says its edge devices provide built-in advanced security measures such as firewalls and intrusion prevention, as well as integration with next-generation firewalls from Palo Alto Networks.

Aryaka provides a layer of advanced cloud security for noncritical traffic that traverses over the internet via partnerships with Palo Alto Networks Global Protect Cloud Services and Zscaler Cloud Security.

By supporting a variety of different use cases, Aryaka, Zscaler, Radware, and Palo Alto Networks, it will allow organisations to benefit from cloudnative private connectivity, application acceleration, SD-WAN, and security solutions without adding network complexity and costs.

Aryaka aryaka.com

Samsung selects signal analyser Anritsu Corporation has announced that Samsung Electronics Co. has selected its Signal Analyser MS2850A with 5G analysis software installed to suppor t its 5G system developments.

Last year, Samsung revealed that it had a range of endto-end 5G products under development, including 5G routers (CPEs) and 5G Access Units (AU), both of which are destined for commercial-grade products. The company is engaged with major operators in leading markets like the United States, South Korea and Japan to commercialise 5G to the market.

Samsung’s 5G T&M partner to power its first Anritsu’s MS2850A will play a key quality assurance role at end-to-end 5G communication systems manufacturing to facilitate fast 5G service deployments.

Anritsu has long supported communications equipment development and manufacturing, which is only accentuated further with this partnership with Samsung; the company has been involved in the mobile communications field with Samsung since 3G (W-CDMA).

As Samsung’s 5G measuring equipment vendor, Anritsu provides a measurement solution tailored to fast deployment of future 5G services. With an analysis bandwidth of up to 1GHz used by 5G, as well as built-in modulation analysis software, and all-at-once capture of up to eight multi-carrier signals, the company say that its MS2850A is the ideal solution for development and manufacturing of 5G wireless communications equipment. These advanced features are said to slash measurement times compared to earlier slow signal analysers which required channel-by-channel analysis. In addition, the maker says the excellent dynamic range, amplitude, and phase flatness of the MS2850A meet or exceed the specifications of high-end models, and support both high-accuracy signal analysis, while holding down capital equipment costs, which helps increase both product quality and measurement speed, while maximising investment efficiency.

Shinya Ajiro, general manager, IoT test solutions divison at Anritsu Corporation, said, “We are very pleased that Samsung Electronics—the world leader in the 5G market—has chosen our MS2850A as the best solution for their 5G wireless equipment manufacturing needs, and we shall continue working hard to provide more measurement solutions playing a key role in development of a mobile communications society, beginning with 5G.” Anaritsu anritsu.com

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KNOW HOW

With IoT everywhere, can regulation be far behind?

Rajesh Duneja, Hariprasad Pichai, Andrea Faggiano and Thomas Kuruvilla, of management consultants Arthur D. Little, take a look at the future.

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oT will enter into every aspect of our lives and cities, as well as suppor t all industries. Its success is dependent on the collection and use of data to provide customised solutions, which poses a significant threat to consumers’ data privacy and security. There is an emerging trend to develop regulations which are case specific, as we have seen with drones and consumer data privacy protection.

But these are being developed independently. So far only the state of New York has issued a comprehensive IoT policy, which not only covers data privacy and security, but also plans to make information about IoT infrastructure public, and share IoT infrastructure through publicprivate par tnerships.

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as shown in Figure 1. IoT use cases blur traditional industry-specific boundaries and challenge the governance of industry verticals by respective sector authorities.

(See Figures 2 and 3).

The main debates: traditional and upcoming areas

Figure 1: The Internet of Everything and Everyone

Figure 2: Enhanced role for ICT service providers

Telecom operators and regulators have historically focused on person-to-person (P2P) telecommunication services. But the IoT ecosystem involves interaction between telecommunications, and a range of new services, and machine-tomachine (M2M) communications,

L icensing & spectrum Traditionally, many telecom regulators have been involved with type approval of telecom equipment. However, as IoT devices evolve, connected things will get to a level of autonomy that will have legal implications (e.g., connected cars). IoT regulation will have to define the responsibility chain and ensure IoT devices can be traced back to legally responsible persons and entities.

KNOW HOW

Given the expected growth of IoT devices, regulators will have to assign more spectrum in both licensed and unlicensed bands. At least in the near future, a significant proportion of IoT devices will use personal area networks (Wi-Fi) to access the internet (See Figure 4). In multidwelling units and dense urban areas, many people are already experiencing degradation of their Wi-Fi connections.

Figure 3 (left): Vertical overlap in use cases Figure 4 (right): IoT devices by connecting technology, globally, 2015-2021

Figure 5 (below): Personal data processing

Switching & roaming I nte g rate d d e p l o y m e nt of I o T d ev i c e s at s c a l e r i s k s l a rge c u s to m e r s b e i n g l o c ke d i n w i t h s p e c i f i c te c h n o l o g i e s , o p e rato r s , o r s e r v i c e p rov i d e r s i f ove r- t h e a i r re m ote p rov i s i o n i n g i s n ot i m p l e m e nte d . Te l e c o m re g u l ato r s w i l l h ave to d e c i d e u n d e r w h at c i rc u m s ta n c e s to m a n d ate ove rt h e - a i r re m ote p rov i s i o n i n g , a n d h ow p o r ta b l e c o nt ra ct s should be.

A ddressing & numbering The increased volume of IoT devices will drive up demand for numbering resources, in spite of a significant amount of devices expected on personal area networks. Many regulators are already considering reserving specific number ranges for IoT usage. In many countries, pricing for numbering resources is based on unit revenue from traditional services, which is significantly

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KNOW HOW of public-private partnership.

By allowing greater use of IoT infrastructure, policy-makers can foster the rapid growth of IoT ecosystems in countries.

How ICT regulators can lead with holistic frameworks A clear regulatory framework can accelerate development of an IoT ecosystem and make it more sustainable, through the following key benefits: ccelerate development of the A ecosystem through progressive market stimulation, such as increasing market clarity and promoting entrepreneurship E nhance national security through increased security of the overall ICT environment E nhance protection of rights and interests of users (individuals, enterprises and government) higher than the unit revenue expected from many IoT services.

Therefore, telecom regulators will also have to reassess the pricing of the numbering resources assigned for IoT usage based on much lower tariff and revenue assumptions.

C ompetition As IoT standards are still emerging, there is potential danger of not being able to derive benefits from devices if they lack interoperability from both data and technology perspectives. But there are a number of initiatives under way to facilitate interoperability through open-source developments. In 2014, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) initiated an effort to develop open standards for the IoT industry. However, regulators are increasingly expected to remain technology neutral and allow market forces to decide the best technology standards to emerge.

P rivacy & security IoT devices are already being used in both consumer and industrial contexts, including smart grids, building automation, and wearable computing. This creates many more entry points for hackers, and leaves sensitive information vulnerable. As technologies are still being developed and few

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Figure 6: Personal data processing

industry-wide standards are in place, often products are launched into the market with old and unpatched embedded operating systems and software.

National policy-makers will have to establish or adopt data management frameworks to define data classification based on the extent of adverse impact on individuals from disclosure of their data. These will provide clear directions on data gathering, transmission, storage, processing and distribution. The regulation for personal data processing must fulfil six key principles (see Figure 5), including data minimisation, storage limitation, and integrity and confidentiality of data. One effort already under way is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which will come into effect within the European Union in May 2018. (See Figure 6.) haring of public S IoT infrastructure There is a need to develop public policy defining the requirements for IoT infrastructure deployment and sharing in public places, such as traffic sensors. Policy-makers will have to decide the number of parameters, including standards to use, points of interconnect, services to be made available to private players, and the mode

To achieve benefits, clear articulation of the country’s or region’s context, vision and objectives is essential. The IoT regulatory framework can be designed with intent to intervene in market development in a minimal manner. IoT use cases can be classified based on a number of criteria, including industry verticals and criticality of use cases. These include an evolutionary approach (regulate as developments are made), leading and coordinating policy (working with other governing bodies), and committed implementation (updated as needed).

Conclusion Faced with this challenge, successful policy-makers will be those that can identify the right level of regulation and lead in cross-sector coordination.

Following the implementation of a first set of regulations, the swiftness around assessing the created impact, as well as making corresponding periodic adjustments as required, will be the strongest driving force in developing a progressive and sustainable IoT ecosystem.

Ar thur D. Little adlittle.co.uk