Technological unification key for successful smart grid deployment
By Max BurkhalterOctober 10, 2011
The smart grid is a revolutionary utility system that can dramatically improve power delivery and metering, while also helping to limit outages and other complications. However, adapting the current utility system to support the emerging technology is a major challenge that requires significant changes at an architectural level.
According to a recent Smart Grid News report, the key to improving the underlying architectures of the utility system is unifying information and operations technology. IT is critical because it provides the network infrastructure and data-related systems necessary to handle communication between smart grid elements. Operations technology, on the other hand, is key because it can enable more robust infrastructure for maintenance and management. While each area is important on its own, the news source said IT and OT need to be integrated into a unified platform to enable robust smart grid performance.
The key to successfully unifying IT and OT systems is to deploy a smart grid network management system that provides the visibility and oversight necessary to handle the sophisticated technologies that make smart grid possible. However, establishing a smart grid network management system can be challenging. As a result, companies need to make sure the solution can be ready for use out-of-the-box, and not require significant customization.
Finding an out-of-the-box solution for smart grid network management can be a major challenge because most smart grid networks need to combine a variety of network protocols. A smart grid typically includes an enterprise-class WAN, distribution automation, metering and WAN links. These diverse networks are both IT- and OT-based and need to be unified into a single platform capable of supporting the integrated smart grid network, the report said.
This type of management platform is key to support diverse network types because IT and OT systems are typically built using divergent legacy technologies. Therefore, unifying the two technological segments into a single network requires a robust management system designed specifically for smart grid deployment, according to the news source.
The type of networks that make smart grid possible could also play a role in the so-called internet of things. According to a recent GigaOm report, the network equipment makers that are designing equipment for smart grid are increasingly putting those efforts toward the internet of things, which is a movement that involves connecting everyday objects to the network so they can be managed and controlled remotely.
According to a recent Smart Grid News report, the key to improving the underlying architectures of the utility system is unifying information and operations technology. IT is critical because it provides the network infrastructure and data-related systems necessary to handle communication between smart grid elements. Operations technology, on the other hand, is key because it can enable more robust infrastructure for maintenance and management. While each area is important on its own, the news source said IT and OT need to be integrated into a unified platform to enable robust smart grid performance.
The key to successfully unifying IT and OT systems is to deploy a smart grid network management system that provides the visibility and oversight necessary to handle the sophisticated technologies that make smart grid possible. However, establishing a smart grid network management system can be challenging. As a result, companies need to make sure the solution can be ready for use out-of-the-box, and not require significant customization.
Finding an out-of-the-box solution for smart grid network management can be a major challenge because most smart grid networks need to combine a variety of network protocols. A smart grid typically includes an enterprise-class WAN, distribution automation, metering and WAN links. These diverse networks are both IT- and OT-based and need to be unified into a single platform capable of supporting the integrated smart grid network, the report said.
This type of management platform is key to support diverse network types because IT and OT systems are typically built using divergent legacy technologies. Therefore, unifying the two technological segments into a single network requires a robust management system designed specifically for smart grid deployment, according to the news source.
The type of networks that make smart grid possible could also play a role in the so-called internet of things. According to a recent GigaOm report, the network equipment makers that are designing equipment for smart grid are increasingly putting those efforts toward the internet of things, which is a movement that involves connecting everyday objects to the network so they can be managed and controlled remotely.
