Finding a new home for critical infrastructure

A lot has been said about the post-pandemic office worker diaspora. Many businesses have shifted to hybrid or remote working models, and the result is a decentralised labour force.

The last few years highlighted how important flexibility in work is, not only for people, but also for companies. Business leaders are rushing to build capacity within their operations to quickly react to economic pressures and unforeseen disruptions. Gone are the days of 10-year office leases. Companies are abandoning costly and expansive CBD real estate in favour of accessible, right-sized office locations for in-person interactions.

While this great exodus has occurred, we’re seeing the inverse happening within critical infrastructure organisations.

Data centres and people side-by-side

For companies operating within heavily regulated sectors such as banking, health care, telecommunications, and gas and energy, critical infrastructure has been part and parcel of their operations since they first began.

The recent amendment of the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 has meant the criteria for determining which companies in Australia are deemed critical has shifted. Critical infrastructure now includes financial institutions, food and grocery providers, and even some technology retailers. These companies are bringing teams closer, while many others are spreading out as a result of hybrid work.

Many smaller companies that have not encountered international security regulations are now required to invest millions to comply with global best practices for securing data. Due to the highly sensitive nature of the information they possess, they have become prime targets for cyber attacks and data breaches.

Companies need to find ways to avoid massive capex blowouts, while also ensuring they have secure data and operations centres that meet regulatory standards and operation needs. This in turn has created the need for people and data centres to find a new home, side-by-side.

Enter secure serviced offices — they provide the modern comfort of a workspace supported by world-class data centres, security and resilience.

Safe and sound

Critical infrastructure security extends beyond digital requirements. Physical penetration is also a major risk for companies dealing with sensitive data. We often see businesses talk about updating their cyber security protocols and protecting their data with firewalls, antivirus and encryption, but they neglect the physical security of their data and operations centres.

Whether building a prototype product, keeping a competitive edge, or handling a complex operations centre that needs constant uptime, the physical security of the workspace makes all the difference.

A secure office space is one way to ensure the safety and security of the premises. With 24/7/365 onsite security and access control, a secure space safeguards a company’s digital infrastructure. With round-the-clock onsite support, any issues that arise are dealt with quickly and efficiently, without the need for lengthy back-and-forth with a remote support desk.

Secure offices allow businesses to bring people, physical resilience, security and their IT infrastructure together to focus on their core operations without worrying about security-related issues.

Keeping the world turning

The importance of resilient power infrastructure for critical business operations cannot be overstated. Businesses that rely on continuous power supply and zero latency when accessing their data, such as control centres, financial institutions, operations centres, lab environments and manufacturing facilities, are particularly vulnerable to power outages. These outages can result in significant financial losses, operational disruptions and even threats to public safety. Having a resilient power infrastructure that can withstand power interruptions and quickly recover from them is essential for these businesses to operate smoothly and effectively.

Resilient power infrastructure includes measures such as backup power systems, redundant power sources, and load-shedding capabilities. Backup power systems, such as generators and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, can provide temporary power during a power outage. Redundant power sources, such as dual utility feeds or multiple backup generators, can provide a backup power supply if one source fails.

These secure offices are set up with safe, reliable and zero-latency access to high power compute, while the UPS-to-the-desk system ensures that no matter what, a customer can not only access their data, but also continue operating without interruption. This level of power resilience can give customers peace of mind knowing that they are inoculated against weather or power events that would otherwise disrupt their operations.

Looking ahead

Bespoke and secure workspaces are finding their position in the market as a solution for evolving critical infrastructure needs. They are much more than just an easy way to save on capex; they are a viable long-term solution for organisations that operate mission-critical infrastructure and have sensitive information to protect.

With data volumes growing exponentially, the need to access it is accelerating just as fast. For critical infrastructure, interruption to this supply is not an option, ultimately bringing the people entrusted to operate it closer to the technology.

Image credit: iStock.com/piranka