Canadian Government Executive - Volume 26 - Issue 05

16 / Canadian Government Executive // November/December 2020 TECHNOLOGY based on predetermined criteria, but in the event of a surge or sag, can isolate key equipment to ensure safety and function- ality, or can stand in with battery power in the event of a complete power failure. This level of protection ensures the entire virtual network can remain online and protected in nearly any circumstance, re- ducing downtime and keeping the user experience running smoothly. As an added benefit, many newer UPS systems that can be integrated into mod- ern installations provide marked savings in energy, especially when considered over the lifespan of equipment. Many modern UPS systems are Energy Star compliant, while all modern systems are UL-Certified, ensuring the highest level of safety and efficacy. Additionally, com- panies such as Schneider Electric have focused efforts on energy efficiency with products like the Galaxy VX UPS which can save 3% in energy costs annually while offering heavy-duty protection for high and low-density servers. While this modernization benefits users, it should also benefit those installing and managing the infrastructure and systems. This has come into focus over the last few years with smart technology ingrained in our daily lives, and in turn, within new and retrofitted data centres, where moni- toring and analytics tools are becoming a standard. Doubly so when introducing edge-based installations, which can place critical IT infrastructure away from cen- tral data centre hubs and closer to where they are needed, sometimes in more inac- cessible locations where on-site support can be limited or delayed. For managers of key networks support- ing the public sector – on- and off-site – this digital line of sight means instant visibility to the health and status of mission-critical devices from anywhere, anytime regard- less of number or location. Many of these tools, like Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxu- re IT for example, also provide apps and services to ensure ease of use, allowing us- ers to monitor from mobile devices so any significant potential issues can be caught and addressed by the correct team before the danger becomes a reality. Simply put – with clear visibility and access to real-time data on system perfor- mance, system administrators can easily and effectively manage and maintain the key networks remote workers and users access every day, and the infrastructure supporting them, preventing or rapidly responding to downtime events. The Government of Canada has already proven to be well equipped to respond to our sudden transition to a digital present and prepare for an online future. As we continue to move services and workforces online, integrating power and data secu- rity, with effective management systems and an eye towards up-scaling systems in the future will be key for the public sector to support a rapidly digitizing world, for all Canadians. References: 1. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/ n1/pub/45-28-0001/2020001/ article/00026-eng.htm 2. https://www.canada.ca/en/gov- ernment/publicservice/covid-19/ working-remotely.html 3. https://www.cbc.ca/news/ canada/toronto/service-canada- quietly-offers-online-servic- es-1.5544873 4. https://www150.statcan. gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidi- en/200714/dq200714a-eng. htm?CMP=mstatcan 5. https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/ feds-looking-at-permanent- remote-work-office-needs-after- covid-19-1.4994266 David O’Reilly, VP and General Manag- er of Schneider Electric’s Secure Pow- er division. ensuring only select users can access them, often hosted by independent servers. While keeping data secure is vital, keep- ing the lights on is just as important when numerous users are logging in and out over the course of a day. As part of most modern- ization efforts, updated data centre installa- tions will feature planned redundancy and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) as part of their supporting infrastructure to en- sure vital systems remain online when deal- ing with increased demands or fluctuations. This power resiliency is a direct re- sponse to the fact that many installations are supporting a vast number of users in virtual networks or handling high fluctua- tion rates as users sign in and out for per- sonal business. These systems are current- ly, and will continue to be, under more stress as the public sector transitions to a digital environment, and looking forward, we’ll need to accommodate. When prepping the installation of a new system and its infrastructure, power resil- iency can be considered early, in line with ensuring scalability. It can be as simple as ensuring power redundancy – for exam- ple, dual power feeds and generators into servers to ensure there will always be a flow of electricity – or as complex as multi- phase smart UPS systems for more critical data centres and networks. Of course, in the case of the public sec- tor, ensuring added security, stability, and reliability is always preferred, especially when supporting a vast number of remote teams or users with sensitive data. That is where a powerful multi-phase system can be implemented for the best results. This approach often actively provides ex- actly enough power to support the system