Introduction
Manufacturers are not just responsible for delivering end products to consumers. In societies across the world, manufacturing organisations are often a vital cog in ensuring economic stability, defence readiness, and public infrastructure. In the UK, many manufacturers are considered Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), on par with the country's National Health Service (NHS).
To that end, considering these crucial national responsibilities and, of course, commitments to shareholders, manufacturers must keep up with the latest industry trends and developments. These constitute the highest priorities, and in this whitepaper, we'll document what they are and how network modernisation can help organisations achieve them.
Reliance on legacy networks to support the delivery of solutions that align with the strategic priorities of manufacturers presents multiple challenges. These networks are inherently slow and inhibitive, making it difficult to gain insights into the business to implement necessary changes.
Modern manufacturers require velocity and agility to achieve their targets. However, with a legacy network architecture based on siloed Operational Technology (OT), stakeholders find it difficult to identify the location, characteristics, and security of network assets.
Driving Agility With Cutting-Edge Network Architecture
There has been a fundamental shift in how manufacturers perceive network architecture. In the past, bulky and disparate networking systems were viewed as contributors to technical debt, causing bottlenecks and surpassing budgetary constraints.
Today, manufacturers must embrace network modernisation to enhance business agility and achieve their goals. A recent report revealed that 86% of network operators or administrators intended to modernise their networks, but only 5% had actually completed the task.
Failing to modernise network architecture makes manufacturers vulnerable to cybercrime, reduces their resilience to operational setbacks, and slows their ability to meet customer needs and regulatory requirements. As we explore the top priorities for manufacturers and their alignment with network systems, it becomes clear that network modernisation is a critical enabler for success.
of network operators or administrators intended to modernise their networks
had actually completed the task