Electricity and Control April 2025

Industry 4.0 + IIoT: Products + services

Systems integrator achieves certified IoT specialisation

- Catalyst industrial switch es and routers for reliable, secure connectivity, and - IoT solutions for PLC au tomation and data collec tion. “Industrial organisations are eager to harness IoT data to improve eiciency and productivity, but they need to do so without compromising security or operational reliability,” Froneman continues. “With our expanded Cisco IoT capabilities, which encompass best-in-class OT visibility, zero trust security, PLC automation and industrial networking solutions, Datacentrix is well positioned to help clients achieve these objectives.

Leading hybrid ICT systems integrator and managed services provider, Datacentrix, has achieved the Cisco Internet of Things (IoT) Specialisation. This confirms Datacentrix’s expertise in the deployment of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions, which empower its clients in industries such as manufacturing, automotive, energy, oil and gas and critical infrastructure, to accelerate their progress in digital transformation. According to Statista [1] , the African IIoT market is expected to maintain a robust annual growth rate of 15.33% between 2024 and 2029, reaching a market value of USD 8.14 billion by 2029. However, with this growth and the widespread adoption of smarter technologies comes an expanding potential attack surface for cyberthreats. “As the industrial sector increasingly adopts IIoT technologies, cybersecurity and seamless connectivity have become critical concerns,” says Andre Froneman, Operational Technology (OT) Solutions Specialist at Datacentrix. Cisco’s 2024 State of Industrial Networking Report identifies cybersecurity as the industrial sector’s biggest reported challenge, with cybersecurity risks cited as the number one internal barrier to growth. Additionally, 89% of respondents indicated that cybersecurity compliance is critical for their operational networks. Froneman adds: “Cisco’s leadership was further reinforced in the Forrester Wave™ Operational Technology Security Solutions, Q2 2024 report [2] , where it was recognised for its ‘reliable and comprehensive OT security platform’ and ‘strong networking capabilities’, including a rugged line of hardware designed for challenging environments.” Achieving the Cisco IoT Specialisation required Datacentrix engineers to undergo rigorous training and testing on Cisco’s industrial networking and security portfolio, covering key technologies such as its: - Cyber Vision for comprehensive OT/ICS asset visibility and threat detection - Secure Equipment Access to enable Zero Trust Network Ac cess for industrial environments

Andre Froneman, OT Solutions Specialist at Datacentrix.

“Cisco’s industrial IoT portfolio complements our existing OT and automation expertise. We look forward to leveraging these new capabilities to deliver greater value to our clients as they advance digital transformation in their workspace,” he says. Datacentrix is a Cisco Tier 1 Gold Certified Partner holding additional specialisations in advanced data centre architecture, security architecture, collaboration architecture, and enterprise networks architecture. The company is also authorised to sell enterprise agreements in data centre, cloud, security and collaboration.

References: [1]. https://www.statista.com/outlook/tmo/internet-of-things/industrial-iot/africa [2]. https://www.forrester.com/report/the-forrester-wave-tm-operational-technolo gy-security-solutions-q2-2024/RES180867

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generated during daylight hours. The combination enables great er levels of renewable energy coverage. Bryce Allan, Head of Sustainability at Teraco, says, “The con clusion of this PPA supports our sustainable growth pathway. We

fleet of generation facilities and third party IPPs, we are well positioned to provide tailored and flexible solutions to help companies, like Teraco, reduce their carbon foot print.”

appreciate NOA’s collaborative approach in complementing Teraco’s renewable energy supply and look forward to a long partnership as we journey towards our 100% renewable energy goal.” Karel Cornelissen, CEO at NOA, says, “NOA is proud to deliver its suite of renew able energy products to support Africa’s largest data centre operator’s ambitious renewable energy goals. Teraco is an in dustry leader and continues to set the bar high for renewable energy initiatives across South Africa’s data centre industry. By aggregating renewable energy from our

Teraco is aiming for 100% renewable energy to power its data centres.

APRIL 2025 Electricity + Control

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