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COVER STORY
ARE YOUR IT AND OT SYSTEMS RUNNING ON BORROWED TIME?
If your technology is past its prime, then your business operations could be at risk. Here, Paul Holding, founder of systems integrator Ripley Solutions, discusses the importance of obsolescence management
N
othing lasts forever and that includes your IT and operational technology. When your business relies on critical
components it can be tempting to maintain the status quo – after all if it’s not broken why fix it? Most hardware and software vendors
have an end-of-life policy, outlining when a product will reach the end of its lifecycle and what that means for users. As well as stating when a product can no longer be purchased, it includes key dates for vital support. This ranges from dates when maintenance releases and patches for security vulnerabilities will stop, to dates when technical support and replacement parts will no longer be available. So what does this mean for you and your
business? These key dates are out of your control but represent important milestones when your technology will become obsolete, and the level of risk and total cost of ownership will increase. Think about how this could impact your
daily operations. What will you do if a key IT or operational technology component fails and you can’t get the support you need? What happens if a hacker exploits an unpatched vulnerability and infects your computers with ransomware? Even if your systems are bespoke,
developed in-house or by a third party specifically for your business, eventually the knowledge, skills and tools needed to support these systems will almost certainly be in short supply. The solution lies in planning ahead. You need to prepare for the inevitable moment
14 MAY 2022 | PROCESS & CONTROL
when your technology becomes obsolete and take proactive steps to manage the consequences. Obsolescence management can help you navigate the pitfalls of running ageing technology. You can make informed decisions based on risks specific to your business and mitigate these risks by putting solutions in place before problems arise. If you don’t plan for obsolescence, you’re
risking higher operational costs, unplanned downtime and cyber-attacks – not to mention an impact on the competitiveness and growth of your business. Careful planning is key: IT and operational
technology components rarely work in isolation and making a change in one place can have knock on effects. If you replace one component, it might also be necessary to upgrade others and testing is vital to ensure there are no unintended consequences. Sometimes vendors offer an upgrade
path from the version of a component that’s nearing the end of its functional life to their most recent version. If your vendor doesn’t offer a suitable replacement, replacing the aging component presents an opportunity to explore new technology options as part of a wider digital transformation strategy. In a perfect world, you would always
replace IT and operational technology systems before the end-of-support date. Sometimes, however, this might not be feasible because of complexity, required downtime or even the lack of a suitable replacement. In some environments, the major barrier to
an upgrade or replacement is cost. This is especially true in highly controlled and regulated environments where even small changes to an approved solution can be both expensive and time consuming. Even if your environment isn’t subject to regulatory oversight, the ripple-effect of making a
change in one place can have consequences elsewhere: what starts as a simple upgrade can turn into a massive undertaking. In other cases, there simply isn’t the appetite to upgrade or replace a key IT or operational technology component that has served you well for many years. You still have options, even when upgrading or replacing is not feasible. Often old computers, servers and
applications can be virtualised so they are no longer dependent upon ageing hardware and instead run on modern and fully supported hardware. You’ll no longer need to worry that a hardware failure could stop your business-critical operations. Where virtualisation isn’t possible, purchasing spares can offer you the security of knowing that replacement parts are on-hand when you need them. This still carries a risk: you will need someone with the right skills and knowledge to install the replacement to get you back up and running. Other risks remain such as a lack of bug fixes, maintenance releases or patches for security vulnerabilities. Whether you’re looking to replace aging
technology components or explore alternative options as part of an obsolesce management or digital transformation strategy it can be hugely beneficial to work with a specialist such as Ripley Solutions who can guide you through the process. If you would like to discuss your specific
obsolesce management issues and digital transformation strategy with us in person, you can find us at Manufacturing Expo, NEC Birmingham, 8th and 9th June 2022, on stand G36. To book a meeting with us, contact the team on
info@ripleysolutions.com.
Ripley Solutions E:
info@ripleysolutions.com
www.ripleysolutions.com
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