Enterprises have extensively deployed Software Defined WAN (SDWAN) over the previous 10 years. The resolution delivers assurance for purposes, each within the cloud and within the information heart, particularly for distant customers. The migration of many enterprise purposes to the cloud throughout the pandemic has additional pushed the usage of SDWAN. But does it provide any actual advantages for utilities? Can it assist utilities with deploying WAN connectivity to substations and distributed renewable vitality websites? The reply is certainly Yes! And SDWAN may even present advantages to simplify and streamline the provisioning of WAN infrastructure to those distant operational websites.
Most utilities immediately are used to constructing giant networks using applied sciences similar to Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) and Dynamic Multipoint Virtual Private Network (DMVPN) to encrypt essential Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) communications, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) for the underlying transport community, and public or personal mobile for distant websites with no different WAN connectivity. SDWAN brings these applied sciences collectively and permits automation to enormously simplify deployments.
Automation advantages
- Zero Touch deployment of discipline gateways (i.e., no discipline employees required to configure a gateway)
- Simple provisioning of service VPNs to segregate visitors (SCADA, CCTV, PMU, IP Telephony and so forth)
- Templated configurations making it straightforward to alter configuration and push it to gateways.
- Application of unified safety insurance policies throughout a various vary of distant websites and gear
- Managing a number of backhaul connectivity choices on the gateway together with personal MPLS for essential SCADA visitors and mobile for backup and even internet-based connections for non-critical visitors, the place applicable.
- Lifecycle administration of gateways (e.g., firmware updates, alarm monitoring and statistics)
Deploying an SDWAN Overlay additionally permits the utility to regulate the end-to-end IP addressing schemes and take away the necessity to engineer advanced routing plans primarily based on the underlying transport community, very often offered by a third get together service supplier. This divorces the underlying transport community from the overlay community. Hence, it simplifies operational duties and offers much less reliance on the underlying community suppliers to make modifications, which regularly have a value related for the utility similar to including a brand new service VPN for a brand new service is so simple as including it to your gateway templates and deploying it.
Examples of SDWAN applied sciences deployed by utilities
- Substation gateway – bigger substation gateways offering resilient WAN connectivity and safety performance (Zone primarily based Firewall)
- Distribution Automation – secondary substations, pole mounted gear or different discipline property similar to reclosers or capacitor banks.
- Renewable vitality websites – connecting onshore wind generators, photo voltaic vegetation, and battery storage websites.
Distributed renewable vitality websites
Utilities are actually having to attach an array of renewable vitality property, unfold throughout vast geographic areas. Onshore wind, photo voltaic and battery storage parts are examples of property that have to be related to the utility for monitoring and/or management.
Many renewable asset operators are additionally utilizing private and non-private cloud-based purposes, together with SCADA. SDWAN can add additional advantages in assuring utility efficiency and reliability to the cloud.
Wouldn’t or not it’s helpful to have a single resolution with a selection of business gateways for various website varieties? We suppose so and Cisco offers a number of industrial routers to swimsuit all deployment websites and could be managed as a part of the Cisco SDWAN resolution.
Cisco IoT merchandise such because the Cisco Catalyst IR8340 Rugged Series Routers for bigger substations, Cisco Catalyst IR1100 Rugged Series Routers for distribution websites, and Cisco Catalyst IR8140 Heavy Duty Series Routers for outside discipline websites can all function as SDWAN edge gateways alongside with the well-known Cisco Enterprise routers (Virtual and bodily), which can be utilized for management centres and different operational websites to supply a single overlay community connecting to any website.
So, in abstract, the Cisco SDWAN resolution coupled with Cisco IoT Catalyst Industrial Routers may be very related to Utility operational networks and may provide many advantages. Without compromising safety, the answer is simple to make use of and permits to automate duties that utilities wanted to deal with manually earlier than. For Utilities already utilizing the Cisco SDWAN resolution for IT associated use instances, it’s straightforward so as to add Industrial endpoints to increase companies to the substations. For clients utilizing Cisco Industrial Routers immediately, SDWAN could be a highly effective addition to the supply and administration of the WAN.
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