New Tools Optimise Use Of Existing Data

Several sectors, including oil and gas, broadcast, transportation, power and process, are under pressure to make operations more efficient, but often their ageing IT systems are halting progress. With budget constraints, meaning the replacement of all legacy systems is not an option, advances in cloud-based analytics tools are providing cost-effective operational enhancements in areas like alarm systems.

Technology provider Ovarro is working in partnership with several companies across a range of sectors to develop software tools that enables them to gain clearer insights into what is happening in their processes and internal networks.

Cloud-based applications are providing opportunities for more resilient and flexible network management options, enabling them to make better use of existing data, writes Alan Cunningham, subject matter expert at Ovarro. In many cases the new tools are using data that has already been captured, but has not been streamlined or managed effectively. 

“A lot of our clients talk about being data rich, information poor,” explains Alan Cunningham. “They’re collecting vast amounts of data out in the field from various devices, such as remote terminal units, but they do not have the tools to allow them to see the wood for the trees.

If they can better use what is already being collected, they will be able to manage their operations far more efficiently without the expenditure of replacing legacy assets.

 “A supplier could launch a fantastic piece of technology, but if a customer needs to invest heavily in Capex products to see the benefits it might not be a big seller. If they can take information that already exists and see historical patterns, it becomes more powerful.”according to Cunningham

One example of this is AlarmVision, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) application that presents real-time dashboards, which analyses the stream of alarms coming into a company’s control room from its telemetry system.

SaaS applications are cloud-based and can be accessed via any device with an internet connection, as opposed to a software product that is entirely installed on a device or network.

AlarmVision dashboards give a measure of control over alarms, based on internationally recognised key performance indicators, and allow action to be taken to help operators maintain or gain control. The ability to gain real-time, or backwards-looking, analysis of how the control room is operating against the standards provides an insight into whether there is a risk of critical alarms being missed.

Users can also identify the root cause of the largest proportion of alarms being generated on their system – for example, a faulty piece of equipment could be causing 10 per cent of total alarms on a given day. For instances like this, it gives companies and municipalities insight to action and prioritise resources. However, missing any of these alarms, because they are swamped by the nuisance alarms, could be catastrophic for customers, the environment and the company. In fact, in the worst-case scenario, this could also lead to penalties or even prosecutions which must be avoided.

If these insights, provided by AlarmVision, have enabled a control room to act on the network to reduce the noise, the nuisance alarms, they are far less likely to miss the most important alerts. And when the noise goes quiet, there is a chance to see what is real versus what is nuisance.

Looking ahead, Ovarro’s next-generation analytics tools are also being designed as SaaS programmes to reduce customer costs in configuration, maintenance, support and upgrade. While additional functionalities are currently being developed to add to AlarmVision, Ovarro’s end goal is to completely remove alarms from the equation.

Ovarro wants to enable companies to be fully predictive and to be looking at how an alarm can be predicted before it becomes an alarm, moving companies from a reactive model to a proactive model.This is where Ovarro wants to take its alarm management system, as this is the direction the oil and gas, broadcast, transportation, power and process sectors need to be moving in.

Ovarro

You Might Also Read:

TeamViewer Remote Control App Gets A Security Upgrade:

 

« 2021 Global Cyber Security Event
Home Working Creates More Cyber Attacks »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Check Point

Directory of Suppliers

Practice Labs

Practice Labs

Practice Labs is an IT competency hub, where live-lab environments give access to real equipment for hands-on practice of essential cybersecurity skills.

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North IT (North Infosec Testing) are an award-winning provider of web, software, and application penetration testing.

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

TÜV SÜD Academy UK

TÜV SÜD Academy UK

TÜV SÜD offers expert-led cybersecurity training to help organisations safeguard their operations and data.

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

MarQuest

MarQuest

MarQuest provides services and systems to enhance network reliability and security.

PortSwigger

PortSwigger

PortSwigger's Burp Suite is an integrated platform for performing security testing of web applications.

BMS Group

BMS Group

BMS is an independent, employee-owned specialist insurance broking group. Broking solutions include Cyber and Technology.

Auxilium Cyber Security

Auxilium Cyber Security

Auxilium Cyber Security is independent information security consultancy company providing cyber security services tailored to meet the evolving needs of organizations worldwide.

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

Horiba Mira

Horiba Mira

Horiba Mira is a global provider of automotive engineering, research and test services including services and solutions for automotive cybersecurity.

Sentinel

Sentinel

Sentinel works with governments, media and defence agencies to help protect democracies from disinformation campaigns by developing a state-of-the-art AI detection platform.

RevBits

RevBits

RevBits provides high-performance cybersecurity solutions including email security, endpoint security, deception technology and PAM solution to enterprise companies and public sector organizations.

CIBR Warriors

CIBR Warriors

CIBR Warriors are a leading cyber security and networking staffing company that provides workforce solutions with businesses nationwide in the USA.

FCI

FCI

FCI is a NIST-Based Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) offering Cybersecurity Compliance Enablement Technologies & Services to Financial Services organizations.

Orpheus Cyber

Orpheus Cyber

Orpheus Cyber provides predictive and actionable intelligence to our clients - enabling them to anticipate, prepare for and respond to the cyber threats they face.

NETAND

NETAND

NETAND privileged access and identity management solutions will secure your business from cyber threats.

Incyber

Incyber

Incyber is a fully integrated network and cybersecurity solutions provider contracted to safeguard public and private enterprise, high value data and sensitive industries.

Innov8tif

Innov8tif

Innov8tif is an AI company specialised in providing ID assurance solutions — helping digital businesses to prevent frauds by verifying and authenticating customers identity.

INT3L

INT3L

The INT3L group (formerly Defentek) is a provider of national security and intelligence solutions, systems and services.

ZeroThreat

ZeroThreat

ZeroThreat, a vulnerability scanning and automated pentesting tool, accelerates vulnerability detection 5x faster with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency in real-time.