A Schneider and Cisco collaboration

Schneider Electric – a global specialist in energy management and automation – announced the new baseline integrated SCADA system (BLISS) solution. BLISS combines Schneider Electric’s Enterprise OASyS SCADA — and its advanced application with IT infrastructure — with compute and networking provided by Cisco to deliver a IoT-enabled holistic pipeline management platform for new pipelines or upgrades to systems. A key aim is to provide operators with real-time visibility into the structural integrity of the pipeline to enable maintenance to be planned or immediate repairs to be effected.

IT infrastructure

While a top SCADA solution is a critical piece of pipeline management and control, operators also must have significant IT infrastructure to run on, including significant server operation, networking and IT security. Developing this infrastructure can be costly and time intensive, possibly requiring several partners even before beginning the process of integrating SCADA software to run the pipeline.

Pipeline operators now have a one-stop partner for implementing new converged pipeline management and control solutions. Cisco and Schneider Electric bring their combined expertise in industrial IT hardware and software to provide a seamlessly integrated pipeline management design to deliver maximum reliability, scalability and security with a single cohesive system optimised for control room requirements. It integrates the SCADA service with modern fit-for-purpose IT infrastructure, including compute, network and data traffic embedded management, collaboration and IoT cybersecurity.

Comments from Cisco

“We are excited about the innovative possibilities this collaboration with Schneider Electric on Connected Pipeline solutions opens up for the oil and gas industry,” said Tony Shakib, VP of IoE Vertical Solutions Group, Cisco. “IT infrastructure development and the integration with SCADA services can represent a significant capital and time cost for companies. An all-in-one integrated design will significantly improve new project efficiency and quality and life cycle cost.”

The ability to implement IT infrastructure and a SCADA platform together allows for much more efficient rollout, with simplified physical and virtual networks, better scalability and flexibility, and less design and testing time. The integrated design of BLISS also offers several operational benefits, including stronger, more integrated cybersecurity from control room to the field, and faster, more reliable data and command processing.

Comments from Schneider

“As a first-of-its-kind solution, we are proud to offer a more efficient, reliable and highly secure pipeline management service to oil and gas companies seeking to keep pace with a rapidly evolving industry, particularly in pipeline development,” said Larry Stack, Senior Vice President, Oil and Gas Pipeline Applications for Schneider Electric. “Our partnership with Cisco continues our tradition of creating cutting-edge solutions for the current and future challenges of our clients.”

In addition to the integrated SCADA solution, Cisco and Schneider Electric also will be rolling out an integrated networking and telecommunications service for pipelines that operators can utilise. When Schneider Electric automation solutions that integrate process, energy, and security are combined with BLISS, the results are an end-to-end seamless solution for the pipeline.

Edited from source by Stephanie Roker

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/06102015/a-schneider-and-cisco-collaboration/