RiskUKDecember2017

Redefining Storage for a Smart Future
As the dawn of smart
cities promises to
redefine the world
around us, millions of
sensors and systems
will need to work
seamlessly together.
For every innovation
facilitated by the
Internet of Things,
cameras and Artificial
Intelligence, storage
remains the critical
foundation that both
underpins and
connects new
technologies. In the
second instalment of a
two-part series
exclusive to Risk UK,
Andrew Palmer
examines the
important role of the
right storage in
supporting cities of
the future
24
www.risk-uk.com
According to market analyst Gartner, almost
21 billion Internet of Things (IoT)-
connected sensors will be in use by 2020.
From homes to city streets, from your work
lanyard to light sensors in street luminaires, the
sensors involved will capture the huge
quantities of data it takes to power a highlyautomated
and highly-efficient world.
However, while new advances in sensor
technology will drive our transition towards
smart cities (and, indeed, smarter workplaces),
some familiar hardware could be the secret to
unlocking everything analytics has to offer.
In the words of Fujitsu’s CTO Dr Joseph Reger:
“Cameras are becoming the universal sensor of
IoT. If you’re smart enough, you can figure out
what’s happening by watching and you don’t
need other sensors.”
As is always the case, these devices will all
be underpinned by storage, most commonly in
the form of hard drives. It’s tempting to think
that the technology underlying our smart future
isn’t so revolutionary after all. However familiar
they may appear and however tried-and-tested
these future use cases of hardware might seem
on first glance, it’s certainly time for a different
breed of storage to emerge.
Beginning with security
Before we can move towards automation,
efficiency and enriching our lives with
connected infrastructure, we need to start with
the basics. Governments are investing heavily
in so-called ‘safe city’ solutions. Just as in
offices, warehouses and retail environments,
safety and security are obvious priorities –
these are the very foundations upon which we
can build towards loftier goals.
In 2013, the Singapore Economic
Development Board and Ministry of Home
Affairs embarked upon a project to improve
public safety and security. Multi-million dollar
investments included video analytics using
rule-based algorithms and machine learning.
The solution could detect normal scenarios
and, in turn, abnormal incidents, from rubbish
build-up to suspicious packages. The end
results of all this work? Everything from an
increase in key safety metrics to better tourism
and enhanced citizen happiness.
Unsurprisingly, it’s an impressive
achievement that cities around the world are
looking to replicate. Indeed, based on the latest
estimates, the market for safe city solutions is
expected to exceed $20 billion by 2021. All of
this development is driven by cameras and
storage being used in new, innovative ways.
Of course, the big ambitions of city planners
and Governments don’t feel immediately
relevant when you’re trying to secure your plant
equipment or keep trespassers out of your
warehouse. That said, we’re all part of this
transition towards safe and smart cities, and
it’s fair to state that the strategies and
technologies of world leaders can be used to
transform surveillance on every level.
With a specific focus on security, surveillance
cameras have transitioned from being seen by
some as a costly expense to become a real
asset that provides tangible value. Machine
learning and deep learning are allowing
surveillance systems to build their own
intelligence without programming, while
growing more accurate and sophisticated with
every new frame of footage that they see. It’s
the marriage of more sophisticated cameras,
advanced software, intelligently-designed
algorithms and back end processing power. All
of this flows through your chosen storage.
According to IDC, the amount of the global
datasphere subject to data analysis will grow
by a factor of 50 to 5.2 ZB in 2025. It’s not just
cities – corporations, small businesses and
individuals are now all realising the huge
opportunities of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Value of analytics and AI
If there’s one thing we know about
Governments, it’s that heavy investment in safe,
smart cities wouldn’t be happening without the