Siemens Bridges the AI Gap Between IT and OT at the Edge with IADC

[Mucitler Elektrik]

Siemens has introduced the next generation of its Industrial Automation DataCenter (IADC) platform. This hyper-converged platform integrates IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) domains in modern production processes, offering edge artificial intelligence (AI), advanced security, and resilient operations.

The platform virtualizes industrial software like WinCC and PCS 7, reducing reliance on physical computers. This increases uptime and strengthens scalability and disaster recovery capabilities. Integrated NVIDIA GPUs and BlueField DPUs enable real-time AI applications and high-quality digital twins to run at the edge. Palo Alto Networks cybersecurity solutions protect operations without compromising performance. Siemens states that this platform can reduce space requirements by up to 80% and energy consumption by up to 75%.

### Key Features of IADC

• Industrial software is virtualized and managed on a single server
• Applications like WinCC, PCS neo, and SIMATIC PCS 7 run as VMs
• In case of physical failures, VMs can be quickly migrated to another node
• Up to 80% reduction in space requirements
• 75% energy savings
• Fast AI and secure connectivity with NVIDIA GPU and BlueField DPU integration
• Advanced cybersecurity with Palo Alto Networks

### Virtualization and Performance
IADC uses the SIMATIC Virtualization as a Service solution. This solution combines IT software and physical OT assets on a hyper-converged infrastructure. Customers benefit from services such as host setup, hypervisor installation, software integration, virtual machine configuration, and operating system installation.

Applications now run as VMs on a centralized platform instead of scattered physical computers within the factory. This allows the system to restart immediately on another physical node in the event of physical hardware failures, minimizing operational downtime.

### AI and Cybersecurity Integration
In collaboration with NVIDIA, Siemens has integrated GPUs into IADC to accelerate edge AI applications. BlueField DPUs accelerate connectivity, security, and data storage operations, ensuring low latency and high data integrity.

An advanced industrial cybersecurity solution called Prisma AIRS works with NVIDIA BlueField to protect intellectual property and ensure operational continuity. The security strategy analyzes real-time data streams while remaining independent, thus not affecting network performance.

Siemens emphasizes that IADC also contributes to sustainability goals, providing space and energy savings through standardization.