AI and ML are not just about operations; they are integral to our security posture: Gopi Thangavel, VP & Head of Infrastructure, Projects, and Security Operations, Reliance Industries
In recent years, the growth and development of data centres in India have been nothing short of remarkable. These data centre facilities have emerged as critical pillars of the country’s digital infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in supporting a wide array of industries and businesses. In an exclusive interview with Express Computer, Gopi Thangavel, Vice President and Head of Infrastructure, Projects, and Security Operations at Reliance Industries, shed light on the proactive steps organisations are currently taking to bolster their IT infrastructure. These measures not only aim to reduce operational costs but also focus on enhancing security and sustainability, all made possible through the strategic utilisation of data centres.
What are some of the recent data centre initiatives that organisations have been undertaking to enhance their IT infrastructure and operations?
Migrating to the cloud is one of the most important data centre initiatives that organisations can undertake. Cloud computing offers a number of advantages, such as scalability, flexibility, and cost savings. By migrating to the cloud, organisations can avoid the upfront costs of purchasing and maintaining their own data centre infrastructure. They can also scale their resources up or down as needed, which can help them to save money. Additionally, cloud providers offer a variety of security features, which can help organisations protect their data.
Another important data centre initiative is the deployment of edge computing. Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm where data is processed closer to the source. This can help to improve latency and reduce the load on data centres. Edge computing is becoming increasingly popular for applications such as real-time streaming and IoT. By deploying edge computing, organisations can improve the performance of their applications and reduce the cost of their data centre infrastructure.
Investing in artificial intelligence and machine learning is another way that organisations can enhance their IT infrastructure and operations. AI and ML can be used to automate tasks, improve efficiency, and improve security in data centres. For example, AI can be used to predict when equipment is likely to fail, so that maintenance can be scheduled before it causes an outage. ML can also be used to optimise energy usage and improve security. By investing in AI and ML, organisations can make their data centres more efficient and secure.
Finally, organisations are increasingly looking for ways to make their data centres more sustainable. This can be done by using renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and reducing the use of water. By making their data centres more sustainable, organisations can reduce their environmental impact and save money on their energy bills.
These are just a few of the many data centre initiatives that organisations are undertaking to enhance their IT infrastructure and operations. The specific initiatives that an organisation undertakes will depend on its specific needs and goals.
With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), how to leverage these technologies to optimise data centre operations, improve energy efficiency, and reduce costs?
All CIOs or IT Heads’ primary focus is to ensure that the organisation’s IT infrastructure and operations are not just efficient but also strategically aligned with our business goals. Leveraging AI and ML in our data centre initiatives has been a crucial part of achieving this synergy. Predictive maintenance has significantly impacted our uptime and operational efficiency. By proactively identifying and addressing potential equipment failures before they disrupt our operations, we’ve been able to minimise costly downtime and optimise our maintenance resources.
Dynamic resource allocation has been a game-changer. It allows us to ensure that we are utilising our computing resources optimally, reducing energy consumption during off-peak hours, which directly translates into cost savings. Our cooling optimisation efforts have not only reduced our energy consumption but also contributed to our sustainability goals. AI algorithms continuously monitor and adjust our cooling systems, maintaining an ideal environment for our data centre equipment.
Energy management systems, powered by AI, have given us a real-time view of our power usage. This visibility has allowed us to pinpoint areas of energy waste and implement strategies to cut down on consumption, ultimately reducing operational costs. Workload management powered by AI is about efficiency. It enables us to allocate resources precisely where they are needed, reducing our physical server footprint, which translates to both energy and cost savings. Precision in capacity planning has been instrumental. ML models help us forecast future capacity requirements accurately, preventing over-provisioning and saving on capital expenditures.
AI and ML are not just about operations; they are integral to our security posture. Real-time threat detection and incident response ensure that our data centre remains secure against evolving threats. Renewable Energy Integration underscores our commitment to sustainability. AI helps us optimise the use of green energy sources when available, reducing both costs and our environmental impact. Cost modeling and decision-making, with the assistance of AI-powered tools, allow us to evaluate the financial implications of different data centre strategies, empowering us to make informed and cost-effective decisions.
Lastly, streamlined automation is essential for operational efficiency. AI-driven automation reduces errors and enhances overall efficiency by handling routine tasks such as server provisioning, backup, and patch management.
In conclusion, our strategic adoption of AI and ML in our data centre initiatives not only optimises our operations but also positions us for future growth. It’s a holistic approach that not only reduces costs but also enhances our sustainability efforts and security posture. These technologies are integral to our IT strategy, and we continue to explore new ways to leverage them effectively for the benefit of our organisation.
What strategies or best practices were adopted to ensure data centre security in the face of increasing cyber threats and vulnerabilities?
Implement a layered security approach: This means using a combination of technical, administrative, and physical controls to protect your data centre. Technical controls include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data encryption. Administrative controls include security policies and procedures, such as password requirements and access control lists. Physical controls include security cameras, fences, and access control systems.
Keep your software up to date: Software updates often include security patches that can help to protect your data centre from known vulnerabilities.
Monitor your network 24/7: This will help you to identify and respond to suspicious activity quickly. Train your employees on security awareness: Employees are often the weakest link in the security chain. By training them on security best practices, you can help to reduce the risk of human error. Have a disaster recovery plan in place: This will help you to recover from a data breach or other disaster.
In addition to these general strategies, adopt some specific best practices for data centre security, such as:
Segment your network: This means dividing my network into different subnetworks, each with its own security controls. This helps to contain the damage if an attacker gains access to one part of the network.
Use micro-segmentation: This is a more granular form of network segmentation that can be used to isolate individual applications and servers. This helps to further reduce the attack surface.
Implement a zero-trust security model: This model assumes that no user or device can be trusted by default. All access to data centre resources must be verified and authorised.
What steps are you taking to ensure the scalability and flexibility of the data centre infrastructure, considering the exponential growth of data and the need for quick deployment of new services?
Using a cloud-based infrastructure: Cloud computing offers a number of advantages for scalability and flexibility. For example, it is easy to add or remove resources as needed, and it is possible to deploy new services quickly and easily.
Using virtualisation: Virtualisation allows me to run multiple servers on a single physical machine. This helps to improve resource utilisation and makes it easier to scale the data centre infrastructure.
Using containerisation: Containerisation is a newer technology that is even more lightweight than virtualisation. It allows me to package applications and their dependencies into a single container that can be deployed on any server. This makes it even easier to scale and deploy new services.
Using a software-defined data centre (SDDC): An SDDC decouples the hardware and software components of the data centre, making it more flexible and scalable. For example, I can add or remove servers without having to make any changes to the underlying network infrastructure.
Using automation: Automation can help me to streamline the deployment and management of the data centre infrastructure. This can help to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
How do you balance the need for high availability and disaster recovery capabilities with cost-effectiveness in data centre strategy?
On the one hand, businesses need to ensure that their data centres are highly available, meaning that they are able to operate without downtime. This is essential for businesses that rely on their data centres for critical operations, such as ERP or CRM systems. On the other hand, businesses also need to be mindful of costs. Disaster recovery (DR) / business continuity (BCP) solutions can be expensive, and it is important to choose a solution that is appropriate for the business’s needs and budget.
There are several ways to balance the need for high availability and disaster recovery (DR) capabilities with cost-effectiveness. One approach is to leverage cloud-based infrastructure, as cloud computing offers advantages such as scalability, flexibility, and affordability. Cloud providers offer various DR services, including disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS) and site recovery (SR), which can be tailored to meet specific business needs. Another key strategy is the use of virtualisation and containerisation, which helps improve resource utilisation and simplifies the process of scaling and recovering the data centre infrastructure. Automation also plays a critical role, as it streamlines the deployment and management of the infrastructure, ultimately reducing costs and enhancing efficiency.
It’s important to select a DR solution that aligns with the specific needs and budget of the business. There are a range of DR solutions available, from simple and inexpensive options to more complex and costly ones, so businesses must evaluate what fits best with their operational requirements and financial resources.
As the regulatory landscape around data privacy and protection continues to evolve, what measures have you implemented to ensure compliance within data centre operations?
Developing and implementing a comprehensive data privacy and protection policy (DPDP) is essential for organisations to safeguard data privacy and security. This policy outlines the organisation’s commitment to protecting data and establishes the procedures required to comply with all relevant data privacy regulations, including the Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Regular audits should be conducted to identify and mitigate any potential compliance risks. Additionally, employees should be trained on the organisation’s data privacy policies and their responsibilities in maintaining data security.
Deploying advanced technologies, such as data encryption, access control, and intrusion detection, further strengthens the organisation’s data protection efforts. When working with third-party vendors, it is crucial to ensure they are equally committed to data privacy and security. A Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) process should be implemented to allow individuals to exercise their rights under the Personal Data Protection Act, including accessing, correcting, and erasing personal data. Moreover, a Data Privacy Impact Assessment (DPIA) process helps evaluate the privacy risks associated with new data processing activities.
A Data Protection Officer (DPO) should be appointed to oversee compliance with data privacy regulations. Emphasising the importance of data privacy to senior executives is key, as it underpins the organisation’s ethical responsibility and legal obligations. Investing in the right tools, technologies, and qualified personnel helps implement and maintain effective data protection measures. Regular monitoring ensures that the organisation remains compliant and that data privacy practices are continually improved.
