Rethinking cybersecurity for an always-on digital enterprise

In this exclusive article for DCNN, Sharat Sinha (pictured above), CEO at Airtel Business, assesses how unified security platforms combining AI-driven threat detection, automated response, and human oversight can strengthen cyber resilience across increasingly complex digital environments: The world has entered an era where more than 20 billion connected devices generate continuous digital exhaust. Every transaction, sensor read, API call, and remote login now feeds a vast digital nervous system supporting economies, governments, and critical infrastructure. As adversaries weaponise automation and AI to scale reconnaissance and exploitation, the cyberattack surface has expanded faster than traditional defences can adapt. To safeguard national and enterprise resilience, security must evolve from fragmented, reactive controls to an AI-powered, human-led, always-on model delivered through a unified security platform. Traditional architectures were designed for static networks and stable perimeters; they were never built for cloud-native workloads, edge computing, distributed workforces, or API-centric digital ecosystems. Threat actors, however, now operate at machine speed, using AI to craft hyper-targeted phishing, escalate privileges autonomously, and exploit misconfigurations in minutes. Meanwhile, breach discovery in many organisations still spans months. This widening gap between attacker speed and defender response highlights the need for continuous, intelligence-driven protection across network, identity, cloud, and data layers. Using AI to identify weaknesses Within this shift, AI is emerging as a force multiplier - not a replacement - for human expertise. AI-driven analytics reduce false positives by up to 60%, correlate billions of signals across hybrid environments, and detect weak anomalies invisible to manual analysis. Predictive models identify the vulnerabilities most likely to be weaponised, shrinking patch backlogs and strengthening overall resilience. Behavioural algorithms reinforce identity security by spotting subtle deviations that precede credential compromise. Even configuration hygiene improves as AI continuously validates cloud and network settings, eliminating exposures before they become incidents. AI is also enabling entirely new security capabilities. AI assistants for security leaders can summarise incidents, explain posture drift, and produce board-ready insights in seconds. Autonomous SOC workflows now triage, enrich, and contain threats across identity, endpoint, and cloud layers. DevOps and cloud engineering teams use AI copilots to enforce guardrails and detect compliance drift, addressing misconfiguration risks that consistently rank amongst the top causes of breaches worldwide. These advancements reflect a broader global shift towards unified, AI-first cybersecurity platforms, where intelligence becomes the connective fabric linking telemetry from identity, network, cloud, and data. Rather than operating dozens of siloed tools, organisations gain a single operating layer where detection, decision making, and response flow seamlessly. This consolidation accelerates containment, eliminates blind spots, and frees up security teams to focus on high-impact decisions. AI also strengthens data protection and regulatory alignment, including emerging requirements under India’s DPDP Act. Automated data classification, policy violation monitoring, retention enforcement, and real-time breach alerts shift privacy oversight from periodic checks to continuous assurance. As India’s digital economy scales - driven by cloud adoption, fintech innovation, and public digital infrastructure - AI-driven governance ensures both compliance and protection without increasing operational burden. Confidence in an unpredictable landscape The global direction is clear: AI-first, human-centred, unified platforms are becoming the foundation of modern cyber resilience. With cyber incidents costing organisations millions of dollars and often causing systemic ripple effects, intelligent consolidation is no longer an efficiency strategy; it is a national and enterprise resilience strategy. Looking ahead, cybersecurity will be defined by how effectively organisations integrate AI across the entire lifecycle (posture management, threat prediction, protection, governance, and automated response) whilst empowering human judgement at every critical decision point. In a world where threats operate at machine speed, always-on, AI-powered, end-to-end protection is becoming the new standard. Organisations that embrace unified, AI-driven architectures will be best positioned to safeguard their people, data, and services with confidence in an increasingly unpredictable digital landscape.

DTGen acquires Realpower to expand critical power services

DTGen, a UK supplier of standby diesel generators and energy systems, has acquired Irish generator maintenance specialist Realpower, expanding its engineering capacity across the UK and Ireland and creating at least 10 new jobs. The acquisition by DCC Energy Ireland brings together DTGen’s 22 years of experience in standby power generation and project delivery with Realpower’s 16 years of generator maintenance expertise. The combined business has more than 110 employees, including 70 engineers, operating from DTGen’s locations in Glasgow, Bristol, and Northampton, alongside Realpower’s base in Moydrum, County Westmeath. The value of the acquisition has not been disclosed. The expanded business will provide services covering system design, installation, commissioning, maintenance, remote monitoring, and lifecycle support. DTGen expects the acquisition to increase its engineering capacity, geographical coverage, and emergency power support across both markets. DTGen has delivered projects across retail, financial services, healthcare, the public sector, and major infrastructure, including more than 50 data centre projects worldwide. The company will also draw on its European trading platform to support customers and projects across the continent. Its capabilities include those of PCS, a power controls specialist acquired around 18 months ago, which designs, builds, tests, and commissions power management systems. Realpower provides planned preventative maintenance, inspections, servicing, and emergency repairs for critical power infrastructure across Ireland. Expanded services for data centres and critical infrastructure Nigel Newton, Managing Director at DTGen, says, “Realpower has established itself as one of Ireland’s most respected maintenance providers, with service capabilities that complement DTGen’s generator project delivery expertise, making it an excellent addition to the DCC Energy Ireland and DTGen group. "With Farrell Spollen recently announced as Managing Director of Ireland, he will play a key role within the DTGen team in driving our growth ambitions and strengthening our presence in the Irish market. “For engineers and consultants working in high-demand environments, including data centres, the combined business offers practical engineering expertise, local service support, and the scale to help customers investing in generator systems choose a delivery partner with confidence.” Realpower’s customers will continue to receive support from its existing team, with access to the wider resources of the combined business under the leadership of the company's newly appointed Irish Managing Director, Farrell Spollen. Michael Tumulty, owner of Realpower, comments, “Joining forces with DTGen and being backed by DCC Energy Ireland is a positive step for Realpower. Our commitment to providing specialist support to organisations across Ireland will not change, and our customers will receive the same trusted service and expertise from our team. “Now strengthened by DTGen’s project experience, wider engineering capability, and the scale of DCC Energy Ireland, it creates an opportunity to continue supporting customers’ critical power needs and to grow the services we can offer in the years ahead.” Rob Flanagan, Commercial Director at DCC Energy Ireland, adds, “The acquisition of Realpower reflects DCC Energy Ireland’s continued investment in specialist energy businesses that support customers with critical infrastructure and resilience. “Alongside our fuels, power, and solar capabilities, our focus is on supporting businesses that deliver long-term value to customers, while ensuring they have the investment, backing, and expertise to develop further. This acquisition strengthens our ability to support customers across Ireland with dependable, future-focused energy solutions.” For more from DTGen, click here.

Edge to core: Fibre infrastructure and the retrofit challenge

AFL, a manufacturer of fibre optic cables and connectivity equipment, has published a new blog exploring how distributed AI workloads change fibre infrastructure requirements across edge, metro/regional, and core environments. The blog also addresses a practical question for operators with facilities already in service: at what point does a brownfield retrofit stop making sense compared with a greenfield new build? Industry forecasts suggest inference will overtake training as the dominant use of AI data centres by 2027, shifting demand towards regional and edge sites that can respond within 1–10ms. This means edge, regional, and core tiers can no longer be planned as separate projects, since every tier depends on shared fibre infrastructure. The blog outlines what a fibre retrofit assessment should cover and explains how separating long-life backbone elements from short-life connectivity helps operators avoid designing for obsolescence. You can read it in full here: Edge to Core: Fiber Infrastructure for Distributed AI Growth and the Retrofit Challenge For more from AFL, click here. This article is sponsored by AFL

Kao Data launches public data centre information hub

Data centre developer and operator Kao Data has launched Data Centres Explained, a free website developed with industry trade associations techUK and the Data Centre Alliance (DCA) to answer the public's questions about data centres. The website provides information about what data centres are, how they operate, and their role in everyday digital services, including online banking, contactless payments, streaming, navigation, and healthcare. As new data centre developments are proposed across the UK, the resource aims to address questions from local communities about water use, electricity bills, noise, traffic, and construction. Visitors can explore a data centre zone by zone, from the data hall to the infrastructure that supports digital services. The website also includes a question-and-answer section covering topics such as water pressure, electricity costs, backup generators, and power cuts. A separate section explains the stages of construction, how disruption is managed, and the potential for skilled jobs and supply chain opportunities. Website invites questions from the public The platform includes a portal where visitors can submit questions, with answers added to the resource over time. Kao Data says content is informed by official data and guidance, industry standards, and technical experts, as well as being checked before publication and reviewed as technology and policy develop. Spencer Lamb, CEO at Kao Data, comments, “Data centres are the infrastructure behind the digital world and play a pivotal role in modern life; they are as fundamental as our roads, water systems, railways, and power lines. "There is a lot of conflicting information about data centres and people deserve clear and honest answers about what these buildings are, how they work, and what they mean for the places they live. "Data Centres Explained gives everyone somewhere to find those answers, and I would encourage our peers across the industry to lend their knowledge to it. The more expert voices we bring together, the more useful and trusted this resource will become.” Matt Evans, COO at techUK, adds, “Data centres have only recently moved into the public eyeline and, like most new infrastructure assets, they are often misunderstood. Data Centres Explained is exactly the type of open and clear engagement that help us all understand the role that they play in our lives, how they operate, and what they can contribute to local communities.” Venessa Moffat, Managing Director at the DCA, says, “Data Centres Explained is an important step towards building public trust through greater transparency, addressing the questions communities genuinely care about and replacing speculation with understanding.” Kao Data is inviting data centre operators, engineers, suppliers, planners, and sustainability specialists to contribute answers within their areas of expertise. Contributors will be credited, with the aim of developing a shared resource for the industry and local communities. For more from Kao Data, click here.

AirTrunk secures A$4.25bn green loan for SYD3

Australian data centre operator AirTrunk has secured A$4.25 billion (£2.2 billion) in green financing to expand its SYD3 data centre campus in Western Sydney, with completion expected by mid-2028. The financing will fund the continued development of SYD3, adding infrastructure for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and other digital services used by Australian businesses, government, and communities. AirTrunk expects the project to support more than 10,000 jobs across construction, engineering, logistics, trades, and safety. The green loan includes margin adjustments, with contributions from any resulting savings directed towards local charities working in STEM education, digital equity, biodiversity, conservation, sustainable innovation, and disaster relief. AirTrunk says SYD3 is generating opportunities for contractors and suppliers across Western Sydney and Australia, including in manufacturing, freight, civil engineering, and electrical and mechanical services. In FY26, the company worked with 615 Australian suppliers, accounting for A$3.4 billion (£1.8 billion) in supplier activity. Expansion brings jobs and supply chain investment To support construction, AirTrunk is using a 25,000m² buffer zone in Western Sydney to store, stage, and pre-commission equipment before delivery to the campus. The company has also invested in dedicated charter vessels to transport equipment through Port Botany, Port Kembla, and other locations. Tom Mackellar, Vice President of Origination and Market Expansion at AirTrunk, explains, “SYD3 is a long-term investment in Western Sydney and Australia’s digital capability, backed by the confidence of leading Australian and international banks. "As the campus develops, it’s building a regional ecosystem through active hiring, sustained project activity, and strategic supply chain partnerships, creating opportunities for local workers, contractors, and businesses while delivering infrastructure Australians increasingly rely on. "The green financing also reflects our view that sustainability should be built into how digital infrastructure is funded and delivered. We’re focused on responsible growth that creates lasting value for communities in the regions where we operate.” AirTrunk adds that it will continue working with local contractors, suppliers, and community partners, whilst supporting workforce development through apprenticeships, vocational education partnerships, and post-trade training. Australian capacity and emissions targets AirTrunk operates five Australian data centre campuses with more than 1.2GW of capacity. It has reportedly invested more than A$12 billion (£6.3 billion) in Australian projects and plans to invest a further A$75 billion (£39.5 billion) over the next decade. The latest financing brings the company's total committed debt financing globally to approximately A$38.4 billion (£20.2 billion), including more than A$19.8 billion (£10.4 billion) for Australian projects. The company’s emissions strategy includes a target to reach net zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030, alongside reductions in Scope 3 emissions through measures such as lower embodied carbon in new builds. At SYD3, construction measures include lower-carbon steel and concrete, and a target to divert at least 90% of non-hazardous construction waste from landfill. Construction of the expanded campus, led by A W Edwards, is underway, with completion expected by mid-2028. The loan is backed by a consortium of 32 Australian and international financial institutions, with 14 banks having underwritten the facility, including BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, ING, Mizuho Bank, MUFG Bank, National Australia Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, and Société Générale. For more from AirTrunk, click here.

GF adds the Multi Control Valve to its liquid cooling portfolio

GF, a provider of piping systems for data centre cooling systems, has introduced a Multi Control Valve for direct liquid cooling, integrating flow control, sensing, and thermal energy metering. The product is designed to regulate coolant flow, monitor system conditions, and measure thermal energy distribution. The valve integrates multiple functions into a single polymer assembly and is designed for direct liquid cooling (DLC) systems. GF says the valve is up to 70% lighter and 50% more compact than conventional metal assemblies. It is intended for high-density direct-to-chip cooling systems, where rack power densities can exceed 100kW and changing AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads require adjustments to coolant flow. The Multi Control Valve combines a valve, an electronic actuator with a five-second fail-safe response, and five sensors measuring volumetric flow, pressure, and temperature. Ultrasonic flow measurement and ceramic pressure sensors enable real-time calculations of differential pressure, temperature variation, and thermal energy distribution. The valve body uses polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) and other engineered polymers. According to GF, the design reduces weight and avoids issues associated with internal scaling and fluid contamination in metal assemblies. It also features an IP68-rated housing, a single-cable layout, and communication interfaces including IO-Link, Modbus RTU, and BACnet MS/TP. Connection options include PP-H spigots and stainless steel tri-clamps. Integrated monitoring and flow control GF participates in the Open Compute Project (OCP) community as an OCP Solution Provider. The company says the valve's polymer fluid pathway is designed to help maintain coolant integrity, whilst its monitoring and dynamic flow balancing capabilities support consistent coolant distribution across racks. Charles Freda, Global Head of Data Centers at GF, comments, “With the launch of the Multi Control Valve, we are providing the means to connect individual rack precision to macro-level infrastructure efficiency. “By enabling rapid, intelligent flow circuit modulation to instantly match thermal and hydronic load conditions, we empower data centre operators to slash parasitic mechanical losses, maintain perfect chip-level thermal stability, and actively optimise their operational efficiency.” The valve completes GF's LiquidCore portfolio, which includes chiller-to-chip fluid distribution, off-site prefabrication, PROGEF PP-H piping, polymer valves and automation equipment, custom SYGEF PVDF in-rack manifolds, and the Quick Connect Valve 700 for rack integration. For more from GF, click here.

Fibre Horizons responds to rapidly changing fibre ecosystem

Fibre Horizons 2027, the annual conference from Fibre Council Europe, an industry association promoting fibre connectivity across Europe, will take place in Milan on 17–18 March 2027, covering fibre’s role across Europe’s digital infrastructure. The renewed event builds on more than 20 years of the FTTH Conference, which has historically attracted more than 3,000 senior decision makers from over 1,000 organisations and more than 100 countries. The new name reflects the expanding role of fibre in Europe’s digital infrastructure, including data centres, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, enterprise connectivity, network resilience, and security. Conference broadens its programme Fibre Horizons 2027 will bring together fibre operators, service providers, technology vendors, data centre owners, investors, regulators, European institutions, and government representatives. The two-day event will introduce expanded content on data centres and enterprise connectivity, interactive roundtable sessions, a redesigned exhibition, and additional networking opportunities. The programme will retain established topics such as fibre-to-the-home deployment, investment, market development, and regulation, whilst also covering fibre connections to data centres and enterprises, AI, data centre interconnectivity, network resilience, security, open access models, and opportunities for fibre operators. Vincent Garnier, Director General of Fibre Council Europe, says, “For more than 20 years, the FTTH Conference has brought together the people and organisations driving Europe’s fibre development. Fibre Horizons builds on that legacy while reflecting how both the market and the role of fibre are evolving. “Fibre is increasingly the foundation connecting homes, businesses, data centres, and the wider digital economy. The evolution towards Fibre Horizons allows us to bring these conversations together and create a broader platform for the operators, technology providers, policymakers, investors, and infrastructure leaders shaping Europe’s connectivity future. “The ambition is not to leave behind what made the FTTH Conference successful, but to build on it. Fibre Horizons retains that established industry community and expertise whilst opening the conversation to the new technologies, markets, and stakeholders that increasingly depend on fibre infrastructure. “Our objective remains the same: to bring the industry together to exchange ideas, influence policy, showcase innovation, and build the partnerships needed for Europe’s digital future.” Fibre Horizons 2027 will take place at Allianz MiCo in Milan, 17–18 March 2027. For more from Fibre Council Europe, click here.

ABB, ETM develop direct-drive motors for data centre cooling

ABB, a multinational corporation specialising in industrial automation and electrification products, has expanded its partnership with Electric Torque Machines (ETM), a subsidiary of Graco, to develop and commercialise motors using ETM’s patented Transverse Flux Motor (TFM) technology for data centre cooling. TFM technology generates high torque at low speeds, making it suitable for large cooling fans, pumps, and heat rejection towers used in high-density data centres. The motors use a direct-drive architecture intended to reduce mechanical complexity, energy losses, noise, and maintenance requirements, whilst lowering lifetime ownership costs. Combined with ABB’s variable speed drives and motor portfolio, the technology is intended to provide additional options for cooling infrastructure. Meeting growing cooling demands Justin McMahon, EVP, Global Business Line, NEMA Motors Division at ABB, says, “As AI reshapes data centre design, operators are looking for cooling solutions that deliver more with less: less energy, less complexity, and less downtime. Our expanded partnership with ETM brings a differentiated motor technology that addresses exactly these needs.” Mark Sheahan, Chief Executive Officer of Graco, adds, “Our partnership with ABB is the right path to bringing Transverse Flux Motor to the data centre market at scale. ABB’s global reach and deep expertise in electrification make it an ideal partner to commercialise this technology in applications where reliability and efficiency matter most.” The partnership comes as data centre electricity demand increases alongside AI infrastructure expansion. The release cites global data centre electricity demand growth of 17% in 2025, with AI-focused facilities growing by 50%. The TFM technology will complement ABB’s existing portfolio of high-efficiency motors, ultra-low harmonic variable speed drives, and liquid cooling experience, as operators seek cooling systems designed for continuous operation and higher heat loads. The motors will be marketed under the ABB brand. For more from ABB, click here.

Schneider Electric unveils modular AI data centre design

Global energy technology company Schneider Electric has introduced its RapidScale Modular Data Centre Reference Design 115, a pre-engineered blueprint for high-density AI infrastructure based on the NVIDIA Vera Rubin platform. The reference design combines power, liquid cooling, IT, software, and lifecycle services to support the repeatable deployment of AI data centres. It uses liquid cooling and temperature controls to manage heat and power consumption in high-density computing environments and is also intended to simplify site logistics and reduce the need for bespoke engineering. Prefabrication cuts installation time Research co-authored by Schneider Electric and hyperscale developer Compass Datacenters, Prefabricated White Space Module Time Study: Lessons from a High-Density Liquid-Cooled Deployment (White Paper 238), reports that prefabricated modular IT pods reduced on-site installation time from 75.5 hours to 15 hours per pod, an 80% reduction. Adil Attlassy, Chief Technology Officer of Compass Datacenters, explains, “The white space brings together the greatest concentration of systems and trades in the smallest footprint, with each installation dependent on the one before it. "Working jointly with Schneider Electric, we engineered a prefabricated module that integrates these systems into a single assembly, eliminating the need to coordinate multiple scopes of work on site. "By reducing on-site installation time by 80%, we accelerate deployment and help our customers bring their workloads online sooner.” Standardised infrastructure for AI factories The RapidScale approach combines pre-engineered designs with a supply chain spanning eight primary manufacturing sites, covering 1.35 million ft² (125,000m²), alongside three additional facilities and 12 partner sites across 10 countries. Schneider Electric says its manufacturing capacity has grown fourfold since 2025 and that around 90% of the equipment incorporated into RapidScale is manufactured in house. The reference design is intended as an initial step towards supporting the NVIDIA DSX POD reference design, which enables factory integration and validation of AI infrastructure before shipment. It has been validated to ANSI standards for US deployments, with plans to extend the framework to IEC standards for international use. Manish Kumar, Executive Vice President, Secure Power and Data Centres at Schneider Electric, notes, “As AI infrastructure scales at unprecedented speed, customers need solutions that are standardised, reliable, and deployable with certainty. "Through our portfolio of reference designs and prefabricated solutions, combined with global supply chain strength and lifecycle expertise, we help AI factory operators accelerate time to value while building the resilient infrastructure required for next-generation compute.” For more from Schneider Electric, click here.

Armada, Johnson Controls plan 500MW AI infrastructure rollout

Armada, a US provider of modular edge data centres and connectivity for remote sites, plans to work with Johnson Controls, a global provider of smart building technologies, to build 500MW of distributed sovereign super intelligence (SI) infrastructure in 2027, using factory-integrated systems based on NVIDIA’s DSX POD reference design and Vera Rubin platform. Announced at NVIDIA GTC, the collaboration will combine engineering, manufacturing, and deployment to deliver modular infrastructure with cabling, wiring, piping, and functional validation completed before shipment. Factory-built infrastructure aims to accelerate deployment The NVIDIA DSX POD reference design moves repeatable construction work from data centre sites into factories. Compute, networking, rack-level power, plumbing for liquid cooling, and supporting infrastructure are integrated and validated before delivery. On site, the containers are connected to prepared power, water, cooling, and networking infrastructure, with capacity expanded by adding standardised units. Armada will use NVIDIA DSX Air to simulate AI factories and validate its Bridge GPU management software before shipment. Once deployed, NVIDIA DSX MaxLPS will help manage power and workloads to maximise computing throughput within each site’s available power capacity. Dan Wright, co-founder and CEO of Armada, says, “The SI race isn't going to be won by whoever pours concrete the fastest. Companies and nations can have the chips, the land, the power, and the ambition and still be told to wait years for a building. "The NVIDIA DSX POD reference design lets us cut that wait out of the equation. We build the SI factory in one of our Galleon Forge factories, ship it, connect it, and our customers are generating tokens in months on infrastructure they own and control.” Distributed capacity for sovereign AI Armada says conventional 50MW facilities can take years to become IT-ready and require around 600,000 on-site labour hours. It also cites a projected construction workforce shortfall of 288,000 workers by 2027 as a challenge to expanding capacity. The company plans to deploy modular SI facilities close to energy sources, including stranded, renewable, and off-peak power. Its proposed architecture is designed to operate without cloud dependencies, allowing customers to retain control of their models, data, and infrastructure. Charlie Boyle, Vice President of DGX Systems at NVIDIA, notes, “The demand for compute is outpacing the speed at which the world can build the facilities to house it. "By utilising the NVIDIA DSX POD reference design, Armada can deliver factory-built, Vera Rubin-based containers to customers. Together with Johnson Controls, Armada is positioned to bring Vera Rubin-based factories to customers who need capacity now, wherever their energy and data are.” Manufacturing partnership Armada brings experience deploying modular data centre infrastructure in remote and challenging environments, including Alaska, a US Navy littoral combat ship, and desert locations in the Middle East. The company says its manufacturing and deployment capabilities will support the planned rollout, with Johnson Controls contributing thermal management technology, engineering, and global manufacturing capacity. Joakim Weidemanis, CEO of Johnson Controls, comments, “NVIDIA is rapidly advancing the age of intelligence and reshaping the infrastructure required to support it. "Our collaboration with Armada combines their expertise in deploying compute at the edge with Johnson Controls' advanced thermal management technology, engineering capabilities, and global manufacturing scale. This combination delivers high-performance infrastructure engineered to quickly bring capacity online where and when it's needed.” Under the collaboration, NVIDIA will design, test, and validate the DSX POD reference design for the Vera Rubin platform, whilst Armada will engineer, manufacture, integrate, customise, service, and deliver the modular data centres.