This IDC Perspective explores why the Industry 4.0 digital transformation of the industrial world requires dedicated, private cloud infrastructure. While public cloud services offer broad reach and cost benefits, the unique requirements of industrial environments make private cloud solutions necessary for many organizations working in sectors such as manufacturing, transportation, construction, mining, agriculture, and warehousing. Essential requirements such as real-time processing, data sovereignty, operational technology (OT)/IT integration, operational resilience, and edge computing can only be provided by dedicated cloud infrastructure running near the industrial activity."The heavy use of operational technology combined with real-time control systems and immense data gravity makes private clouds uniquely suited for Industry 4.0 scenarios," explains Rob Tiffany, research director, Cloud and Edge Infrastructure Services at IDC.
Executive Snapshot
Situation Overview
How We Got to Industry 4.0
Critical Requirements of Industry 4.0 Environments
Real-Time Processing and Ultralow Latency
Data Sovereignty and Control
Security and OT/IT Integration
Operational Resilience and Availability
Edge Computing Requirements
Technical Considerations for Industry 4.0 Cloud Infrastructure
Network Architecture and Deterministic Performance
Data Integration and Industrial Analytics
Compliance with Industrial Standards and Regulations
Legacy Systems Integration
Operational Benefits of Private Cloud for Industry 4.0
Customization for Industrial Workloads
Total Cost of Ownership Considerations
Talent and Operational Alignment
Strategic Advantages of Private Cloud for Industry 4.0
Intellectual Property Protection
Vendor Independence and Ecosystem Flexibility
Long-Term Stability for Industrial Systems
Implementation Models for Private Cloud in Industry 4.0
On-Premises Private Cloud
Hosted Private Cloud
Industry-Specific Cloud Services
Hybrid Architectures
Evolving Requirements for Industry 4.0 Infrastructure
Increasing Edge Intelligence
AI and Machine Learning Integration
Evolving Regulatory Landscape
The Strategic Imperative of Private Cloud for Industry 4.0
Advice for the Technology Buyer
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