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Why Industry 4.0 Needs Dedicated Cloud Infrastructure

Publisher IDC
Published May 27, 2025
Length 13 Pages
SKU # IDC20068540

Description

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.

Table of Contents

13 Pages

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

Learn More

Related Research

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