What Is IT?
Information technology (IT) refers to the use of technology to manage and process information. It encompasses a wide range of fields and industries, including software development, computer networking, and data management. The purpose of IT is to automate and streamline business processes, making them more efficient and effective.
IT encompasses a number of important areas:
- Software development: This involves the design and creation of computer programs and applications, including everything from simple desktop applications to complex enterprise systems. Software developers use programming languages and tools to build programs, which can range from small mobile applications to large multiuser systems.
- Computer networking: This field involves the creation and management of networks of computers, devices, and other technology components, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and the internet itself. IT professionals who specialize in computer networking are responsible for ensuring that these networks run smoothly, securely, and efficiently, and they use a variety of tools and technologies to achieve this.
- Data management: The collection, storage, and analysis of information is crucial to IT. Specialists ensure that an organization’s data is accurate, secure, and easily accessible. Their work involves the use of databases, data warehousing, and data mining techniques. Effective data management helps many businesses and organizations make informed decisions and stay competitive.
- Cybersecurity: The need to protect computer systems and networks from cyberattacks and other security threats is growing. Specialists in cybersecurity use a variety of tools and technologies to detect and prevent security breaches, and they work to ensure that an organization’s data and systems are protected from unauthorized access.
Information technology plays a critical role in today’s business and society. From software development and computer networking to data management and cybersecurity, IT professionals use technology to streamline processes, protect data, and drive innovation.
What Is IT in Embedded Systems?
Embedded systems are computer systems designed to perform specific functions within a larger system. They are widely used in everyday devices such as cars, smartphones, and medical equipment. Technological advances have produced more complex and sophisticated embedded systems, making it essential to incorporate IT into their development.
The integration of IT into embedded systems has a significant impact on their functionality and performance. IT provides embedded systems with the ability to perform complex operations, collect and analyze data, and communicate with other devices, thereby improving their efficiency and accuracy. These operations include:
- Automation: A big benefit of incorporating IT into embedded systems is the ability it brings to automate processes. For instance, in the automotive industry, embedded systems can control various functions such as engine control, traction control, and airbag deployment. Sensors collect data and algorithms analyze it, and IT provides the necessary computational power to perform these tasks accurately and quickly.
- Communication: IT enables embedded systems to communicate with other devices, making it possible to build intelligent networks. In smart homes, embedded systems can control lighting, heating, and security systems, for example, and IT allows these systems to communicate with each other to optimize energy consumption and provide a safe and comfortable living environment.
- Data collection and analysis: IT enables embedded systems to collect and analyze data, which can be used to identify patterns and trends to help optimize processes, improve performance, and develop new products. For example, medical devices that use embedded systems can collect patient data such as blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels, and IT processes can be used to analyze this data to provide insights into patient health and help develop new treatment options.
IT plays a crucial role in the functionality and performance of embedded systems, providing the computational power, communication capabilities, and data analysis tools needed to optimize performance, automate processes, and create intelligent networks. As technology evolves, the significance of IT in embedded systems will likely continue to increase, creating new opportunities for innovation and growth in a wide range of industries.
What Is OT?
Operational technology (OT) refers to the use of specialized technology to manage and control physical devices, processes, and systems in industrial, manufacturing, and infrastructure environments. OT is distinct from IT in that it focuses on the control and management of physical assets, while IT is primarily concerned with the management of data and information.
OT includes hardware and software systems that control and monitor physical assets, such as machines, equipment, and facilities. It enables organizations to automate and optimize their operations, improving safety, efficiency, and productivity. A wide range of industries, including energy, transportation, water, and manufacturing, depend on OT.
Important aspects of OT include:
- Monitoring and control: One of the key components of OT is the use of industrial control systems (ICS), which are used to monitor and control physical processes and equipment. This can include everything from simple sensors and actuators to complex programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. OT professionals oversee the proper configuration, integration, and maintenance of these systems to meet the specific needs of an organization.
- Data gathering and transmission: Another important aspect of OT is the use of IoT in industrial and manufacturing environments. Connected devices, such as sensors and actuators, gather and transmit data, enabling organizations to better understand and control their operations. OT professionals ensure that IoT devices are properly integrated into existing systems and processes and that they are secure from cyberthreats.
- Safety and compliance: In addition to improving efficiency and productivity, OT also helps ensure safety and compliance in industrial and manufacturing environments. This includes the use of safety instrumented systems (SIS) engineering to monitor and control safety-critical processes and equipment. OT professionals check that these systems are properly designed, installed, and maintained to meet regulatory and industry standards.
OT plays a vital role in modern industry and manufacturing, providing organizations with the tools and systems needed to optimize their operations and improve safety, efficiency, and productivity.
What Is OT in Embedded Systems?
As embedded systems become increasingly complex and interconnected, the need for efficient and secure management of their operations is essential. This is where OT comes into play, providing the necessary tools and techniques for managing and monitoring the performance of embedded systems.
Its significance for embedded systems is multifaceted and includes:
- Real-time monitoring and control: One of the primary advantages of OT is that it allows real-time monitoring and control of embedded systems, enabling operators to quickly respond to issues and prevent downtime. This is particularly important for applications that are critical to public safety, such as medical devices and transportation systems. Real-time monitoring and control also facilitate detection and response to security threats, such as cyberattacks, which can compromise the safety and reliability of embedded systems.
- Remote management: Another benefit of OT is that it enables remote management of embedded systems. This is particularly important for industrial applications, where systems can be located in remote or hazardous environments. OT operators can monitor and control these systems from a centralized location, reducing the need for onsite personnel and improving safety.
- Data collection and analysis: OT also provides tools for data collection and analysis, enabling operators to track the performance of embedded systems over time. This data can help identify trends, optimize performance, and predict problems before they occur. For example, in a manufacturing setting, OT can be used to monitor production processes and identify opportunities for process optimization and cost reduction.
- Safety and reliability: Finally, OT is essential for ensuring the safety and reliability of embedded systems. Industrial control systems in particular must be designed and operated in accordance with strict safety standards to prevent accidents and equipment failure. OT provides the tools and techniques for ensuring that these standards are met, including safety interlocks, fail-safe systems, and emergency shutdown procedures.
OT is essential for managing and monitoring the performance of embedded systems. As with IT, the role of OT in ensuring safety and reliability will only become more important as technology continues to advance and embedded systems become increasingly complex.
The Integration of IT and OT
Recently there has been a trend toward the integration of IT and OT in various industries. Though they were once considered separate entities, with IT being responsible for managing data and information and OT focused on managing physical devices and processes, the lines between the two fields are becoming blurred as technology advances.
Part of the growing linkage comes as companies seek to take advantage of the benefits of IoT and Industry 4.0. These technologies allow the collection and analysis of vast amounts of data from sensors and other connected devices, providing insights that can be used to optimize operations and improve business outcomes.
Several benefits emerge from this that drive the convergence of IT and OT:
- Efficiency: One of the primary drivers is the need for more efficient and streamlined operations. By integrating IT and OT systems, companies can gain real-time visibility into their operations, enabling them to make faster and more informed decisions. This can lead to increased productivity, reduced downtime, and improved customer satisfaction.
- Security: Another driver of the integration of IT and OT is the need for improved cybersecurity. With the increasing number of connected devices, there is a greater risk of cyberattacks that can compromise the safety and reliability of industrial systems. Integrating IT and OT systems, companies can improve their cybersecurity posture by using advanced technologies such as intrusion detection and prevention, firewalls, and secure remote access.
- Agility: The integration of IT and OT is also driven by the need for increased flexibility and agility. Given the accelerating pace of business, companies must respond quickly to fluctuations in the market and customer demand. By integrating these systems, companies can create more agile and flexible operations, allowing them to respond to changes quickly and effectively.
However, the integration of IT and OT is not without its challenges. One of the biggest is the cultural divide between the two types of personnel. IT workers are typically focused on managing data and information, while OT personnel are focused on managing physical assets and processes. Bridging this divide requires both groups collaborating to identify and address the challenges of integrating IT and OT systems.
Another stumbling block can be the complexity of OT systems, which are often highly specialized and require specialized expertise to manage effectively. Integrating IT and OT systems requires a deep understanding of both disciplines and their challenges.
Nonetheless, companies that can integrate IT and OT systems can gain real-time visibility into their operations, improve their cybersecurity posture, create more agile and flexible operations, and thrive in the modern business landscape.
How Can Wind River Help?
The Wind River Portfolio Enables Next-Generation OT
Wind River® is well known for its leadership in providing safe, secure, reliable embedded software technologies for critical infrastructure. For 40 years, Wind River has created solutions that power more than two billion devices, from the NASA Mars rovers to the factories that built them, as well as airliners, medical devices, industrial systems, and more. As solution providers contemplate how virtualization can enable their next generation of products, Wind River provides a proven, comprehensive portfolio that sets the stage for innovation and helps development teams improve product quality through agile and DevOps development practices.
The Wind River portfolio supports IT, OT, and their integration with its operating system, hypervisor, toolsets, and more.
Real-Time OS: VxWorks
As the foundation for billions of deterministic applications, the VxWorks® real-time operating system powers critical infrastructure with real-time performance, security, and safety certification. It minimizes latency and jitter for hard real-time embedded applications in a flexible platform that offers developers access to source code to customize for specific solution needs. VxWorks is based on a hardened kernel and complemented by advanced encryption, controls, and alerting to help secure applications. The RTOS conforms to a robust set of international standards and provides an extensive set of safety certifications.
» Learn More About VxWorksEmbedded Linux Distribution: Wind River Linux
The most widely distributed embedded Linux distribution, Wind River Linux is based on the Yocto Project, which enables solution providers to build a Linux OS optimized for a specific device, without the complexity normally involved in building a custom OS. Wind River Linux is open source, and it can be downloaded for free or through a commercial subscription that enables ongoing additional benefits.
A KVM hypervisor is available with Wind River Linux, providing virtualization capabilities and allowing management of virtual machines. Training and long-term technical support, continuous threat monitoring and security updates, and compliance and documentation provide support for global export of solutions.
» Learn More About Wind River LinuxReal-Time Virtualized Foundation: Wind River Helix Virtualization Platform
Based on VxWorks, Wind River Helix™ Virtualization Platform is a Type 1 hypervisor, running directly on bare metal for performance. It supports an unmodified guest OS within virtual machines. It enables solutions to run real-time, safety-critical applications in static, safe partitions alongside standard applications in dynamic, flexible partitions, tailoring the environment to the requirements of each.
By consolidating multi-OS, mixed-criticality applications within virtual machines on a single platform, Helix Platform simplifies and future-proofs solution designs while promoting reuse and consolidation of existing software assets. It is designed to facilitate certification of safety-critical applications and the adoption of modern development practices such as agile and DevOps.
» Learn More About Helix PlatformOptimized for Multi-Core and Multiprocessor Platforms
Wind River technologies support operation on 32-bit and 64-bit processors, with extensive optimizations for the hardware parallelism inherent in multi-core and multiprocessor systems. Platform flexibility embraces a broad spectrum of processors, from Arm® to Intel® architecture, including Intel Atom® processors for space- and power-constrained applications, Intel® Core™ processors for middle-tier applications, and Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors for server and cloud platforms.
Wind River Studio
Wind River Studio is a cloud-native toolset for developing, deploying, operating, and servicing mission-critical intelligent systems across the edge. It allows numerous working advantages:
- Develop in the cloud: Developers can secure public, private, and hybrid clouds by leveraging the scalability, collaboration, and almost unlimited resources of cloud computing through our own distributed edge cloud (powered by Wind River Studio Cloud Platform), Microsoft Azure, or AWS.
- Collaborate in a CI/CD workflow: Connect all workflows through Wind River Studio Pipelines, a single pane of glass for agile, secure, and cyber-protected development and deployment for mission-critical applications and devices on the edge.
- Integrate applications: Use Wind River Studio Gallery to infuse applications — from AI to cybersecurity to test and automation capabilities — into lifecycle management where, when, and how your teams need them.
- Automate processes: Bring AI and machine learning into your development, security, deployment, and operations with the workflow automation and digital feedback loop capabilities in Wind River Studio.
- Operate and service on the edge: CSPs and enterprises can manage updates and orchestrate fleets and 5G networks through one pane of glass on the edge, and from the edge to core, in the new 5G economy.