New Cisco Initiatives Underscore Arrival of Smart Grid as Platform
By SGN Staff
Sep 17, 2009 - 11:50:12 AM

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Summary: Cisco ratcheted up its bid to become the centerpiece of the Smart Grid network today with its announcements of several initiatives related to its goal of providing end-to-end Smart Grid services and ensuring adoption of IP-based communications standards.  The announcements centered on four new programs:

• The formation of the Cisco Smart Grid Ecosystem, a Cisco-led professional organization
• The creation of a Smart Grid Technical Advisory Board (TAB) for Cisco customers
• New professional services focusing on Smart Grid security
• A continuing campaign to support IP communications for the Smart Grid

Quick Take: As explained in today’s feature story (see link below), the Smart Grid is increasingly viewed as a platform that matches service providers to customers in much the same way as platforms like Microsoft Windows or the iPhone.  We’ve been talking about this in a theoretical sense for some time; now it’s happening.

 

Cisco is clearly in the forefront of this movement, determined to own the Smart Grid ecosystem and control its communication standards. This approach represents a fundamental shift in the way Smart Grid is evolving.  As it develops, it will begin to look more like the IT and networking sectors, not just in the platform approach but also in what companies dominate.  Those companies that have done well in these areas will bring their skills to the Smart Grid. 

 

Whether or not you join the Cisco camp, you need to study their approach. They have winning experience in the platform world; it’s their bread and butter.  To make the transition, utilities are going to have to learn a new way to design infrastructure and buy products. For vendors, it means learning a new competitive landscape and finding your niche in the ecosystem.

 

More information:  Cisco’s announcements fall into four key areas:

• The Cisco Smart Grid Ecosystem is Cisco’s new organization for ensuring interoperability and driving acceptance of IP-based communications.  Cisco leads this formally structured group based on agreements from participating system integrators, technology vendors, power and utility integrators, service providers, and services and sales vendors.  The initial list of vendors includes Arcadian Networks, CapGemini, Infosys, Itron, Landis + Gyr, SecureLogix, Verizon, Wipro, Worldwide Technologies.
• The Cisco Smart Grid Technical Advisory Board is a less formal collection of leading, innovative utility and energy customers from around the world.  It exists to get feedback from customers on the kinds of service, support, and products Cisco should provide.
• Cisco grid security services and solutions is a new set of professional services Cisco is providing to customers.  Services include utility compliance assessment, physical site security vulnerability assessment, grid security architecture design, physical and networking security design, physical and network security deployment
• Interoperability and IP-based communications standards continue to be at the top of Cisco’s goals. To that end, they have joined the Zigbee Alliance and will help develop Zigbee Smart Energy Profile 2.0 technology and products.

   SGN analysis of Cisco’s Smart Grid moves

   SGN’s Cisco profile

   Survival Guide to the Smart Grid Platform

   Cisco’s Smart Grid home page

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