Case Studies Creating a Smarter, More Secure Solar Field

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	Creating a Smarter, More Secure Solar Field

Creating a Smarter, More Secure Solar Field

Technology Category	Cybersecurity & Privacy - Cloud Security Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Data Management Platforms
Applicable Industries	Renewable Energy
Applicable Functions	Maintenance Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Cybersecurity Predictive Maintenance Remote Asset Management
Services	Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services Cybersecurity Services System Integration
Challenge	NEXTracker, the world's leading provider of solar tracking devices, faced a challenge in establishing secure connections between its solar trackers and its cloud data center. The company's solar trackers, which adjust the orientation of solar panels throughout the day to maximize energy capture, required secure data communications. However, the time and effort required to develop an in-house device and data management solution threatened to derail primary development initiatives. The company also needed to ensure compliance with various industry standards, a task that was time-consuming and detracted from their core focus. Read More
About Customer	NEXTracker is a company that designs, manufactures, builds, and services the world's most advanced single-axis solar trackers. These smart tracking devices change the orientation of solar panels throughout the day to maximize energy capture, delivering industry-leading performance. The company is ranked as the #1 solar tracking device company in the world. NEXTracker's solar trackers are an important feature of the company's best-in-class tracking solution. The company is based in Fremont, California, and has a strategic focus on core product innovation. Read More
Solution	To address its challenge, NEXTracker partnered with Flex and used its SmartNexus IoT platform to implement the bi-directional pipeline needed to deliver data to and from the trackers securely through the internet. This partnership allowed NEXTracker to focus on enhancing its core product while SmartNexus handled the complex secure data communications needs. SmartNexus also undertook the task of proving compliance with various industry standards on behalf of NEXTracker, streamlining the documentation process. The IoT solution's advanced command and control and over-the-air (OTA) services played a key role in NEXTracker's decision to work with Flex. The ability to install software updates and control NEXTracker's devices remotely was of tremendous value to the company and its customers. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Cybersecurity & Privacy - Cloud Security

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms

Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Data Management Platforms

Applicable Industries

Renewable Energy

Applicable Functions

Maintenance

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Cybersecurity

Predictive Maintenance

Remote Asset Management

Services

Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services

Cybersecurity Services

System Integration

Challenge

NEXTracker, the world's leading provider of solar tracking devices, faced a challenge in establishing secure connections between its solar trackers and its cloud data center. The company's solar trackers, which adjust the orientation of solar panels throughout the day to maximize energy capture, required secure data communications. However, the time and effort required to develop an in-house device and data management solution threatened to derail primary development initiatives. The company also needed to ensure compliance with various industry standards, a task that was time-consuming and detracted from their core focus.

About Customer

NEXTracker is a company that designs, manufactures, builds, and services the world's most advanced single-axis solar trackers. These smart tracking devices change the orientation of solar panels throughout the day to maximize energy capture, delivering industry-leading performance. The company is ranked as the #1 solar tracking device company in the world. NEXTracker's solar trackers are an important feature of the company's best-in-class tracking solution. The company is based in Fremont, California, and has a strategic focus on core product innovation.

Solution

To address its challenge, NEXTracker partnered with Flex and used its SmartNexus IoT platform to implement the bi-directional pipeline needed to deliver data to and from the trackers securely through the internet. This partnership allowed NEXTracker to focus on enhancing its core product while SmartNexus handled the complex secure data communications needs. SmartNexus also undertook the task of proving compliance with various industry standards on behalf of NEXTracker, streamlining the documentation process. The IoT solution's advanced command and control and over-the-air (OTA) services played a key role in NEXTracker's decision to work with Flex. The ability to install software updates and control NEXTracker's devices remotely was of tremendous value to the company and its customers.

Impact #1	NEXTracker was able to concentrate on enhancing its core product, maximizing resources.
Impact #2	SmartNexus's testing, backup, and recovery capabilities, as well as encryption for data in motion and data at rest, addressed security concerns, protecting NEXTracker and its customers.
Impact #3	SmartNexus's standardized process streamlined the documentation of adherence to industry standards, saving time and effort for NEXTracker.

Impact #1

NEXTracker was able to concentrate on enhancing its core product, maximizing resources.

Impact #2

SmartNexus's testing, backup, and recovery capabilities, as well as encryption for data in motion and data at rest, addressed security concerns, protecting NEXTracker and its customers.

Impact #3

SmartNexus's standardized process streamlined the documentation of adherence to industry standards, saving time and effort for NEXTracker.

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Overview

Creating a Smarter, More Secure Solar Field

Operational Impact