AI-ready right at the edge

Siemens presents the next generation of its Industrial Automation DataCenter. This tailored data center addresses the growing IT demands of industrial production. The proven turnkey solution has been further developed into an AI-ready platform to meet the increasing requirements of industrial artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

In partnership with Nvidia and in collaboration with Palo Alto Networks, Siemens delivers secure NVIDIA computing infrastructure at the edge for high-performance AI computing processes, as well as Nvidia BlueField Data Processing Units (DPUs) for intelligent real-time data processing and security through Palo Alto Networks Prisma AIRS.

Siemens delivers the Industrial Automation DataCenter turnkey from a single source. The system is fully pre-installed, pre-configured, and system-tested. The Siemens solution combines high-performance virtualization for OT applications, backup and restore capabilities, data archiving, and an industrial demilitarized zone that effectively separates IT networks from OT environments. Through the strategic partnership with NVIDIA and the collaboration with Palo Alto Networks, accelerated AI computing power and advanced AI-specific cybersecurity from NVIDIA and Palo Alto Networks are now available directly at the edge.

This enhancement addresses a critical industry need: Implementing standardized, pre-integrated AI infrastructure presents significant challenges for many industrial companies. Building complex, high-performance, and secure AI-enabled environments is demanding, time-consuming, and costly—integration, installation, and system engineering alone can require up to 80 hours. Additional risks include compatibility issues and potential downtime. With the enhanced Siemens Industrial Automation DataCenter, customers benefit from real-time insights, optimized processes, and increased efficiency, resulting in significant productivity and innovation gains.

The proven foundation of industrial digitalization

The Industrial Automation DataCenter brings together partners, technologies, and components in a comprehensive, powerful, and ready-to-use standard solution. This enables industrial companies to unlock the full potential of AI directly in their production environments as an out-of-the-box solution for increased performance, efficiency, and innovation.

"Together with Nvidia and Palo Alto Networks, we are creating validated end-to-end solutions with industrial AI. Through the seamless integration of cutting-edge technologies, we are making our Industrial Automation Data Center 'AI-ready.'" “We are proud to be working with trusted partners to make the full potential of artificial intelligence available to industry safely and efficiently,” says Anirudha Dambal, Head of Customer Services for Process Automation at Siemens Digital Industries.

AI Acceleration with Nvidia Brings Intelligence to the Edge

Nvidia technology enables the Siemens Industrial Automation DataCenter to host and run production-critical AI applications directly at the edge with accelerated computing power. Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) are essential for complex AI calculations in real-time applications, such as quality control using image recognition, predictive maintenance, or the optimization of production processes.

BlueField DPUs process data in real time at the infrastructure layer. They offload, accelerate, and isolate security services to ensure consistent protection and continuous resilience without impacting industrial systems. Furthermore, they offer deep visibility, advanced microsegmentation, zero-trust security, and end-to-end secure networks, creating a new dimension of AI-powered industrial cybersecurity.

The use of Accelerated computing power, combined with BlueField, delivers the necessary real-time computing power to deploy AI applications in the Industrial Automation DataCenter alongside advanced cybersecurity. This enables previously unattainable functionalities in industrial environments.

“The growing demand for industrial AI requires a high-performance infrastructure that can securely process massive amounts of data directly at the edge,” says Arik Roztal, Senior Director of Cybersecurity Business Development at Nvidia. “Our accelerated computing power, combined with BlueField, equips the Siemens Industrial Automation DataCenter to provide manufacturers with a validated, secure platform that accelerates their AI transformation and unlocks real-time intelligence in production environments.”

Uncompromising cybersecurity with Palo Alto Networks

The introduction of AI applications and the associated increased connectivity in industrial automation require a robust and secure infrastructure that can be used to enhance the security of industrial automation applications.

Industrial environments increase the risk of cyber threats. To effectively protect complex industrial environments, Siemens is integrating leading cybersecurity solutions from Palo Alto Networks. The advanced Prisma AIRS technology is seamlessly integrated into the Industrial Automation DataCenter's technology stack, providing robust protection. For AI applications, Prisma AIRS is crucial for securing critical operations, intellectual property, and business continuity.

"Together, Siemens, Nvidia, and Palo Alto Networks are driving a new industrial revolution. By combining Siemens' technology leadership in industrial automation with Nvidia's AI-accelerated platform and Palo Alto Networks' AI-powered security, we are redefining how the physical world is designed, built, and operated," says Dharminder Debisarun, Smart Industry Cybersecurity Executive at Palo Alto Networks.

In conjunction with Prisma AIRS, Nvidia BlueField significantly enhances cybersecurity by enabling the analysis of network traffic copies. The key advantage is that the system analyzes live data streams without becoming part of or modifying the data stream itself. This enables non-intrusive, real-time security analysis without impacting latency or network determinism, and without requiring passage through a firewall. The result is continuous, high-performance operation with comprehensive security.

Remote Industrial Operations Services for Worry-Free Production

Siemens' Remote Industrial Operations Services include continuous remote monitoring of the IT/OT infrastructure, comprehensive cybersecurity measures, regular maintenance and preventative measures, and rapid incident support. Siemens experts monitor and protect companies' production environments around the clock. The Siemens OT Security Operations Center (SOC) also reliably protects Siemens' own equipment worldwide from cyber threats. The Remote Industrial Operations Services offering covers the entire lifecycle of the Industrial Automation DataCenter and is flexibly applicable to various IT systems and components in OT environments, including third-party components.