Many modern Russian enterprises are activelyImplement structured cabling systems as part of the modernization of digital infrastructure. SCS is considered by business participants as a tool to improve the efficiency of production processes and profitability of the enterprise. What is the specificity of such infrastructure solutions?
Definition of term
What is a structured cabling system?(Scs)? By this term, modern IT specialists understand the format of organizing a technological infrastructure of a corporation, which presupposes the integration into a single system of information services provided for in various parts of the production process in a company.
These may be local computer networks,telephone lines, security systems. The structured cabling system (SCS) in a modern enterprise is often considered, as we noted above, as the most important factor in production efficiency and business competitiveness.
Specificity of SCS
The main feature of the SCS is a hierarchical structureits subsystems. It may contain cables for various purposes, made of different materials - coaxial, copper, fiber, etc. Also in the structure of the SCS may contain various auxiliary components - jacks, sockets, connectors. Anyway, they all belong to a single system.
What would a typical structured cabling system look like? A photo of one of the modules of the corresponding scale solution is presented below.
We see that in the SCS can be implemented support for a variety of types of cables.
Cable systems standards
We learned about the specifics of the SCS, what it is.Let us now consider some aspects related to the practical implementation of structured cabling systems in the technological infrastructure of Russian companies. Three basic standards are now distributed, according to which the principles of combining digital resources in the ACS at enterprises are defined:
- EIA / TIA (popular in the USA);
- CENELEC EN 50173 (distributed in Europe);
- ISO / IEC IS 11801 (characterized by worldwide demand).
Another criterion for the standardization of structuredcable systems - a characteristic of the bandwidth of digital communication lines. There are 7 main categories of cables, each of which is designed to solve specific problems. For example, category 1 is used when building telephone lines. For the organization of data exchange with high speed, cables of 5, 6 and 7 categories are used.
Depending on one standard or another,on the basis of which the structured cabling system functions, the technologies and devices that are optimal for solving specific tasks are used. For example, as fiber-optic data transmission standards spread in many enterprises, it became necessary to upgrade the corresponding network equipment. If it is not produced, then the competitiveness of a business can significantly decrease.
Standardization is a major factorfunctionality of structured cabling systems. The alignment of the technological infrastructure in the enterprise in accordance with the algorithms approved at the level of a specific industry or in international standards predetermines wide opportunities for the subsequent modular modernization of the SCS components.
Certification
Another aspect that is important to manyenterprises setting the task of building a structured cabling system - certification. In principle, it can be viewed in a general context with standardization. It complements it in terms of formalizing the criteria for compliance of a digital infrastructure with one or another standard.
Structured cabling systemhas the appropriate certification, as a rule, is characterized by increased reliability, as well as great opportunities for upgrading individual components of the infrastructure. It can be noted that many manufacturers of network equipment provide a guarantee only if the SCS is certified in the prescribed manner.
Structured Criteria
Based on what criteria can be attributed toother cable system to SCS? What are the specific features that can characterize an enterprise’s digital infrastructure as structured? In the practice of building cable networks of the appropriate type in Russia, the following set of criteria has emerged.
First of all, a structured cabling system(SCS) is an infrastructure that, according to Russian IT specialists, is adapted to the particularities of the ergonomics of the production premises. In particular, in such an aspect as the location of the connectors.
Conventional cable systems not characterizedas structured, they imply a simpler layout for the corresponding type of network elements, in which the main criterion is the location of employees' workplaces. In structured networks, as a rule, the density of connectors is several times higher than in normal ones. This predetermines in most cases a significant increase in the efficiency of the enterprise’s digital infrastructure.
The next criterion, according to whichor another network is defined as a structured cabling system - the universality of the elements. For example, workplaces (in the event that the enterprise has implemented SCS) can be equipped not only with a single connector type (for example, for twisted pairs), but also with additional slots, for example, fiber-optic.
Another aspect of universality is uniformity.types of cables used in the installation of various sections of the SCS. This facilitates the possible replacement of relevant components, optimizes the costs that can be accompanied by the installation of such a complex infrastructure, such as a structured cabling system (SCS). Accounting in many enterprises shows that building up the ACS is accompanied by significant costs, and therefore the design of appropriate networks should be efficient, with an emphasis on early return on investment.
Another important criterion for assigning cablenetworks to structured - the separation of their individual sections on subsystems. Thus, in Russian practice, the scheme of dividing subsystems into 3 types is common: those that are mounted on the floor, on the main lines of the entire building, and also those that cover the elements of a complex consisting of several structures. Such a classification determines the high management efficiency of the ACS.
Why does the company SCS?
Какова экономическая целесообразность внедрения infrastructure component such as a structured cabling system? Estimated costs, as we noted above, may involve investing significant financial resources in building up the ACS. The benefits of such investments can be traced in the following main aspects:
- First, the main advantage of SCS is howAs a rule, a higher rate of data exchange between computers of employees of an enterprise. It is achieved through the optimal use of cables of the respective classes, as well as through effective schemes of their placement on specific sections of buildings.
- Secondly, structured cabling systems inIn most cases, safer data exchange is foreseen in the enterprise. As a rule, SCS include various integrated mechanisms of protection against external intrusions into the corporate network, access control devices - both hardware and software.
- Third, the use of structuredcable networks allows to increase the mobility of jobs in the company. Versatility as one of the criteria for assigning a digital infrastructure to the SCS assumes that employees, regardless of specific positions, have the same access to the organization’s network resources. It does not matter in which room the person works - he can connect to the corporate network at any time.
Structured Cabling System for BuildingsIn most cases, repair is easier than traditional network infrastructure arrangements. So, to replace one cable or another, there is no need to disassemble large sections where communication lines are laid. The individual components of the infrastructure that make up the SCS are usually not too large-scale; moreover, they are designed for possible replacement in advance.
SCS is much easier to scale thantraditional networks. The modularity of the circuits involved in the design of structured cabling systems assumes that additional computers can be connected to the appropriate infrastructure at any time.
Together, all noted benefits of SCSallow us to talk about improving the cost-effectiveness of the enterprise in terms of building digital networks. This can be traced both in terms of the procurement of the necessary materials, and in the aspect of the remuneration of labor of specialists exercising control over the work of structured cable systems.
It can be concluded about the economicthe feasibility of building the structured cabling system, that this is a tool for increasing the profitability of an enterprise. Of course, it will work in practice with the appropriate quality of the installation of cable systems and provided that highly qualified specialists will work with it.
Prospects
Will there be enough demand onRussian market of SCS? What is this - a temporary trend or a promising standard for the IT industry, compliance with which will be the most important factor in business competitiveness? According to modern IT experts, Russian enterprises are showing a strong interest in equipping relevant production sites with high-performance digital infrastructure components. Structured cabling systems are fully capable of meeting these business needs, because their implementation is characterized by growing dynamics in many sectors of the Russian economy.
Специалисты отмечают, что заинтересованность enterprises in building up the SCS as a key element of the company's digital infrastructure can be traced not only in the largest Russian cities, but also in remote regions. This may indicate that, despite the high cost of solving problems of building up the SCS, they see in such systems an effective tool for improving business efficiency. It can be noted a fairly high degree of awareness of the management of enterprises on the benefits of SCS. Managers of large businesses, as a rule, are well acquainted with the essence of such a powerful solution as a structured cabling system, what it is - they fully represent it.
Fiber-optic technologies as a demand factor for SCS
Significant growth driver for the SCS market expertscalled the dynamic spread of fiber technology. This communication standard in potential can be a factor of a significant increase in the efficiency of enterprises. This will be promoted, first of all, by the very high data transfer rate that the fiber provides (several times higher than when using channels of previous generations).
If some time ago, many doubtedwhether or not to introduce fiber-optic lines (after all, the cost of building appropriate infrastructure is much higher than when laying traditional channels), now the enthusiasm for new high-tech communication standards is becoming a steady trend among Russian enterprises. The corresponding dynamics is supported by the development of technologies for the installation of fiber-optic networks (in favor of cheaper solutions), as well as by the improvement and reduction of the price of equipment necessary for building communication channels.
Accounting nuances
Some discussion in the business environment (in particular,in the communities of accountants) may cause the criteria for attributing the ACU to one or another type of fixed assets: this is important from the point of view of correct accounting. The fact is that such an element as a structured cable system, OKOF (the all-Russian classifier of fixed assets) does not include. This is not a problem if the appropriate type of infrastructure is attributed, for example, to ordinary local networks. But, as we defined above, between them and the SCS can be traced a significant difference. As some experts believe, it would not be a legal mistake to classify ACS as ordinary LAN when implementing accounting procedures. In addition, there are several possible approaches to accounting for structured cabling systems - as separate objects and as elements of a building structure. Both options are legally correct.
SCS and smart buildings
The concept of "smart building" - another possiblethe impetus for the continued proliferation of solutions such as a structured cabling system. What it is? “Smart building” is a collective name for technologies that imply the introduction of various digital components into the elements of corporate premises, and in some cases of residential buildings, to significantly increase the comfort of people in them. In the case of corporations - to increase the efficiency of consumption of certain resources, for example, electricity.
The components of a “smart building” can be,for example, air conditioners, video cameras, and access control systems at various production sites that are controlled by automated software algorithms. The effectiveness of the concept under consideration directly depends on whether the company has a high-quality digital infrastructure. In the case of using the SCS, the corresponding criterion will be fully met, and all the achievements of IT specialists in the direction of the “smart building” concept can be implemented at optimal costs for the enterprise.
