The Client: Anglian Water Services (AWS)
Anglian Water Service is a prominent water and wastewater utility company responsible for delivering essential services to a vast customer base. As part of their operations, AWS manages configuration information for Remote Telemetry Units (RTUs) and programs for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) to ensure the seamless functioning of their infrastructure.
The Problem
AWS were utilising an outdated legacy system, Microsoft Visual Sourcesafe (VSS), to store a broad range of information, including application notes, firmware images etc. Recognising the need for security enhancements, and a futureproof solution that would provide opportunities to optimise the current ways of working, AWS initiated a project to find and implement a suitable replacement.
The Solution
Terzo Digital, a consultancy specialising in Operational Technology (OT) solutions, joined the project to guide AWS in selecting a product to replace VSS.
After careful evaluation against requirements and benchmarking different options, the preferred solution was versiondog, developed by Auvesy and distributed in the UK by Novotek.
Shortly after this decision Auvesy and MDT (a competitor to Auvesy) merged, resulting in the combined product; octoplant. This did not pose a problem as octoplant, heavily based on versiondog, was the ideal solution to meet AWS’s requirements.
Providing subject matter expertise, Terzo played a crucial role in conducting initial trials to ensure versiondog’s compatibility. As the project evolved and the product transitioned to octoplant, Terzo continued to collaborate with AWS and their framework partner, Cognizant, providing expertise throughout the implementation process.
Working with Terzo
Terzo founder, Mark Davison, was not only involved in the scope setting and product selection phase, but also in design, build and delivery.
Andy Crouch, AWS Project Sponsor said, “We’ve worked with Terzo Digital on many projects. They understand how our business operates and what’s important to us. Their deep expertise in OT and the water industry made them a trusted partner, ensuring we would achieve our desired outcome”.
Mark had discussions with AWS users of the legacy system to identify current business processes and to gain suggestions for desired improvements in the new system.
A select group of senior users collaborated with Terzo to identify data cleansing operations, essential for a seamless migration from the old system to octoplant.
Terzo Digital wrote code in .NET C# to facilitate the migration and cleansing processes. This bespoke solution ensured a smooth transition, minimizing downtime and potential data inconsistencies.
As the Subject Matter Expert, Mark actively participated in all aspects of the system’s design, build and implementation within AWS’s Azure environment.
The Outcome
The collaborative efforts of AWS, Cognizant, and Terzo resulted in the successful implementation of octoplant. The new system streamlined configuration information management, ensuring AWS had access to the latest versions of RTU configurations and PLC programs.
Andy Couch said, “Terzo’s role as a Subject Matter Expert provided invaluable insights and technical expertise. Mark was flexible during each phase and critical to the overall success of the project.”
The system was successfully delivered in October 2023 and passed through ELS (Early Life Support) and Warranty phases without any major issues. This accomplishment highlighted the robustness and reliability of the octoplant solution. The enhanced system not only addressed the initial problems with VSS but also paved the way for improved business processes and data management within AWS.
The successful implementation of octoplant positioned AWS for greater efficiency and adaptability in their operations and future-proofed their outstation and PLC configuration management solution.
The collaboration between Anglian Water Services, Cognizant, and Terzo exemplifies the importance of selecting the right technology, utilising expert guidance, and ensuring a seamless transition for optimal outcomes in critical infrastructure management.