あらゆるものの最前線にある優れた科学

1939年、Bill HewlettとDave Packardがカリフォルニア州パロアルトの小さなガレージでHPを設立したことからすべては始まります。彼らの名を冠したこの会社は、テクノロジーの歴史において今や最も長く続いている起業テンプレートの1つに従っています。ガレージにささやかなルーツを持つ他の企業としては、Apple、Amazon、Googleなどがあります。

60年後、新世紀を迎えるにあたり、HPは1999年に試験・測定部門を分離し、新会社Agilentを設立しました。同社は短期間でシリコンバレー史上最大のIPOとして記録を更新しました。

Agilentの設立のタイミングは先見の明があったように思えます。それから10年の間に、第四次産業革命（4IR）が起こり、物理、デジタル、生物の世界の境界線がますます曖昧になってきています。 組み込みの接続性とユビキタス技術が社会を劇的に変える中で、時代の精神を捉えようとしている新語は「4IR」と「インダストリー4.0」だけではありません。例えば、メタバース、モノのインターネット（IoT）、そしてグレート リセットもまた、自動化とデータがいかに組み合わされて人間の経験のほぼすべての側面を支えているかの言語的表現を意図しています。

Agilentは、化学、物理学からナノテクノロジーを含む材料科学まで、複数の分野において4IR テクノロジーを統合する先駆的リーダーです。同社の原子間力顕微鏡（AFM）にAIデータ分析ツールを搭載することで、科学者はナノスケールで材料の特性を観察できるようになります。つまり、これらのデバイスはかつてない精度で表面をスキャンできるようになり、これまでは見えなかった洞察を発明者に提供して、分子レベルでの物質の挙動を予測するのに役立ちます。これにより、半導体から再生可能エネルギー技術に至るまで、あらゆる分野における新しい材料が生まれる可能性があります。

Agilent quickly became a trailblazer in integrating 4IR technologies into fields like chemistry, physics, and material science. For example, their Atomic Force Microscopes (AFMs), powered by AI-driven data analysis, allow scientists to examine materials at the nanoscale with unprecedented precision. These insights help predict material behavior, paving the way for breakthroughs in semiconductors, renewable energy, and more.

Agilent’s impact extends far beyond materials science. Their 228 life science solutions, from A-Line liquid chromatography fittings to ZORBAX columns, support critical research in patient diagnostics, food safety, and environmental testing. Their technologies have played a pivotal role in decoding the human genome, contributing to the Human Genome Project using microarrays and targeted sequencing tools that enable personalized medicine.

Agilent’s technologies address some of the world’s most pressing issues. Their Gas Chromatograph systems with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) help monitor air pollution in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, leading to significant reductions in harmful emissions. In rural India, GC-MS systems enhance pesticide detection in drinking water by 40%, while communities along Germany’s Rhine River experience a 50% reduction in pesticide residues.

Food safety is another critical area where Agilent excels. Their Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS) solutions detect pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli with greater speed and sensitivity, enabling faster recalls and reducing the incidence of foodborne illnesses.

Agilent’s commitment to sustainability is equally impressive. The company has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, aligning with the Paris Agreement and the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).

Behind Agilent’s groundbreaking technologies is a massive universe of data, managed seamlessly with the help of NetApp and intelligent data infrastructure. Rich Wong, Agilent’s Data Management Architect, explains, “Our engineers produce a lot of data. My team serves that data quickly and securely. It’s all about helping our R&D teams do their jobs more efficiently.”

NetApp^® FlexCache^® technology enables Agilent’s global teams to collaborate on a unified data repository, reducing latency and bandwidth costs. Their hybrid cloud model allows seamless workload placement across public clouds, including AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, offering flexibility and efficiency.

NetApp ONTAP^® operating system simplifies data management, while NetApp Console provides a single control plane for Agilent’s multicloud data estate. “We chose NetApp because of operational simplicity,” says Wong. “My team can manage everything from a single console without logging into multiple systems.”

NetApp ONTAP advanced features fortify Agilent’s data security strategy:

1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Confirms only authorized users access data, adding a critical layer of defense.
2. Multi-Admin Verification (MAV): Requires higher-level admin approval for major changes, preventing accidental or malicious data alterations.
3. Autonomous Ransomware Protection (ARP): AI-powered detection at the storage layer identifies and mitigates threats before they cause damage, enabling quick recovery in case of an attack.

NetApp Data Infrastructure Insights further enhances Agilent’s security with real-time visibility across their hybrid cloud. The Storage Workload Security feature tracks user activity to simplify compliance reporting and enables faster detection of patterns and anomalies that could signal a threat.

“NetApp helps us identify potential threats and take action automatically,” says Wong. “From a security perspective, having the least access to the most data is key.”

Agilent’s partnership with NetApp goes beyond a typical vendor relationship. “We work hand in hand, exchanging ideas and strategies,” says Wong. This collaboration ensures Agilent’s data infrastructure delivers the stability, uptime, and security needed to support their mission of improving lives through science.

With NetApp’s Six Nines Data Availability Guarantee (99.9999% uptime) and Ransomware Recovery Guarantee, Agilent’s data is always available, secure, and ready to power the next breakthrough.

Agilent’s promise of Trusted Answers is built on a foundation of innovation, sustainability, and a commitment to improving the quality of life for people everywhere. Together with NetApp, they’re advancing great science at the forefront of everything.