모든 것의 최전선에 있는 위대한 과학

이 이야기는 1939년 Bill Hewlett과 Dave Packard가 캘리포니아주 팔로 알토의 작은 차고에서 HP를 시작하면서 시작됩니다. 이 회사의 이름은 기술 역사상 가장 오래 지속된 기업가적 모델 중 하나를 따르고 있는데, 차고에서 겸손하게 시작한 다른 회사로는 Apple, Amazon, Google이 있습니다.

60년 후, 새로운 세기를 맞이하여 HP는 1999년 테스트 및 측정 사업부를 분사하여 새로운 회사인 Agilent로 출범했습니다. 머지않아 이 기업은 실리콘 밸리 역사상 최대 규모의 IPO라는 기록을 경신했습니다.

Agilent의 창립 시점은 선견지명이 있어 보입니다. 10년 안에 제4차 산업혁명(4IR)이 도래하여 물리적, 디지털, 생물학적 세계 간의 경계가 빠르게 모호해지고 있습니다. 4IR 및 인더스티리 4.0은 임베디드 연결성과 유비쿼터스 기술이 사회를 대대적으로 재편하는 오늘날의 시대정신을 포착하려는 유일한 신조어는 아닙니다. 예를 들어, 메타버스, 사물 인터넷(IoT), 그리고 그레이트 리셋 역시 자동화와 데이터가 어떻게 결합되어 인간 경험의 거의 모든 측면을 뒷받침하는지를 표현하고자 합니다.

Agilent는 화학, 물리학부터 나노기술을 포함한 재료 과학에 이르기까지 다양한 분야에 4차 산업혁명 기술을 접목하는 데 있어 선구적인 역할을 하고 있습니다. AI 데이터 분석 도구를 기반으로 하는 애질런트의 원자간력현미경(AFM)은 과학자들에게 나노 스케일에서 물질의 특성을 파악할 수 있는 시야를 제공합니다. 즉, 이 기기는 전례 없는 정밀도로 표면을 스캔하여 이전에는 알려지지 않았던 통찰력을 제공하여 발명가들이 분자 수준에서 물질의 거동을 예측하는 데 도움을 줄 수 있습니다. 반도체에서 재생 에너지 기술에 이르기까지 모든 분야에 새로운 소재를 개발하는 데 기여할 수 있습니다.

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.