ciência extraordinária na vanguarda de… tudo

Tudo começa em 1939, quando Bill Hewlett e Dave Packard fundaram a HP em uma pequena garagem em Palo Alto, Califórnia. A empresa homônima segue o que hoje é um dos modelos empreendedores mais duradouros da história da tecnologia, assim como outras empresas com raízes modestas em garagens, como Apple, Amazon e Google.

Sessenta anos depois, no limiar de um novo século, a HP desmembrou suas divisões de teste e medição em 1999 como uma nova empresa: a Agilent. Em pouco tempo, a empresa quebra recordes como o maior IPO da história do Vale do Silício.

O momento da criação da Agilent parece premonitório porque, em uma década, a Quarta Revolução Industrial (4RI) chega com uma confusão acelerada de linhas entre os mundos físico, digital e biológico. 4IR e Indústria 4.0 não são os únicos neologismos que tentam capturar o zeitgeist do dia, já que a conectividade incorporada e as tecnologias onipresentes remodelam a sociedade de maneiras sísmicas. Por exemplo, o metaverso, a Internet das Coisas (IoT) e a Grande Reinicialização também pretendem colocar em palavras como a automação e os dados se unem para sustentar quase todos os aspectos da experiência humana.

A Agilent se mostra uma líder pioneira na integração de tecnologias 4IR em vários campos, desde química e física até ciência de materiais, incluindo nanotecnologia. Seus Microscópios de Força Atômica (AFMs), quando alimentados por ferramentas de análise de dados de IA, dão aos cientistas uma visão das propriedades dos materiais em nanoescala. Isso significa que os dispositivos agora podem escanear superfícies com precisão sem precedentes, oferecendo insights antes ocultos para ajudar os inventores a prever como os materiais se comportam no nível molecular. Isso pode levar a novos materiais para tudo, desde semicondutores até tecnologias de energia renovável.

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.