偉大的科學處於一切事物的前沿

惠普公司的歷史可以追溯到 1939 年，當時比爾·休利特 (Bill Hewlett) 和戴夫·帕卡德 (Dave Packard) 在加州帕洛阿爾託的一個小車庫裡創辦了惠普公司。他們的同名公司遵循科技史上歷史最悠久的創業模板之一，起源於車庫，其他這樣創立的公司還有蘋果、亞馬遜和谷歌。

六十年後，在跨入新世紀的門檻上，惠普於 1999 年將其測試和測量部門分拆出去成立一間新公司，Agilent 安捷倫，這家企業很快就打破了矽谷史上最大規模 IPO 的紀錄。

安捷倫的創立時機似乎很有先見之明，因為在十年之內，隨著物理、數位和生物世界之間的界線加速模糊，第四次工業革命（4IR）也隨之出現。第四次工業革命和工業 4.0 隨著嵌入式網路連線和技術普及，而以翻天覆地的方式重塑社會。這些新詞彙並不是唯一試圖捕捉時代精神的用語，例如，元宇宙、物聯網 (IoT)，以及大重置等新詞彙，還旨在用文字描述自動化和資料如何結合在一起支撐人類經驗的幾乎每個方面。

安捷倫在將 4IR 技術融入化學、物理、材料科學（包括奈米技術）等多個領域方面處於領先地位。他們的原子力顯微鏡 (AFM) 在人工智慧資料分析工具的支持下，可以讓科學家瞭解奈米級材料的特性。這意味著這些設備現在能以前所未有的精度掃描表面，提供先前隱藏不顯的見解，幫助發明家預測材料在分子層面上的行為。這可以為從半導體到再生能源技術等所有領域帶來新材料。

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.