Wireline Issue 48 - Summer 2020

“Remote access was baked in at the start. This has really helped during COVID-19 and the concept of simplicity has been key to make something easy to use.”

on’ technology has not been required. The concept of simplicity has been key to make something easy to use.” For Schlumberger, a move in recent years to more software-defined infrastructure proved advantageous, especially as it moved to scale up connection capacity as the volume of remote staff services grew. Global network services operations manager Maged Elmenshawy explains: “If you have a traditional internet connection in a data centre, internet service providers [ISPs] were saying ‘OK, we can get extra capacity to you in a month.’ But we have these software defined ports where we could allocate 10GBps in a matter of two days.” Repurposing these ports offered additional

laptop users, who although mostly not familiar with the new log-in process, adapted well to using it.” The concept of scalability is a common thread for those organisations who have reported successful transitions to home working. Alan Norrie notes that TAQA had already moved services to Microsoft’s cloud-based Office 365 package and an always-on VPN, meaning the move to remote working for many was relatively seamless. He adds: “The IT working environment was designed iteratively from the ground up, which took longer to deliver but remote access was baked in at the start. This has really helped during COVID-19 and additional ‘bolt-

TAQA offered a drive-in collection system for those requiring extra IT and equipment.

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