What is a critical infrastructure?
Critical infrastructure refers to all the systems that are essential to the proper functioning of society in economic, social, health and safety terms.
These infrastructures include electrical networks, water and energy supply systems, as well as health, transport and telecommunications services.
Critical infrastructure refers to any system essential to the provision of vital economic and social functions: health, food, security, transport, energy, information systems, financial services...
The dysfunction, unavailability or destruction of any of these infrastructures can have serious consequences for the population, affecting the continuity of essential services.
Definition from the European Commission
That’s why the proper functioning and security of these networks are vital to ensuring simple, sustainable and safer living ecosystems.
However, these infrastructures are increasingly vulnerable to growing threats:
- Obsolescence of systems, with aging equipment
- Development of connected objects, increasing potential entry points for cyberattacks
- Rapid evolution of communication protocols, rendering certain devices obsolete in a short space of time
LACROIX solutions for optimizing critical infrastructures
Faced with climate change and dwindling resources, operators and local authorities face major challenges:
- Ensure a reliable supply of water and energy
- Ensure network security against cyber threats
- Improve energy efficiency while reducing environmental impact
These issues represent a major challenge for local authorities, who need to maintain user activities while preserving the health and sanitary balance of the population.
Cyber attacks don’t just affect the virtual world: they can also have worrying consequences in the real world, such as making the water supply or distribution of an urban center unavailable.
In light of these challenges, the activity Environment provides connected equipment and solutions for:
- Water networks New tab: real-time monitoring, optimization of resources and anticipation of failures.
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) New tab: optimizing systems for greater energy efficiency.
- Smart Grids New tab: efficient management of energy flows and integration of renewable energies.
- Street Lighting New tab: reducing energy consumption through intelligent devices.
Our secure “by design” solutions incorporate cutting-edge telecoms resources for efficient, reliable remote management of water and energy infrastructures.
They enable operators to systematically deploy cyber-secure remote management and control systems at their facilities.
Artificial intelligence for critical infrastructures
At LACROIX, artificial intelligence (AI) plays a key role in optimizing critical infrastructures, enabling:
- Process automation for more efficient management
- Optimization of energy consumption
- Anticipate incidents with predictive analysis
Our approach is based on a reasoned integration of Artificial Intelligence, in order to remain at the highest level of efficiency in our offerings and operational performance.
We use our expertise to place the most appropriate technology at the right level and in the right place, when it proves its worth.
LACROIX designs and manufactures intelligent, reliable and sustainable equipment and solutions to ensure the continuous, optimized operation of critical infrastructures that are essential to the equilibrium of our society and the well-being of users.
By combining innovation, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, we support operators in the digital transformation of their networks.
