Businesses need a transformation of security architecture, not more tools! Salah-Eddine SAADI Tue, 07/08/2025 - 12:18 As part of the Orange Cyberdefense team in APAC, I’ve had the honour of supporting security transformation plans for companies within Australia and New Zealand and seeing how the solutions have helped to proactively mitigate attacks and beef up their defences in this current threat landscape. More often than not, companies are also caught in the challenge between deploying the right and adequate mix of security tools to safeguard their systems and applications and recouping their ROI from the investments. As threats continuing evolving and become increasingly sophisticated, the journey of a company’s cybersecurity posture too evolves; here’s my perspective on what it takes to break it down for customers in empowering them to take the leap with a trusted vendor – in adopting a future-proof solution that promises resilience, agility, and scalability of their businesses. I)    How is the Current Solution Landscape Built and the Challenges that Companies are Facing Over the years, many companies have layered various cybersecurity tools to protect their systems and data. This typically starts with an antivirus software, firewalls, and VPNs for remote access, before moving into Mobile Device Management (MDM), email security, and application protection tools as needs started growing. These foundational tools are often supplemented by Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, which collect and analyze logs from across the IT environment to detect and respond to threats. However, today’s threat landscape demands even more advanced strategies. Traditional security setups can no longer keep pace with sophisticated cyberattacks, prompting businesses to invest in broader protection—covering cloud security, identity and access management (IAM), external attack surfaces, and security automation. CISOs and CIOs now face major challenges: Overlapping tools that lead to wasted spending Critical security gaps from outdated solutions Complex, fragmented architectures that are hard to manage Poor integration across systems High operational costs from managing multiple vendors Manual processes that slow response times Scalability issues when expanding to new environments In sectors like energy, manufacturing, and mining, the need to secure Operational Technology (OT) and IoT infrastructure adds another layer of urgency. As threats evolve, so must the strategy to defend against them. II)    The cybersecurity architecture has transformed - from perimeter to distributed security The IT and security landscape has been reshaped by cloud adoption, remote work, and a decentralized workforce. Traditionally, organizations relied on centralized data centers with clear boundaries between Intranet, DMZ, and Internet—suitable for on-premises work and easier security management. Today, that model no longer fits. People are everywhere, data is everywhere, and work happens from anywhere. The cloud has become the new data center and the Internet is now the default network. This shift has expanded the enterprise boundary, requiring a new, flexible security architecture. With a growing attack surface and a distributed workforce, organizations must adopt integrated, adaptive security strategies to protect data across all environments. It’s a timely call for a complete security solution transformation towards the Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture. III)    What is SASE, its key components and benefits SASE is a modern IT architecture that combines networking and security into a unified, cloud-delivered service. It enables secure, high-performance access to applications and data—anytime, anywhere—making it ideal for today’s remote workforces and cloud-first organizations. SASE addresses the limitations of traditional security models by providing secure, seamless access to cloud services for remote and mobile users. It ensures consistent protection and optimized performance, regardless of user location or device. Core Components of SASE: SD-WAN: Enhances connectivity and performance across locations. Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS): Cloud-based traffic filtering and threat protection. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): Access based on user identity and device health. Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB): Monitors and controls cloud app usage. Secure Web Gateway (SWG): Blocks web threats and enforces usage policies. Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Safeguards sensitive data from leaks or breaches. Identity and Access Management (IAM): Controls user access to resources. Threat Intelligence & Analytics: Provides insights for proactive security. Edge Computing: Brings processing closer to users for faster response. Security Automation: Streamlines detection and response for improved efficiency. SASE helps organizations adapt to a world where users, devices, and data are everywhere, delivering secure, scalable, and simplified IT operations. In a nutshell, these are the key benefits of SASE: Flexible Security: Adapts quickly to emerging threats. Comprehensive Coverage: Eliminates gaps and overlap in security tools. Cost Efficiency: Reduces expenses from redundant tools and vendor management. Better Threat Detection: Integrates with SIEM and SOAR for improved response. Scalability: Easily supports new locations and evolving environments. IV)    The Future of SASE: Incorporating AI/ML, 5G, and Edge Computing in a Cohesive Narrative SASE is evolving with the integration of AI/ML, 5G, and edge computing—creating a smarter, faster, and more secure architecture for modern enterprises. a) AI & Machine Learning Smarter Threat Detection: AI spots zero-day threats through real-time anomaly detection. Behavioral Analytics: Monitors users/devices to flag unusual activity. Automated Policies: Dynamically adjust based on risk and network conditions. Traffic Optimization: Prioritizes critical applications to boost performance. b)    5G High Speed & Low Latency: Enables seamless, real-time access across locations. Scalable Architecture: Supports consistent security near users worldwide. Edge Integration: Powers faster, localized decision-making. c)    Edge Computing Local Processing: Cuts latency and reduces bandwidth use. On-Site Security: Enforces policies even in remote/offline settings. Real-Time Response: Improves threat containment with instant analytics. Together, these technologies elevate SASE into a truly intelligent and adaptive security model. V)    The Future of Security Architecture and the Challenges with Implementing SASE Gartner predicts that by 2026, 45% of enterprises will adopt Managed SASE services, with the market projected to reach nearly $15 billion by 2025, growing at a 36% CAGR. This surge is driven by the complexity of managing multiple security vendors and a widespread skills gap. Key Challenges in Implementing SASE: While SASE offers a modern, secure connectivity model, its adoption comes with key challenges: Legacy Integration: Many organizations still rely on outdated systems like firewalls and VPNs, making seamless integration complex. Cost & ROI: Upfront investment can be high; clear ROI and long-term benefits must be demonstrated to justify the shift. Vendor Selection: The evolving SASE market offers diverse, overlapping solutions—choosing the right partner requires careful evaluation. Deployment Strategy: SASE implementation must be phased or customized to avoid service disruptions and ensure alignment with business needs. VI)    Conclusion In short, while SASE has clearly defined benefits to it, there are also challenges involved that requires careful planning, investment justification, and alignment across legacy and modern systems to realize its full potential – since SASE adoption is as much a strategic transformation as it is a technical one. As there isn’t a one-size-fit-all solution for companies given the different pain points and complexities with their existing infrastructure, SASE’s customization strength is clearly an upper hand for companies that know how to leverage it to their advantage and prefer a long-term consistency with performance and security delivery, than having to upgrade to new security features each time. For an infographic read, check out my whitepaper on this page.    Recommended for you SASE: A modern approach to cybersecurity A secure, distributed network that fits your needs Automotive Public sector Smart Cities Blogs Santiago Gao Santiago Gao is a seasoned cybersecurity architect and technical leader with over a decade of experience in cybersecurity. He specializes in crafting scalable, resilient security frameworks tailored cybersecurity solutions and architectures to complex, multinational environments. His expertise spans security architecture in zero trust implementation, SOC design, cloud security SIEM/SOAR engineering, and risk-driven security strategy. Santiago is recognized for bridging deep technical acumen with business alignment—delivering pragmatic cybersecurity blueprints that support digital transformation while managing emerging threats. His work integrates advanced threat intelligence, incident response planning, and secure infrastructure design to help global organizations build future-proof security postures. Big Data');" href="#" data-taxo="1014"> Big Data Business Continuity');" href="#" data-taxo="1052"> Business Continuity Cloud');" href="#" data-taxo="1015"> Cloud Collaboration');" href="#" data-taxo="1016"> Collaboration Digital Transformation');" href="#" data-taxo="1019"> Digital Transformation IoT');" href="#" data-taxo="1020"> IoT Security');" href="#" data-taxo="1023"> Security

AI Security: Why we should all care (and what to do about it) Salah-Eddine SAADI Wed, 07/02/2025 - 09:39 AI is everywhere right now—from the apps on your phone, to the systems that help doctors diagnose diseases and banks in detecting fraud. It’s amazing stuff, but there’s a catch: the more we rely on AI, the more important it becomes for us to make sure it’s secure. AI is everywhere right now—from the apps on your phone, to the systems that help doctors diagnose diseases and banks in detecting fraud. It’s amazing stuff, but there’s a catch: the more we rely on AI, the more important it becomes for us to make sure it’s secure. And no, this isn’t just a “techie” problem. If AI goes wrong— either because it gets hacked, manipulated, or just makes a bad decision—it can affect people or humankind at large in serious ways. So let’s break down what AI security really means, why it matters, how we can actually protect these systems using real cybersecurity controls, and how Orange Cyberdefense fits into all of this. So… what is AI security? Think of AI security as a digital seatbelt. It’s about making sure the AI system does what it’s supposed to do—without getting tricked, tampered with, or turned against us. What are the risks? We’re talking about things like: Adversarial attacks that confuse AI Poisoned training data Model theft and reverse engineering Built-in bias Attacks on AI infrastructure All of these can lead to bad decisions, reputational damage, or worse—real harm to people. How to defend AI: Real cybersecurity controls Here’s a low-down on what works in this mapped out ‘Threat vs Control’: Threat Control Adversarial attacks Input sanitization, adversarial training, anomaly detection Data poisoning Data lineage tools, validation scripts, RBAC (Role-based access controls) Model thef API rate limits, watermarking, obfuscation Supply chain threats Secure SDLC (Software Development Lifecycle), SBOM (Software Bill of Materials), code audits Bias & fairness Explainability tools, diverse datasets, fairness audits   Where Orange Cyberdefense comes in Let’s be honest—AI security is complex. Most companies don’t have the time, tools, or internal expertise to cover all the bases. That’s where Orange Cyberdefense steps in. How we can help: i) Threat intelligence tailored for AI Orange Cyberdefense continuously monitors the evolving threat landscape—including attacks targeting AI models, ML pipelines, and generative systems. You get early warnings, not late surprises. ii) Securing the full AI lifecycle From training data protection to model deployment, Orange Cyberdefense helps to implement real-world cybersecurity controls: Data encryption & access controls Secure model hosting environments API security hardening Adversarial robustness testing iii) Monitoring & detection AI doesn’t sleep—and neither should your security. With 24/7 monitoring, Orange Cyberdefense proactively detects anomalies, alerts on suspicious activity, and supports incident response if anything goes wrong. iv) Compliance & governance support With upcoming regulations like the EU AI Act, they’ll help you get ahead—mapping risks, documenting controls, and embedding responsible AI practices into your business. v) Advisory & expertise Not sure where to start? No worries, as our experts are here to guide you with: Risk assessments tailored for AI use cases Security architecture reviews for ML pipelines Workshops to train your teams on AI security best practices Final thoughts AI is powerful—but it’s not foolproof. It’s our job to make sure that it’s trustworthy, fair, and secure. That means putting real controls in place and staying ahead of the curve. And the good news? You don’t have to figure it out alone. With partners like Orange Cyberdefense, you can build trustworthy AI systems that are not just intelligent —but also secure, agile, and ethical! Recommended for you Tackling AI’s threats for your business Future-proofing your network infrastructure for AI Automotive Bank & insurance Manufacturing Public sector Resources and energy Retail Technology and business services Transport Blogs Mayank Sharma Mayank Sharma is a Senior Security Specialist at Orange Business India, possessing over a decade of experience in leading cybersecurity practices and building transformation strategies. He is committed towards securing organizations’ networks and data and supporting their digital transformation journeys. Big Data');" href="#" data-taxo="1014"> Big Data Business Continuity');" href="#" data-taxo="1052"> Business Continuity Cloud');" href="#" data-taxo="1015"> Cloud Connectivity');" href="#" data-taxo="1017"> Connectivity IoT');" href="#" data-taxo="1020"> IoT

Quantum-Safe Networking: Orange Quantum Defender protects your data and communication NOW! baptiste.faure… Tue, 07/01/2025 - 11:41 Quantum computers are on the horizon, but your confidential data must stay private for decades. Orange Quantum Defender merges Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) with Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) to deliver immediate and future-proof security. Quantum computers are on the horizon, but your confidential data must stay private for decades. Orange Quantum Defender merges Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) with Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) to deliver immediate and future-proof security. The quantum threat has already begun Public-key algorithms that safeguard today’s internet will collapse once large-scale and super powerful quantum computers arrive. Adversaries are already storing your data now to decrypt later, exposing finance, government and critical-infrastructure data to long-term compromise. A French first: Orange Quantum Defender On 11 June 2025, Orange Business and Toshiba Europe launched Orange Quantum Defender, the first commercial quantum-secure network service in France. the service unites: QKD – hardware that generates and distributes encryption keys using the laws of quantum physics, making eavesdropping instantly detectable.  PQC – software algorithms endorsed by NIST to resist quantum attacks, ensuring resilience and agility.   “We are thrilled to launch Orange Quantum Defender – a first-of-its-kind service in France. This is a significant step in the Orange multi-layer quantum-safe networking strategy, as we help our enterprise customers respond to the growing and evolving security threats from quantum computing.”  Aliette Mousnier-Lompré, CEO of Orange Business    Why multilayer security matters  Challenge Benefit with Orange Quantum Defender “Store Now, Decrypt it Later” attacks Dual protection: physics-based key exchange plus quantum-resistant algorithms Need to evolve without ripping out networks Seamless overlay on existing fibre; software layer updated as standards evolve Long retention obligations Keys generated by quantum physics; algorithms future-proofed for decades   Secure the next decade—today Quantum attacks are a when, not an if. Orange Quantum Defender equips you with the strongest commercially available defence so you can innovate with confidence.   Talk to a quantum-security expert Recommended for you  Orange Business press release – Quantum Defender Orange Business and Toshiba partner to launch first commercial quantum-safe network service in France The threat stops now with Quantum Defender Bank & insurance Manufacturing Public sector Blogs Renaud Taburiaux Communication & Strategy Lead at Orange Business

Agility as a critical business imperative against new market shifts Salah-Eddine SAADI Tue, 06/17/2025 - 11:12 It’s true that a lot of chatter these days are about digital transformation – alongside keywords like agility, resilience, fast-paced, efficiency, or optimization. While not taking away the fact that these are outcomes that organizations should achieve when deploying technology to adapt to today’s advanced landscape, however, we can all recognize that it doesn’t get easier for enterprises trying to keep up with technological investments or learning the ropes of an evolving digital journey… One might ask – what is the hype around digital transformation that is leaving businesses no choice but to integrate and even accelerate within their business models? That’s a fair question, considering that transformation is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but to be customized according to the organization’s own ecosystem and challenges. To strip away complex definitions, digital transformation is about making a fundamental change to your organization’s infrastructure, operations and processes, and workplace culture so that you become an agile business that can ably thrive in a competitive, dynamic landscape and not fall behind current market needs. Ultimately, an agile business is a critical business imperative today, as agility helps to: - Counter the risks of a developing macro-environment without losing out on productivity; - Ensure business continuity against rising cyber threats while delivering profitability; and - Foster trust with your customers through compliance and security. As an organization, where and how do you start transforming so that you drive an agile business that is also resilient and robust in parallel to market changes while withstanding internal and external pressures? This is my two cents. It’s true that a lot of chatter these days are about digital transformation – alongside keywords like agility, resilience, fast-paced, efficiency, or optimization. While not taking away the fact that these are outcomes that organizations should achieve when deploying technology to adapt to today’s advanced landscape, however, we can all recognize that it doesn’t get easier for enterprises trying to keep up with technological investments or learning the ropes of an evolving digital journey… One might ask – what is the hype around digital transformation that is leaving businesses no choice but to integrate and even accelerate within their business models? That’s a fair question, considering that transformation is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but to be customized according to the organization’s own ecosystem and challenges. To strip away complex definitions, digital transformation is about making a fundamental change to your organization’s infrastructure, operations and processes, and workplace culture so that you become an agile business that can ably thrive in a competitive, dynamic landscape and not fall behind current market needs.  Ultimately, an agile business is a critical business imperative today, as agility helps to: Counter the risks of a developing macro-environment without losing out on productivity; Ensure business continuity against rising cyber threats while delivering profitability; and Foster trust with your customers through compliance and security.  As an organization, where and how do you start transforming so that you drive an agile business that is also resilient and robust in parallel to market changes while withstanding internal and external pressures? This is my two cents. Present challenges and next steps One of the biggest issues facing enterprises today is with unifying their disparate digital ecosystem to enable a fully integrated and seamless experience for customers and employees. Therefore, it is crucial to get your infrastructure transformation right from the get-go, starting with a trusted and experienced consultative partner-vendor, to avoid future issues. A unified and centralized ecosystem is key to driving an agile business with desired outcomes, as it takes an ecosystem of technologies that work well together. For many enterprises, there are also legacy applications that require them to be rearchitected and standardized to a modern and secure environment to adapt to changing times. By drawing up a robust plan and understanding your overarching business strategy, you can identify your organization’s major pain points and offer strategic use cases to be implemented - ultimately supporting overall productivity, security, and greater flexibility. Without a transformation plan or strategy in place, it would be challenging to achieve an agile business model that can pivot easily and stay relevant. As any technological or infrastructure upgrades involve several moving parts that may be deployed in phases, it would be beneficial to know your own budget and resources to prioritize the kind of investments and cost required for your undertaking. Involving your IT teams and the business departments in a joint decision-making approach to ensure alignment on infrastructure financing and available funding with new business needs, is crucial as part of the transformation roadmap. To complete the puzzle piece, organizations also need to look into improving cross-departmental collaboration for teams to succeed in this digital market. Internal silos need to be broken down for a relationship-focused approach to drive effective customer relations and other external stakeholders. A mindset change must be instilled organization-wide so that the old ways of doing things can be refreshed and replaced by a work culture that is attuned to market needs and innovative with ideas and solutions to address problems faced by customers.  Conclusion It must be said time and again that a powerful and flexible enough network serves as an important foundation to render the business agility, security, visibility, and efficiency – particularly as network accessibility becomes even more in demand by virtue of distributed operations and workforce embracing work at anytime, anywhere, and on any device. A network-native digital integrator company like Orange Business brings to the table our technical expertise as network operator, combined with the agility of an integrator in digital solutions. By leveraging our holistic, vendor-agnostic approach to integrate innovative technologies with an organization’s existing environment in a sustainable manner, Orange Business empowers the networks of organizations with robust agility, greater resilience with reduced outage risks (for example, by adopting a modern SD-WAN network or Secure Service Edge i.e. SSE that reduces network complexity and addresses security requirements at scale), as well as cost optimization or reduction (for example, by rightsizing your connectivity needs and lowering OPEX or CAPEX maintenance when you migrate to the cloud). Whether it’s a technical assessment of your infrastructure performance that you like to know more or a support outreach you wish to contact, Orange Business is here to help!   Recommended for you Driving agility with cloud A scalable, responsive and secure digital infrastructure Manufacturing Retail Blogs Edmund Yick Edmund is the General Manager of Orange Business Hong Kong and Taiwan. He is responsible for developing and managing our portfolio of business solutions for multinational enterprises and provides strategic direction to support the growth of Orange Business as the leading integrated communications provider in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Edmund likes having a whisky or two during his down time to unwind when he is not driving. 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Improving the efficiency and safety of factory staff with assisted worker technology Salah-Eddine SAADI Sat, 06/07/2025 - 21:39 The safety of manufacturing operations is a critical priority for CPG companies, driven by both ethical responsibility and financial impact. Advances in AI and assisted worker technologies, such as wearable devices and automated vehicles, are transforming workplace safety by enhancing monitoring and reducing incidents. These innovations help companies create safer environments, improve efficiency, and significantly lower injury rates. The safety of manufacturing operations is a critical priority for CPG companies, driven by both ethical responsibility and financial impact. Advances in AI and assisted worker technologies, such as wearable devices and automated vehicles, are transforming workplace safety by enhancing monitoring and reducing incidents. These innovations help companies create safer environments, improve efficiency, and significantly lower injury rates. Touchpoint CPG companies can use digital tools to provide real-time data, predictive analytics, and automation to monitor and mitigate risks to factory workers. Wearable devices can monitor working conditions, highlighting potential hazards like fatigue or unsafe environments.  Automation and AI-driven tools reduce human exposure to dangerous tasks, allowing employees to focus on supervision and control. Overall, they create a safer, more efficient work environment through proactive management and risk reduction.   The safety of manufacturing operations is a top concern for CPG companies. It is both a moral obligation – employees are entitled to expect that their working conditions will have no adverse effect on their well-being – and a financial imperative: in the US, the National Safety Council found that the average cost for accident claims in 2020-2021 was $41,757 (!). Over the past few years, manufacturing has entered a new era of digitization with a host of technologies ranging from wearable technology to Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) that augment the ability of manufacturing employees to do their jobs. These assisted worker technologies not only improve safety but can also have a huge impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of manufacturing employees. The advancements made in AI can also be used to assist Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) teams in developing a strong safety culture. Based on trial deployments with Orange, AI and computer vision-based safety tools can increase observability of unsafe behaviours and events by 1152% and reduce safety incidents by 72%. Overall, AI technology enables organizations to make informed, real-time decisions and allows for more effective implementation of safety initiatives and proactive risk mitigation. Furthermore, the deployed safety solutions led to a 25% reduction in Lost Time Injury Rate (LTIR), improving employee well-being and minimizing productivity losses. Assisted Working – Science fact, not fiction Increasingly, CPG companies are turning to assisted technology to deliver both the enhanced safety they need and the improved productivity that is demanded by the brutal competitive environment in which they operate. The term ‘assisted worker’ may summon up images of a futuristic cyborg; but the reality is not science fiction but contemporary fact - augmenting workers is a necessary transformation. Put simply, an assisted worker uses technology to improve their skills, knowledge, and physical capacity, allowing them to perform tasks more efficiently and safely. Assisted working can provide employees working in the manufacturing facilities of CPG companies with a host of benefits.  Reinforce employee safety You can significantly mitigate incident risks and consequences by harnessing technology – including geolocation, computer vision, and enhanced communication tools – to improve employee safety. For example, deploying Push-to-X technology over smartphones enables maintenance, operations, and intervention (fire and medical) teams to seamlessly communicate and collaborate. You can also use Augmented Reality (AR) to create virtualized environments in which to train your employees on critical processes and how best to use sophisticated manufacturing equipment without being exposed to operational risks. AR systems can also enable remote experts to guide on-site workers through complex tasks in real-time, improving accuracy and efficiency (see Covestro example).  Empower workforce productivity Other solutions that can allow you to elevate productivity include ergonomic terminals, digitalized processes, tailored apps, operational-context consideration, global oversight, and AR/XR. AR glasses, for example, can serve as an in-house SatNav system, guiding manufacturing workers through a factory or warehouse so they can quickly locate the items they are looking for. Enhance employee satisfaction Tailored tools and processes can expand employee effectiveness and engagement. You can also strengthen the sense of belonging through personalized communication and interaction tools aligned with responsibilities. An Overview of Augmented Worker Technology 1. Wearable Technology The wearables market now features a range of devices that enhance safety and productivity. For example, AR smart glasses provide real-time information, instructions, and visual overlays to guide workers through complex tasks, reducing errors and increasing productivity. Wearable health monitors track vital signs (e.g., heart rate and body temperature) to detect fatigue or stress, alerting workers and supervisors to potential health risks. Wearable GPS devices help monitor the location of your workers to ensure safety in hazardous areas and improve coordination and efficiency in large facilities. Covestro is an industrial manufacturer that is working with Orange to migrate to a paperless environment in which all documentation is delivered to employees via ruggedized tablets over a 5G network. They are also investigating the use of augmented glasses to enable hands-free operation: this technology can also be used to send images to experts located elsewhere in the company.   2. Real-Time Environment Monitoring The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) revolution has seen the introduction of many different types of sensors, able to monitor factory conditions such as air quality, release of dangerous gases, temperature, and noise levels. When combined with AI algorithms, they can improve worker safety by enabling real-time monitoring of environmental conditions, predictive analytics, and proactive hazard detection, leading to faster esponses and reduced accidents. Long Range (LoRa) networks are suitable for IoT devices with low traffic and are ideal for the sensors that typically make up real-time monitoring systems. They are easy to operate and can link hundreds of devices to the same gateway, providing a single platform for all your monitoring equipment at a low cost. 3. Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) AGVs can handle the transportation of materials within the factory, reducing the need for manual lifting and movement, thereby decreasing the risk of injury and increasing efficiency. By automating material handling, AGVs improve productivity by streamlining workflows and allowing workers to focus on more complex tasks. Orange Business is working with Schneider electric on an AGV use case as part of an experimental rollout. Using 5G, operators can control a telepresence robot which can be manipulated with real-time responsiveness, allowing remote (virtual) visits to the site with high-quality video. However, AGVs require effective communication with their environment to move and perform tasks without causing danger or disruptions. And, most importantly, they must be driven safely and securely, especially in confined spaces. This requires a stable, fast, low-latency, and high-capacity infrastructure. CPG companies are increasingly finding that Mobile Private Networks (MPNs) are ideally suited to this task.  An MPN is a networking technology based on the 5G standard that provides reliable and secure connectivity for AGVs. It is also being used to support other innovative use cases like Augmented Reality for remote workers, safety with computer vision, and Push-to-X. Unlike public 5G networks, which are shared infrastructure for general use, MPNs are dedicated, private networks that allow CPG companies a greater degree of control, security, and performance.  Orange Business was recently recognized as a Leader by Gartner in its inaugural 2025 Magic Quadrant for 4G and 5G Private Mobile Network Services. We can provide MPN as a managed service by assisting customers throughout all phases of the implementation, from business consulting and assessment to design, build, and run. 4. Computer Vision Orange Business has partnered with Surveily to provide computer vision systems that support more than 50 use cases, ranging from quality inspection and defect detection to predictive maintenance and employee safety. There is no need to replace cameras or buy new ones – the software simply integrates with your existing CCTV equipment.  Many CPG companies find that as much as half of all those on the factory floor are external contractors who may be unused to wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): the Surveily system can detect whether this equipment is being used and alert factory supervisors accordingly. It can also track people in real time so that, in the event of an emergency, they can be safely evacuated.   5. Enhanced Communication Tools Devices like smartwatches and smartphones enable instant communication among workers and supervisors, facilitating quick responses to issues and improving coordination. These devices can also be used to send emergency alerts, ensuring timely evacuation or response in case of accidents or hazards, by using dedicated mobile solutions. For example, Push-to-X is a service that enhances communication and safety within businesses, particularly those relying on mission-critical communications. It provides dedicated Quality of Service (QoS) for critical communications and includes features like geolocation and work applications that enable businesses to improve safety and collaboration. IoT-Optimized Network Environments A state-of-the-art network is necessary to ensure that the large number of IoT devices deployed in autonomous working environments can function effectively. 5G MPNs are gaining traction with CPG companies as a means of supporting real-time applications. However, a range of different technologies are available to support large IoT estates: these include enhanced wireless and Low Power Wide Area Networking (LPWAN). Orange Business has been recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant IoT Connectivity Services for seven consecutive years and offers a range of services to support manufacturing IoT devices. These include:  IoT Managed Global Connectivity – a flexible service management solution that helps with the deployment and management of IoT devices globally;  Connected smart products – a secure, cloud-based platform that allows users to connect machines and objects to business applications.  Orange Business has an extensive partner ecosystem that specializes in IoT, geolocation, industrial supervision, and more. We can help select and implement partners and technologies to create fully tailored solutions for any CPG company’s individual business needs. Conclusion Some of the world’s largest industrial companies – behemoths like Boeing, Siemens and General Motors – are already using assisted worker technology to deliver long-term gains in efficiency and the minimization of costly downtime. (!) However, CPG companies are lagging behind their peers when it comes to the adoption of assisted worker technology. As McKinsey observes, “there’s a race on to capture value from digital and AI, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies are in danger of falling behind both retailers and consumers” (!). Orange Business has 26,000 customers in the industrial sector, one-third of which are manufacturers, so have the experience and expertise to help CPG leaders investigate the use cases for assisted worker technology and urgently implement those that deliver the requisite ROI.    Blogs Pier Giuseppe Dal Farra Before joining Orange Business, Pier Giuseppe Dal Farra served as Chief Operating Officer of ASTES4 SA, a Swiss-based tech company specializing in mechanical design and automation software. He was also cofounder of IPenable Inc., a company which pioneered the deployment of IoT in the Energy Vertical Sector. Today he is an IoT Industry Business Expert at Orange, focusing on all things IoT. Big Data');" href="#" data-taxo="1014"> Big Data Digital Transformation');" href="#" data-taxo="1019"> Digital Transformation IoT');" href="#" data-taxo="1020"> IoT Security');" href="#" data-taxo="1023"> Security