___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Collaboration
creating shared AI blueprints, such as adapting the defence sector’ s agentic AI for rail or utilities, and pooling data governance best practices to accelerate safe deployment.
Some of the most transferable innovations come from the deployment of digital twins and IoT solutions. As noted above, our work with utilities had direct applications in transport. Similarly, the converse is true where rail clients have developed synthetic environments, these are digital twins of rail sections, that could inspire similar models in water or energy networks. But business cases for digital twins can be hard to justify due to upfront costs. A unified CNI approach could help spread risk and share ROI models, making investment easier for all.
The UK’ s CNI doesn’ t need a one-size-fitsall overhaul; it needs a collaborative backbone. By creating shared threat intelligence pools, standardised security frameworks and
cross-sector innovation hubs, we can build a resilient, adaptive CNI ecosystem because there are more similarities between sectors than you might think. We just need to get the right people in the room. The technology exists. The expertise exists. Now, it’ s about joining the dots. The umbrella isn’ t about control, it’ s about connection. And in an era of escalating cyber threats and climate pressures, that connection could be the UK’ s biggest infrastructure advantage. ■
Tony Long www. atos. net
Tony Long is an experienced IT leader with over 20 years working with Atos clients as Chief Technology Officer for sectors such as transport and utilities. He’ s known for his technical expertise and strategic leadership, and provides direction, leads highperforming teams and drives cultural and operational improvements. His focus is on enterprise IT strategy, innovation, technical governance, resource and vendor and client relationship management, making sure Atos aligns its technology initiatives with clients’ business goals to deliver real benefits.
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