[Advertorial] It is the part of IT equipment that most of us take for granted and is sometimes forgotten in implementation plans. But it is also essential to reliability in IT operations by protecting IT equipment from small to large.

We are of course talking about the uninterruptible power supply, or UPS for short. This year there will be 40^e celebrated the anniversary of the first UPS that APC developed in 1984 – the 450AT+. UPS technology is now found everywhere IT equipment is found and has become increasingly sophisticated thanks to numerous innovations. It is a fundamental part of any new IT implementation or upgrade. IT vendors have recognized the importance of a good UPS and have taken great steps over the decades to ensure that customers understand the value of a good UPS as well.

The role of the UPS

The UPS provides reliability and safety by providing temporary backup power during power outages. In addition, a UPS provides a “clean” power supply to IT equipment to prevent damage from voltage spikes and fluctuations during normal use.

Over the past few decades, UPS has become increasingly important as IT teams and organizations have become increasingly reliant on data. As the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and other data-intensive technologies become more widely used, UPS is more important than ever.

Added value for IT partners

Today, approximately 150,000 APC IT partners worldwide use their UPS solutions and related technologies to protect their customers’ infrastructure. These partners leverage the opportunities offered by partner programs such as the mySchneider IT Partner Program to grow their business and provide solutions, services and support to their customers.

40 years ago, APC began building a market with the introduction of the first UPS in 1984. A few years later, in 1989, energy management was revolutionized with the introduction of PowerChute^TMSoftware with which

Hardware could be shut down gracefully and the data on that hardware protected. That same year, partnerships were formed with two major IT distributors, which proved crucial in building a partner ecosystem.

There have been many innovations over the decades. In 1990, Smart-UPS^TMBrand that is now considered the industry’s best solution for network power security. In 2004, the now industry-leading InfraStruXure architecture was launched, the first scalable modular, energy-efficient architecture for network-critical physical infrastructure (NCPI), which is an integral part of complete power and cooling systems.

The innovation journey continues

The EcoStruxure^TM IT Portfolio offers vendor-neutral Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) solutions that help manage resilient, secure and sustainable IT infrastructure anywhere. This ensures business continuity with secure monitoring, management, planning and modeling from a single IT rack to hyperscale IT, on-premises, in the cloud and at the edge. Additional services help maximize the value of EcoStruxure IT solutions.

Other recent innovations include the introduction of products made from recycled and recyclable materials to support sustainability strategies. Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly used in UPS models, from small home office devices to industrial UPS systems. Lithium-ion enables longer life cycles and reduces space requirements and maintenance costs, all of which contribute to sustainability.

Building a sustainable future

Digitalization and electrification are central to sustainability strategies in almost all industries. To support these efforts, technologies such as Smart-UPS are being developed^TM Ultra. The most sustainable UPS of its kind, meeting the growing demand for sustainable solutions and recycling programs.

The Smart-UPS Ultra provides the reliability and protection needed at a time when power outages are becoming more frequent and longer lasting. The solution is designed to provide maximum efficiency in both consumption and footprint, supporting sustainability efforts.

APC continues to innovate while looking to the next 40 years and beyond. Now that everything and everyone is connected, businesses need innovative technology to conduct their operations sustainably and securely. The journey continues.

Check out the #40YearsOn anniversary website to learn about the entire innovation journey and new ways to evolve your business.

This is a commercial contribution from Schneider Electric. The publishers are not responsible for the content.