Clean energy firm harnesses the power of AI for smarter security

Overview

Aer Soléir is a force to be reckoned with in Europe’s clean energy sector. Now it’s got an AI-powered security solution to stay one step ahead of emerging threats, thanks to Bytes and Darktrace.

Headquartered in Dublin, Aer Soléir develops utility-scale onshore wind, solar PV and battery storage projects in select European markets. The company’s name means “clear air” in Irish, which reflects its commitment to sustainability. Aer Soléir’s vision is a cleaner energy future for all, where sustainable electrification becomes a reality.

Since its launch in April 2021, the energy company has chalked up major successes across Europe. These include developing a 2.6 GW active development pipeline of renewable energy projects in Greece, Italy, Ireland, Spain and Portugal.

Globally, the company’s management team has developed 45 GW+ of renewable projects, raised more than €5 billion in project finance. They’ve procured 2.6 GW of generation plant, constructed 18 GW and operated 9 GW of renewable facilities.

Challenge

Although Aer Soléir had an ambitious agenda, the company was operating with a lean team of only around 30 employees and just one IT professional.

The business was growing, data was increasing and managing security was fast becoming a major challenge. In the face of evolving cyber threats, Aer Soléir had to manage risks – while keeping its business focused on core activities. The company needed to strengthen operational resilience and security readiness without overburdening its IT manager.

Bytes are our strategic information technology partner, providing us with end-to-end managed services, including cybersecurity, license management, image management and smart-hands for user support

Robbie Kennedy, Group Head of IS & Facilities, Aer Soléir

The Bytes Solution

Aer Soléir looked to Bytes for help. The two companies had already formed an effective working relationship. Bytes had become a trusted advisor after providing consultancy on Center for Internet Security (CIS) gap analysis and technologies from Microsoft and AvePoint.

Now Bytes’ expertise with another vendor – Darktrace – would prove valuable. Aer Soléir already had some understanding of Darktrace and its proactive, AI-powered cyber resilience solutions. But Bytes could explain more. As Darktrace’s leading partner in the UK and Ireland, Bytes had extensive knowledge of Darktrace technology and related services.

Bytes worked with Darktrace to identify potential gaps in Aer Soléir’s defences and explore how the clean energy company could achieve a strong return on investment.

After demos and proof-concept stages, Aer Soléir onboarded the Darktrace platform, benefiting from real-time detection, autonomous response and investigative AI capabilities. The platform included:

  • Darktrace / Attack Surface Management™: This monitors Aer Soléir’s attack surface for vulnerabilities and risks. It searches beyond known assets, typically surfacing 30-50% more assets than organisations realise they have. 
  • Darktrace / Proactive Exposure Management: This uses self-learning AI and risk-based scoring to determine every possible attack path. Now Aer Soléir can prioritise users, devices and vulnerabilities that pose the greatest risk. Darktrace shows the company how to proactively harden its defences in the most vulnerable places.
  • Darktrace / Incident Readiness & Recovery: This helps Aer Soléir to more effectively prepare for any cyber-attacks and to rapidly remediate and recover from them using AI and automation.

Benefits

Thanks to help from Bytes and Darktrace, Aer Soléir has hardened its cyber defences, enhanced its security posture and provided greater of peace of mind for its leadership team.

Now the company can identify critical attack paths in real-time and prevent cyber intrusions before they happen. Staff are more alert to phishing scams and other potential attacks. Meanwhile, Darktrace / Incident Readiness & Recovery will create bespoke incident response plans and automate recovery actions, saving time and money in the event of any incident.

Close collaboration with Bytes and Darktrace also meant the engagement could proceed at speed and deliver savings. Aer Soléir qualified for year-end discounts and limited-time offers.

With its security on a firm footing, Aer Soléir can continue to expand with greater confidence. Securing critical infrastructure will be vital as the company runs an 
Operational Technology (OT) project to support a 417 MW onshore windfarm in Greece, one of the largest in Europe.

Aer Soléir’s new OT Asset manager will be relying on Darktrace and Bytes for the project, which is part of the company’s renewable energy development pipeline in Europe.

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Are you ready to transform your business with Bytes? Reach out to [email protected] to learn more. 

 

  • Author | Steve Fountain
  • Editor | Daniela Miccardi
  • Aligned Bytes Account Manager | Sara Crangle

 

Bytes have been instrumental in recommending and implementing key technologies for Aer Soléir, including the Darktrace cyber security solutions (ActiveAI Security Platform), strengthening our cyber posture. They have provided cyber gap analysis and a roadmap for further improving and automating our preventive, detect/response, heal processes; active management of our Microsoft 365 licenses using a self-service portal; pro-active service reviews and improvements

Robbie Kennedy, Group Head of IS & Facilities at Aer Soléir

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