APC Smart-UPS Just Got Smarter: Enabling UPS management through the cloud

APC smart-ups with SmartConnect

“To enable businesses to proactively and effectively manage the health of their UPS systems, Schneider Electric has introduced APC Smart-UPS™ with SmartConnect, the only cloud-enabled UPS for distributed IT environments.”

Every IT manager fears a power outage on a busy workday. The office is humming with critical transactions happening at every workstation when the power goes out unexpectedly. To buy time and allow for the safe shutdown of devices, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) are a standard piece of critical infrastructure in any setting. But what happens when the IT department doesn’t have the bandwidth to proactively maintain and monitor their UPS on an ongoing basis, or if there is no IT staff on site at all? UPS battery failure on any piece of equipment is undesirable, but on the most business-critical technology could mean catastrophic business delays and profit loss. To compound the criticality, today’s IoT enabled world means these devices are likely supporting on-site and remote edge environments that must function at the same level of availability and security as the largest and most mission-critical data centers.

What if your UPS and your smartphone could do this job for you? Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) can be devastated by any loss of availability, and whether through an in-house IT professional or trusted Managed Service Provider, they need to be certain their equipment is functioning correctly. Proactive ability to monitor UPS devices with notifications of maintenance and replacement needs sent right to a smartphone becomes a game changer for IT departments in companies of this size.

To enable SMBs to proactively and effectively manage the health of their UPS systems, Schneider Electric has introduced Smart-UPS™ with APC SmartConnect, the first and only cloud-enabled UPS for distributed IT environments.

Available as a standard feature with select models in APC’s industry-leading Smart-UPS portfolio of solutions, SmartConnect delivers the power reliability, security and certainty that SMBs need to stay connected to the technology and information that powers their business.

SmartConnect leverages the Schneider Electric cloud-enabled EcoStruxure IT architecture to:

  • Gather and send data about the health and status of a customer’s UPS devices including battery replacement, warranty renewal and UPS performance notifications
  • Provide a secure, cloud-based web portal where customers can view the status of their UPS, accessible from any internet-connected device
  • Send customizable automatic notifications, firmware notification updates and advanced troubleshooting support through an easy-to-use remote monitoring interface.
  • Deploy right out of the box – no configuration required – making it easy for even non-technical users to install

Empowering MSPs to better serve their SMB customers

SmartConnect cloud-powered technology also enables managed service providers (MSPs) to expand their offering to deliver remote UPS monitoring for SMB clients. This provides MSPs with a greater opportunity to better serve their customers through value-added power infrastructure services while generating new revenue streams – all with minimal effort and no additional cost.

MSPs can easily integrate SmartConnect with leading remote monitoring and management (RMM) solutions such as ConnectWise Automate and Kaseya, or via a mobile ready web portal, so they can manage customer portfolios from a single platform. No coding, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) traps, or software agents are required, meaning MSPs can quickly deploy their services and begin generating revenue.

EcoStruxure ready solutions

Connected APC Smart-UPS with SmartConnect is one of the latest products available as part of Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure IT Data Center Management as a Service architecture. The foundation of EcoStruxure IT is built on intelligent, connected solutions that leverage data-driven insights to simplify the maintenance and operation of IT physical infrastructure by improving performance operation, enabling remote visibility and monitoring, and providing expert services capabilities.

For more information visit https://smartconnect.apc.com/welcome or contact your local APC representative.

Providing Certainty in a Connected World

APC by Schneider Electric is the leading brand worldwide for integrated physical infrastructure and software. With a wide array of products that provide reliable power and availability solutions for IT and communications technologies, APC delivers Certainty in a Connected World. With the largest community of partners tailoring solutions for home and distributed IT, APC enables individuals and businesses to anticipate the unexpected, protecting critical information and data.

For media inquiries please contact Lauren Mahoney-Pick

Related Content:

APC Cloud Connected Smart-UPS
APC Smart-UPS with SmartConnect FAQ
APC Smart UPS with SmartConnect Security
Video: APC Smart-UPS with SmartConnect Overview

8 thoughts on “APC Smart-UPS Just Got Smarter: Enabling UPS management through the cloud

  1. Hi,

    Great job APC Team, I’ve been looking for this for some time.

    I’m having a problem where the guest/s don’t get time to shut down gracefully before the host powers down. This is testing the command only, I have taken the ups out of the equation for now.

    Thanks.

    1. Hi Alina,

      Thank you for sharing your problem with me. I will have someone contact you so we can help get a resolution for you.

      Take Care,

      Pankaj

  2. Many MSPs leverage SNMP for monitoring so I disagree with the marketing that SmartConnect is great for MSPs. Is there any plan to support SNMP in the future? Email notifications only won’t cut it. It seems like we are stuck with the more expensive solution of the network management card.

  3. I would also like to have SNMP on the SmartConnect units. It would enable more automation for some shops, especially those that use SNMP to monitor other parts of their infrastructure.

    1. Hi Henry, thank you for your question.

      APC Connected Smart-UPS devices support SNMP through the SmartSlotTM card slot. NMC cards, sold separately, allow customers to configure and remotely monitor and control the UPS. Shutdown configuration options are available for the UPS when the NMC card is used in conjunction with PowerChute Network Shutdown.

      SmartConnect is deployed right out of the box by connecting the device and scanning a QR code. Designed for very easy set-up and registration, the monitoring-only web portal shows key status and operating information from the UPS as soon as the registration process is completed. This makes it easy for even non-technical users to install and use.

  4. This solution goes under saved money and we got something.
    In alerts and logs, it doesn’t say why UPS went to a battery, which is not that useful when you are providing remote support.
    Was it low voltage? Or true power feed loss.

    And even worse if you lose the Internet and need to access it locally, there is;t even a web page with a status page … please carry your UPS to the first point with an Internet link ….. we know it’s heavy and hope you have trolley and insurance… I hope I am 100% wrong about this last statement.

    For the MSP, Management card looks like the only good option.

    1. Hi Rajko, thank you for your comment.

      The Smart-UPS with SmartConnect Ethernet Port does not have local web interface. It is intended as a simple cloud monitoring tool. If you would like to have local web interface, we recommend you add an APC Network Management Card (NMC) if NMC is not preinstalled with the UPS. The NMC allows you to connect to Ecostruxure IT software which offers more visibility.

      If you have a Smart-UPS SMT model, you can view the status and recent events via the LCD panel. If you have a Smart-UPS SMC model, you can see the status via the LCD display, but with the SMC, there is not a store event log. Hope this helps!

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