We’re poised at the cusp of a new era. Data is rapidly becoming the lifeblood of modern enterprises, especially as the relentless advance of artificial intelligence (AI) continues. Many companies are assembling project teams to ensure they are on top of the latest trends and capabilities in automation, AI and data decision-making. But organisations that don’t invest in the right data foundations may miss out on the full spectrum of opportunities emerging technologies have to offer.
That’s why a well-thought-out cloud strategy is increasingly vital for the modern business. The foundations businesses build today should be designed to handle rapidly advancing technology and keep them competitive in the years to come. Whether they’re starting from scratch or upgrading systems, organisations must think carefully about balancing data safety with accessibility and create the right data structure to take advantage of emerging technology.
All aboard the AI train
Recent research from the hybrid cloud platform company Nasuni confirms that change is afoot. It found that while only 19% of enterprise-size companies currently use a hybrid cloud storage model – where business data is stored across a mix of on-premises, public and private cloud environments – 65% plan to implement one within the next year. Of those companies with a hybrid cloud storage solution already in place, 70% plan to upgrade this within the next 18 months.
The significant increase in cloud investment suggests many organisations are preparing their IT infrastructure to handle more data and more complex operations. Indeed, businesses identified AI initiatives as the second most important cloud investment area for the next 18 months, coming in only behind cloud data management and analytics. And 71% of businesses consider AI and machine learning (ML) very important or crucial for achieving their business priorities.
There has been a lot of discourse recently about who should take ownership of an AI strategy within an organisation. Should the CIO ultimately be responsible or does the wide reach of AI across the business mean that the entire leadership team needs to work together on a strategy? According to Nasuni’s research, IT leaders are bearing the brunt of the responsibility for AI initiatives in their organisations. Many of these tech leaders will be contemplating how to move forward with a strategic plan to upgrade or invest in cloud solutions that will align with evolving AI and data demands.
How to build the right AI foundations with hybrid cloud
“The key question leaders should consider first and foremost is whether their organisation is ready for AI,” says Jim Liddle, chief innovation officer at Nasuni.
For example, companies will find it challenging to harness AI effectively if they operate with data silos. To fully realise the potential of AI, organisations need a solution that provides seamless, secure access to data anywhere, at any time.
The right cloud platform can address this issue by consolidating all enterprise file data from every user and location globally into a single source of truth. With a trusted provider securely storing and continuously updating company data, leaders can control access to different tools and departments with the knowledge that information is safe and reliable.
Data access is another common barrier to AI success. Organisations can’t effectively use AI if their access controls aren’t properly configured, as it is essential to determine which data should or should not be available to each AI tool. This is also an important part of ensuring compliance, as organisations must be confident that data can only be accessed by those with the right permissions or risk breaches and privacy issues. With the right provider, organisations can centralise unstructured data while maintaining necessary access controls.
Russ Kennedy, chief evangelist at Nasuni, warns that businesses must also keep up with the evolving AI regulatory landscape. “Given the potential security, privacy and existential fears over AI, senior executives need to be thinking seriously about different geographical regions’ new laws/directives and their potential impacts on their ability to innovate,” he says.
Once they’ve got data into one place with the right permissions, leaders need to interrogate exactly how data flows within the organisation to get any business benefit from AI. Simply applying AI to a broad dataset may not generate relevant insights for specific users or teams. Solutions like Nasuni’s File Data Platform enable companies to identify who is using particular datasets and how they are interacting with them. This information can then be used to map these interactions, providing a more precise level of data intelligence. “If AI is the lightbulb, and your own data is the electricity, Nasuni is the pipeline that feeds power to that appliance and illuminates the room,” says Liddle.
When it comes to AI, it can help to remember that everyone is on a learning journey. “The rapid daily expansion of AI has presented a significant challenge in the tech sector, particularly from a technical perspective,” says Liddle. “As AI algorithms and models continue to evolve at an unprecedented pace, professionals in the field are constantly racing to keep up with the latest AI advancements.”
He says that collaborating with peers, attending conferences and workshops, participating in online communities, and simply being intellectually curious, can help leaders stay abreast of the latest tools, trends and best practices in the AI field.
Data-driven by design: how Perkins & Will transformed its operations
Perkins & Will is a global, environmentally and socially conscious design firm founded in 1935. The company has enjoyed rapid expansion over the last two decades, but this has also increased the challenge of protecting, managing and accurately provisioning data storage in all locations.
Taking the first step
Transitioning to hybrid cloud storage can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. To simplify storage changes, leaders can start by assessing current processes and identifying those that would benefit most from centralised storage or direct edge access. If the business has remote locations or employees who frequently need access to data, leaders should prioritise moving critical data to ensure business continuity and enable productivity. Finally, they should consider whether edge applications that rely on locally cached data, such as IoT or AI systems, could benefit from early implementation in a data strategy.
Businesses must get their data house in order to build sustainable IT strategies. By being proactive and seeking out a smart hybrid cloud solution, leaders can future-proof their business, ensuring that data is widely available to all applications and services, and they are poised to make the most of AI. Choosing the right cloud service that can help logically consolidate an organisation’s data and is AI-ready can make all the difference in the AI race.
Find out more about how Nasuni can support you on your hybrid cloud and AI journey
