By 2025, more than 90% of all enterprises will have an automation architect on their books, according to Gartner.[1] That’s up from less than 20% today. Why? Because more businesses will see the value of automation and AI in the data center. Having an intelligent infrastructure that can monitor itself and self-heal when needed is a powerful capability. But for many businesses, the journey to intelligent infrastructure will be one that takes place gradually over time.
What CIOs Are Thinking
Hitachi Vantara held a roundtable event on this topic attended by CIOs from a range of businesses in various sectors. Even IT executives who didn’t currently have an automation architect could see the direction things are moving. Over recent years, telephony platforms have become more intelligent. So have network platforms. Increasingly, the providers of these systems are incorporating the ability to self-monitor and self-heal. Consequently, companies are becoming more expectant of this functionality being included in the services they buy.
AI in the Data Center
Unlike hardware, storage, and network solutions, AI becomes more powerful with increased use. Some of the IT executives described their own journeys as they work to maximize AI in their data centers. There were stories of how teams have created centralized data stores to look for trends and correlations across the estate, while others told of moving to the cloud. Although cost was often trumpeted as a major advantage, most companies now appreciate the fact that resilience and customer experience are the biggest reasons to opt for AI in the data center and cloud platforms.
Making the Case for Change
The only language understood by boards is that of business. There must be a metrics-based narrative that can be presented to the rest of the business if they are to be on board with new approaches and new solutions. This is a challenge that needs to be addressed, but it doesn’t just serve to gain the backing of the board: It also helps to chart the journey with tangible benefits that can be measured over time as you embark on this transformational change.
Ready to learn more? Read The Future of Intelligent Infrastructure whitepaper by Tom Christensen, global technology advisor and executive analyst at Hitachi Vantara.
[1] Gartner “Enterprise Storage as a Service Is Transforming IT Operating Models.” Vogel, Jeff, and Robert Preston, 02 March 2021.
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