FEATURE : DATA STORAGE
Haider Aziz , Managing Director Middle East ,
Turkey and Africa , VAST Data
Qasem Noureddin , Commercial Director ,
Eaton Middle East
“ Innovations such as cloud computing and AI can also help enterprises to reduce operational costs through resource optimisation , predictive maintenance , and better decision-making . Embracing the latest innovations allows enterprises to stay competitive , improve their bottom line , and better serve their customers while also contributing to societal progress and sustainability ,” says Antoine Harb , Team Leader Middle East , Kingston Technology
Challenges in generating Roi
Enterprises encounter significant challenges in implementing and capitalising on AI applications ’ potential . Vital to business operations , data necessitates sophisticated management to propel organisational growth . This involves aggregating and synthesizing extensive , varied data from various sources , spanning edge , cloud , and enterprise systems . The surge in unstructured data , reaching petabyte scales , further complicates the extraction of valuable insights .
The VAST Data Platform addresses these challenges by integrating storage and databases across hybrid multi-cloud environments , providing unified solutions .
“ Highly regulated industries such as life sciences and finance grapple with data organisation , security and compliance . Democratising infrastructure access is pivotal for widespread AI adoption , redistributing power from data monopolisers ,” explains VAST Data ’ s Aziz .
Such exponential growth in demand , along with ongoing advancements in technology , could see a change in customer requirements around data centre design and architecture . This , in turn , may result in the need for new and different solutions .
To boost fast availability , prefabrication is emerging as an answer to the challenge . A modular data centre is a portable method of deploying data centre capacity that can be placed anywhere it is needed , so we expect to see this trend accelerate in 2024 .
“ Modular data centres typically consist of standardised components that can be added , integrated , or retrofitted into an existing data centre or combined into a system of modules ,” says Eaton ’ s Noureddin .
“ The other challenge data centre operators will face with urgent growth is to find means of meeting increased power demand that can be deployed quickly and managed effectively . There is a shifting trend towards moving away from these traditional hubs and establishing data centres in smaller cities across regions where power constraint may be less of a problem ,” adds Noureddin .
Expect to see this trend develop in 2024 as cities less well-known for data centre clusters , such as Istanbul , Nairobi , Lagos , and Dubai appear on the radar to avoid power constraints .
Recently , the Saudi Communications , Space , and Technology Commission , CST published the Data Centre Services Regulations for all Saudi Arabian data centre service providers in an effort to enhance customer safety , promote investments in data centre services , and enhance service quality .
Similarly , the UAE Data Office oversees enforcing compliance with the Federal Data Protection Law for data centres within the Emirates to safeguard personal data .
Digitalisation is good for the data centre industry and AI can help the industry to become more predictive , rather than simply reactive . Certainly , it will be characterised by a dynamic interplay of technological advancements , sustainability imperatives , and a relentless pursuit of operational excellence .
“ Data centres have scope to grow responsibly and sustainably to become true hubs of digital innovation – a worthwhile new trajectory for the industry and for us all ,” points out Eaton ’ s Noureddin .
Enterprises face challenges in implementing and generating returns from storage solutions due to rapidly growing data volumes and high performance demands . While cloud storage offers scalability , it may not be suitable for all data types , requiring a hybrid approach .
“ Ensuring data availability , security , and compliance poses complexities . Moreover , maximising returns necessitates optimising storage costs and resource utilisation while maintaining operational efficiency . Balancing these factors while aligning storage solutions with business objectives can be daunting for IT teams ,” says Dell Technologies ’ ElZomor .
Implementing innovative solutions requires big investments in hardware , software , training , and infrastructure upgrades . Adopting innovative technologies often relies on specialised skills and expertise . “ Enterprises can face difficulties in finding and retaining talent with the necessary knowledge to implement and manage these technologies effectively , while maintaining robust cybersecurity measures ,” says Kingston Technology ’ s Harb .
Additionally , predicting the Return on Investment of innovative technologies can be challenging and enterprises may struggle to justify investments in innovation without clear evidence of potential returns .
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