FEATURE: DATA STORAGE AND DATA ARCHITECTURES
The CIO action plan
• If your data infrastructure and storage is not built for AI, you are already behind.
• CIOs have one priority, get data infrastructure AI-ready or risk falling behind.
• The move to disaggregated, unified storage simplifies architecture and enables real-time data access.
• 40 % of global technology executives believe that unprecedented investment in AI data management is required by 2025.
• We are starting to see a clear before and after AI difference, much like the Internet or mobile revolutions.
• While AI may go through cycles of hype, scepticism, and resurgence, its impact is undeniable.
• We are seeing a shift toward practical AI applications built on enterprise-specific data.
• CIOs should not look at data complexity as a challenge. It is about an opportunity to lead transformation and gain a competitive edge.
• Hybrid multi-cloud is not just about flexibility; it is about control, giving CIOs the power to move workloads without being locked in.
• As AI fuels exponential data growth, CIOs must also think green and sustainability in storage should be a strategic decision.
• CIOs who embrace these innovations will not just manage data; they will turn it into a competitive advantage.
• The shift left approach is key and ensures when the business needs data, it is already structured, compliant, and ready to drive innovation.
• Faster time to market is undoubtedly the biggest win up for grabs.
• With silos gone, innovation accelerates because teams have instant access to the insights they need.
• This is about business agility, sticking with outdated architectures slows you down, while modernising gives you the speed to lead.
• The separation of storage and computing ensures organisations only pay for the resources they use, optimising operational costs.
• Costs drop through pay-as-you-go cloud models and automated tiering.
• For enterprises, data is either a competitive edge or a constant challenge; there is no in-between.
• Those who embrace modern data architectures gain speed and simplicity, freeing teams from tedious storage management tasks.
• AI takes care of optimisation, so businesses can focus on growth, not guesswork.
• With hybrid multi-cloud, data moves where it works best, cutting costs without compromising performance.
• With data volumes exploding, proficiency in analytics and unstructured data management ensures that storage is insightful.
• Real skills lie in bridging technology with business needs because storage strategies do not just manage data, they unlock value.
• Managing next-gen data infrastructure is not about hardware, it is about code and data intelligence.
• Teams need expertise in AI-driven storage, cloud integration, and software-defined systems.
• Understanding disaggregated architectures and optimising AI and ML workloads is key.
• Modern architectures empower cross-functional teams to collaborate on data-driven initiatives while reducing dependency on technical skills.
“ A firm grasp of cybersecurity, Zero-Trust frameworks, encryption, and regulatory compliance is indispensable for safeguarding data and meeting industry standards. By combining these specialised skills, teams can effectively deploy, optimise, and maintain cutting-edge data storage and architecture solutions that drive performance, scalability, and resilience,” says Kingston Technology’ s Yazbeck.
The evolution of data architectures has reshaped the skill sets required to manage them. While foundational SQL and Python expertise remain important, modern platforms prioritise automation and accessibility, allowing a broader range of professionals to work with data.
“ Business analysts and domain experts can now leverage low-code and no-code tools to extract insights without deep technical expertise. Data engineers, on the other hand, must develop proficiency in working with cloud-native data platforms, AI integration, and real-time data pipelines,” says Snowflake’ s Zouari.
Through Snowflake’ s Snowpark and Cortex AI, developers can programme in the language of their choice to build pipelines and applications using AI. Ultimately, modern architectures empower crossfunctional teams to collaborate on data-driven initiatives while reducing dependency on specialised technical skills.
To prepare the global and Middle East workforce for an AI-driven future, Snowflake has launched the One Million Minds + One Platform programme, which aims to certify 100,000 users on the AI Data Cloud by 2027 and upskill one million people on data and AI by 2029. The programme provides free, live training from Snowflakecertified instructors, offering hands-on experience to accelerate organisations’ data transformation. p
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