Essential Elements for AI Success: Security, Sustainability, and Breaking Down Silos

NetApp has highlighted some critical challenges that global organizations face as they seek to perfect their AI strategies for success.

"The year 2025 is expected to be pivotal for AI as companies move from testing to expanding their AI capabilities," stated Gabie Boko, NetApp's Chief Marketing Officer.

"While businesses are heavily investing in innovation and efficiency, these initiatives will only be fruitful if international tech leaders tackle the escalating issues of data complexity, security, and sustainability."

The recent findings from NetApp's Data Complexity Report offer a comprehensive view of the current standing of businesses on their AI journeys and the major trends that will influence the future of the technology.

Most companies worldwide, around two-thirds, claim their data is "fully or mostly optimized" for AI purposes, showing significant strides in improving data access, accuracy, and documentation. However, reaching full AI maturity will demand further substantial investments.

Interestingly, 40% of global tech leaders predict that "unprecedented investment" will be required in 2025 purely to enhance AI and data management capabilities.

Even though there has been noteworthy progress, achieving significant breakthroughs requires a stronger commitment to financial and infrastructural resources. While advancing AI capabilities may be costly, those willing to invest are likely to enjoy considerable benefits in innovation and efficiency.

One significant obstacle identified in the report is data fragmentation. Nearly 79% of global tech executives believe that unifying their data, minimizing silos, and ensuring seamless interconnectivity is essential for realizing AI's full potential.

Companies adopting unified data storage find themselves in a better position to overcome this obstacle. By linking data irrespective of its type or location across hybrid multi-cloud environments, these enterprises ensure constant access and reduce fragmentation.

The report suggests that organizations focusing on data unification are considerably more likely to achieve their AI objectives in 2025. Roughly one-third (30%) of businesses not prioritizing unification expect to miss their targets, compared to only 23% of those making it a strategic focus.

Executives have increasingly prioritized data management and infrastructure, recognizing that refining the ability to collect, store, and process information is crucial for AI maturation. Businesses neglecting these data challenges risk falling behind in the intensively competitive global market.

As companies advance their AI adoption, the related risks—particularly concerning security—become more pressing. Over two-fifths (41%) of tech executives worldwide foresee a significant increase in security threats by 2025, given AI's deepening integration into various operational aspects.

AI's swift growth has heightened attack surfaces, exposing data sets to new vulnerabilities and presenting distinct challenges in safeguarding sensitive AI models. Countries leading in AI such as India, the US, and Japan are almost twice as likely to experience growing security worries compared to nations with less AI advancement, like Germany, France, and Spain.

Awareness of AI-related security challenges is influencing corporate priorities. More than half (59%) of global executives regard cybersecurity as a major pressure facing organizations today.

However, progress is evident. Despite strong concerns, the report indicates that effective security measures are bearing fruit. Since 2023, the number of executives prioritizing cybersecurity and ransomware protection has decreased by 17%, reflecting optimism in effectively mitigating these risks.

Beyond the security hazards, AI's surge triggers urgent sustainability concerns. Over one-third of international tech leaders (34%) predict that AI advancements will significantly alter corporate sustainability practices. Meanwhile, 33% anticipate new government initiatives and investments focused on managing energy consumption.

The infrastructure driving AI and converting raw data into business value demands substantial energy, counteracting organizations' sustainability goals. AI-intensive nations often experience the environmental impact more acutely than those less focused on AI.

Although 72% of businesses continue to prioritize reducing their carbon footprint, the report notes a decline from 84% in 2023, indicating growing tension between sustainability commitments and relentless innovation. To scale AI without causing irreparable damage to the planet, it is vital to maintain environmental accountability alongside technological progress in the coming years.

Krish Vitaldevara, SVP and GM at NetApp, noted: "Organizations leading in advanced analytics and AI are those with unified, well-managed data, strong security, compliance measures for sensitive information, and a clear understanding of data evolution.

"By tackling these issues, they can foster innovation while ensuring resilience, responsibility, and timely insights in the new AI era."

You can find a full copy of NetApp's report here (PDF)