To unlock AI’s potential, it’s time to invest in modern data centers and networking

Enterprises must evaluate their IT estates to identify gaps and weaknesses. Key upgrades needed for AI-readiness include moving from single-purpose to multipurpose computing infrastructures, embracing accelerated computing and implementing software-defined workloads for flexibility. It will be important for organizations to adopt the low-latency, high-capacity network technologies and topologies required to support AI applications. In addition, implementing strong security postures such as zero-trust security, automating network operations and having advanced analytics (a single pane of glass to view all data and provide actionable insights) will be essential to supporting critical applications.

Most enterprises are still defining their AI use cases. But businesses that optimize now will be better positioned to adapt as AI demands evolve and increase. For example, Kyndryl recently partnered with one of the largest car rental companies to modernize its data centers — the company’s first step in its broader IT transformation journey. By designing, building and migrating the data centers to new, state-of-the-art facilities, the company achieved enhanced security, scalability and operational efficiency. This data center modernization also paved the way for critical infrastructure upgrades, including implementing a robust disaster recovery solution to help ensure faster recovery of essential business applications and a seamless transition to the cloud.

No organization can afford to be left behind when it comes to AI readiness. The ability to deploy AI throughout the data center and across the network is essential not just to production and back-office operations but also to regulatory compliance and network optimization. In addition, updated infrastructure systems must be able to connect endpoints — from physical devices to overlaying networks to control and data planes.

Organizations can try to go it alone to ready themselves to scale and adapt to evolving business needs. But co-creating with a trusted partner can help companies move faster, control costs and get things right the first time. Working with a vendor-neutral partner that is armed with AI-driven insights from across industries, decades of best-in-class technical expertise and alliances with leading hyperscalers helps enable the business and technical outcomes that are fit for purpose for you — not “somebody like you.”

The AI explosion is forcing companies to modernize their IT infrastructures to meet the requirements of these complex, demanding and ever-changing workloads. With the shift from centralized AI to deconstructed and distributed AI, IT professionals must reevaluate their enterprise network strategies. To effect these transformations intelligently and cost-effectively, enterprises need strategies that incorporate both business and IT priorities. Only then will they be positioned to realize the true promises of AI.