Dynamic Forces Powering Data Center Retransformation

Data centers are undergoing significant evolution. Initially, they were large, centralized facilities that were complex, expensive, and difficult to replicate or restore. Now, rapid change is taking place, driven by advances in hardware and software and a growing focus on sustainability.

Catalyst and Conundrum

Dramatic changes in development and operations are making data centers more agile and cost-effective. These changes are driven by:

• Market changes and customer requirements are forcing organizations to decentralize and diversify their data storage and processing functions.
• Policy and regulatory requirements, such as data sovereignty, impact data center operations and locations.
• Efforts to reduce complexity, risk and cost through widespread adoption of cloud and hybrid infrastructure;
• Pressure to improve sustainability through greener and more energy-efficient practices; and
• Adopt AI to improve operations and increase performance requirements.

IDC predicts that AI-based automation will surge, reducing the need for human operational intervention by 70% by 2027.​​

But AI is also disruptive and requires advanced infrastructure to meet its data-intensive computing requirements. This is not to suggest that confusion is a negative trait. It’s quite the opposite. If embraced, disruption can take an organization to new heights and have profound consequences.

Embrace change and innovation

The data center of the future is ready for further growth and change. IDC expects As-a-Service models to become more prevalent, predicting that 65% of technology buyers will prioritize these models by 2026. These changes reflect a response to economic pressures and the need to fill talent gaps in IT operations.

The growing importance of edge computing, driven by the need for faster data processing and lower latency, is reshaping data center architecture. Gartner predicts that data center teams will also adopt cloud principles for on-premises infrastructure to help optimize performance, management, and costs.

Sustainability will remain a key focus, with Gartner noting that 87% of business leaders plan to invest more in sustainability in the future. These commitments are critical to aligning data center transformation with broader global efforts to reduce the environmental impact of data centers and combat climate change. This allows organizations to demonstrate their commitment to ESG efforts as consumers try to distinguish between taking real action and simply going green for marketing purposes.

Imagine the data center of tomorrow

Data centers will continue to transition from the monolithic configurations of the past to globally distributed, agile, powerful, AI-driven, sustainable ecosystems. It reflects the broader evolution of technology, business and society, sometimes leading to leaps into new areas. The data centers of the future will be centers of innovation, efficiency, and environmental responsibility, playing a critical role in shaping a sustainable digital world.

Learn more about how IBM and VMware make it easier for enterprises to build and deploy AI applications in modern data centers.

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