Businesses are looking to AI to help move their operations forward, but while the technology has the ability to revolutionize data analysis and utilization, operating effectively requires overcoming certain challenges. With 94% of organizations already using multiple public clouds to support multicloud apps and data, adding the complexity of AI into these operations could feel daunting, even though, over the long term, AI can streamline and create efficiencies in some of these processes.
Many enterprises are using multicloud solutions for data management to help govern various data from different vendors or inputs, and because they need to access data in different ways. Working with multiple clouds and other service providers can involve managing various bespoke toolsets or different APIs for observability and performance management. While AI is conceptually appealing, enterprises face challenges, including skyrocketing demand for processors, AI supply chain constraints, and data and network fears around the massive amounts of data used. AI can also create unpredictable data usage costs, and as companies look to make technological changes, they could find themselves locked into previous vendors, unable to adapt to current needs.
For businesses to be successful with AI, marrying AI and multicloud creates benefits and helps offset the challenges stemming from both. Businesses are also able to leverage the best-of-breed AI models from multiple providers. Having a strategic approach to navigating the challenges will pay off—according to a recent McKinsey report, industry leaders adopting digital and AI solutions are 60% ahead of laggards.[1]
The AI/Multicloud Connection
Multicloud networking is complex, and AI models are only as good as the data fed into them. Enterprises must be intentional with their cloud data management strategy when architecting AI infrastructure. With highly distributed AI infrastructures, the right data from all applications must get to the right place immediately, so data should be kept close to its sources. Sustainability and efficiency are other considerations, as AI workloads are energy-intensive. Having a partner able to provide low-latency connectivity and high-speed access is vital to ensuring smooth operations.
Cloud on-ramps allow enterprises to incorporate public cloud services into their private AI strategy while maintaining control over their AI datasets. They see the benefits of cloud services, such as quick scaling capacity to keep up with the growing demands of AI workloads. At the same time, enterprises do not have to store data directly in the cloud when using cloud on-ramps. To do this most effectively, businesses need to consider whether their data center partners have the right ecosystem and access to the needed cloud services to make their data fully accessible.
Private AI capabilities improve privacy, security, performance, and interconnection between partners and ecosystems while giving businesses data governance and compliance-ready solutions. AI-ready turnkey solutions on a multicloud platform allow customers to control data while accessing cloud services with high-performance, low-latency connections servicing mission-critical applications and workloads.
Data security is also a concern. In the modern digital economy, businesses rapidly exchange data at locations worldwide. The “interconnection,” or data exchange between parties, must remain dependable and protected. If an enterprise works with a partner not as experienced in these issues, it puts the company’s data and performance at risk.
Realizing Business Value With Multicloud AI
Companies in various industries are tapping into the potential of actively using multicloud and AI together. One such company using the technologies to meet customers where they are is IHG Hotels and Resorts.
Since launching its IHG One Rewards mobile app in 2022, the company enrolled more than 115 million customers. Using the mobile app, IHG delivers innovative services for its customers—helping with everything from booking to enjoying the property once they get there.
Tapping into multicloud and private AI capabilities allows companies like IHG Hotels and Resorts to quickly bring in new partners and service providers whenever needed, without rebuilding the network. They will also be able to stay nimble and adjust offerings as customer expectations continue to evolve without sacrificing data protection.
This seamless technological connection between companies and their customers is particularly difficult for travel and transportation companies, especially because, by definition, those customers are on the move.
The Equinix Advantage
Private interconnections make safe, reliable multicloud possible, and choosing the right digital infrastructure partner is a critical step. Equinix’s Private AI turnkey solution is built on a multicloud platform bringing AI directly to where the data is generated, stored, and utilized while ensuring compliance with data sovereignty and regulatory requirements.
Equinix provides managed services, colocation, and interconnection solutions powered by best-in-class developer software. However, Equinix's advantage goes beyond the hardware and physical offerings and leading ecosystem of 10,000+ partners and 3,000+ cloud providers. Equinix knows how to help businesses navigate the challenges and confusing processes that come with AI and multicloud solutions. With access to world-class AI expertise and top-of-the-line software, organizations ensure immediate productivity gains with Equinix.
With speed and access as prime business needs, Equinix has colocation data centers available in 70 markets globally, most of which are home to low-latency cloud on-ramps. In addition, Equinix digital services can serve as key components of your data architecture, providing software-defined interconnection capabilities, operational simplicity, multicloud networking, and on-demand single-tenant bare metal compute capacity.
Equinix has worked with and integrated all the multicloud options and has the interconnection partners any business would want. It is dedicated to neutrality, so it can help shepherd businesses through these complex questions to find the right solution for their needs rather than what is most convenient for Equinix and not lock partners into unneeded solutions.
Interconnection powered by Equinix simplifies data management and helps scale deployments easily and securely. Companies can access unlimited local connection ports to connect the solution to the public cloud, customer private clouds at Equinix, and NSPs for connectivity outside of Equinix. Platform Equinix® provides the ideal foundation on which to start building your authoritative data core.
Integrating private AI helps companies optimize multicloud capabilities by enhancing data protection while improving performance and interconnection between ecosystems. Private AI ensures complete control over data while accessing cloud services and workloads.
Choose Equinix for your digital transformation journey. Help your organization reach its full AI potential by getting the products and services it needs to operate in the multicloud space, while connecting to the infrastructure to help it effectively incorporate AI. Equinix is the platform for Private AI; learn more at https://www.equinix.com/solutions/private-ai.
[1] https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/rewired-and-running-ahead-digital-and-ai-leaders-are-leaving-the-rest-behind
