Simply put, intelligent data is data that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to create efficiencies, gain understanding, innovate, and transform organizations and industries. With massive amounts of data generated daily, every enterprise should be looking to unlock insights and seek new business outcomes to progress. Particularly in a hybrid work environment, establishing a system in which data can be safely accessed and seamlessly integrated 24/7 is crucial to enterprise operations.
Although the most important data will vary according to organization and industry, the common hurdles to creating an intelligent data environment tend to be universal across sectors:
- Data silos,
- Infrastructure problems,
- Disruptions to consistent data collection and storage, and
- A lack of intelligence and integration among systems
The initial questions in considering an intelligent data environment are:
- What is our most important data?
- How are people in our organization using it?
- How can it be harnessed to propel our organization to the next level?
Pacxa customers are transitioning to intelligent data environments with the help of HPE’s intelligent data platform. This platform enables our clients to optimize data at every turn, whether it’s mission-critical or general-purpose, and whether it’s stored in the cloud or on an individual’s device. With a pay-as-you-use consumption model, organizations can realize significantly lower operational storage expenses. And with the platform’s real-time adjustments, problems can be resolved even before they are known.
Here, we’ll look at the foundational pieces of an intelligent data environment.
Storage Efficiency
Storing data often means preventing access to it and sacrificing any insights that may be gleaned from having it in the available data mix. Backup data has traditionally been viewed as an insurance policy. An intelligent data platform helps transform this sitting data into a business asset by using it to unlock answers in real-time.
Storage capacity is also maximized with the platform’s AI-powered projections coupled with its as-a-service model. Organizations can use the data insights to predict fluctuations in storage requirements, and then effortlessly contract and expand capacity by paying only for what they use.
Data Security
Security allows only the right people to access the troves of information. Data that isn’t secure is a liability—it’s at risk of being lost or compromised. The beauty of an intelligent data platform is that it can store data safely and securely, while also keeping it available 24/7 in a hybrid work environment with multiple devices, multiple geographies, and multiple and varied access points. Its built-in protection capabilities include VM backups, multi-side replication, recovery, cloning, and disaster recovery. A zero-trust approach, which entails introducing more friction to access, is now the norm from a security standpoint and means that organizations must work harder to secure their data and systems. The platform helps to streamline resources so that the IT team and budget are not completely exhausted by these security measures.
AI and Analytics
Of course, the point of having data is to use it. An intelligent data environment is primed to analyze information and make connections we might not see on our own. An intelligent data platform creates a foundation for truly leveraging the data, allowing for multiple data-centric workloads, advanced analytics, AI, and large-scale data lakes all in one place.
For example, an HPE case study revealed that their intelligent data platform enabled New York-based IT provider Webair to scale operations with ease. Webair utilized the platform to more accurately project growth and anticipate the need for additional hardware through predictive analytics.
Intelligent Edge
Across all industries, there has been an increase in edge computing or “data at the edge.” Data that was traditionally managed at remote data centers is now being processed in high volumes at multiple locations such as satellite and remote offices. While this decentralized model allows for more efficient data processing, these on-site locations are often unequipped to handle huge amounts of data or are inadequately staffed. An intelligent data platform fills these gaps by maximizing data protection and storage as described above and simplifying management through centralization of IT operations and integrated automation.
With an intelligent data environment, the edge becomes the intelligent edge. The data isn’t just processed near its source, it’s then analyzed and employed. In healthcare, for example, providers are using the edge to access real-time patient insights without processing the information through third-party databases. AI is then applied to improve the speed and accuracy of diagnoses.
Final Thoughts
A strong intelligent data strategy is the foundation to harness your data. Enterprises should plan a transition to an intelligent data environment that will power and mobilize their organizations into the future.