In an enterprise computing landscape where technology is advancing at breakneck speed, the future of hybrid cloud solutions and the integral role of artificial intelligence is top of mind.

This shift signifies a new era where these technologies are not just auxiliary tools, but form the backbone of innovative business models. A collaboration between Microsoft Corp. and Hewlett Packard Enterprises Co. aims to push the boundaries of tech innovation.

“There’s just so much going on in the industry itself, and then when you see this all coming together at a single event with HPE and GreenLake, it’s just mind blowing,” said Dion Ubert (pictured, left), global hybrid cloud sales director at Microsoft Corp. “You talk about the growth of GreenLake … it truly shows momentum in hybrid cloud.”

Ubert spoke with theCUBE industry analysts Rebecca Knight (center) and Rob Strechay (right) as part of a theCUBE Insights panel at the HPE Discover Barcelona event, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed the hybrid cloud momentum created through the Microsoft and HPE collaboration and the pillars of the current AI-driven innovation — sustainability, security and networking. (* Disclosure below.)

The power of collaboration: Microsoft and HPE’s hybrid cloud momentum

With AI acceleration announcements featuring HPE and Nvidia, as well as the success of GreenLake — with $1.3 billion in a single quarter — this week’s HPE Discover event underscored the rapid growth and importance of the hybrid cloud ecosystem.

“I think that was another theme that we heard loud and clear this week … partners mean a lot here,” Strechay said. “One of the key factors was seeing how well people were bringing it together. I think they seem like they are stepping up on the services side and really embracing the AI and trying to help people get ready for that while becoming more sustainable.”

The panel also discussed the keynote by Antonio Neri, HPE’s chief executive officer, where he emphasized the company’s early commitment to hybrid cloud, a strategy that has paid off. HPE is now positioning itself as the fourth major cloud provider, offering a comprehensive cloud operating model. This approach aligns seamlessly with the industry’s shift toward hybrid solutions, enabling organizations to leverage the power of the cloud while preserving flexibility and control.

“Many organizations are data-rich and insight-poor,” Knight said. “They’re looking to Microsoft and HPE as trusted advisors to help them master this learning curve.”

Sustainability, security and networking: Pillars of AI-driven innovation

Sustainability, security and networking play a critical role in advancing AI-driven innovation. Organizations from diverse sectors, including retail, manufacturing, banking, the public sector and government, echoed a common concern: the need to align their strategies with sustainability goals, according to Ubert.

“Sustainability is such an important topic for many customers,” Ubert said. “This week … we have talked with customers from retailers like manufacturers, banking customers, public sector customers, government people, and they all have kind of a similar thing — it’s like, ‘Hey, I have been using the native cloud Azure for a long, long time, and I’m a long, long time customer as well of HPE, but I want to bring it together.”

Security and networking also emerged as key foundations for AI and cloud initiatives. Protecting data and ensuring its integrity are paramount, especially as organizations leverage AI to extract insights from their information troves. The seamless integration of security measures from the cloud to the edge is essential for safeguarding data and maintaining operational integrity.

“Getting that all applied in a strategy inside your organization is where customers are looking for those trusted advisors,” Ubert said. “Customers like making that jump right now to apply it, but it’s so important to have the right partner around you to help you in that journey.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the HPE Discover Barcelona event:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for the HPE Discover Barcelona event. Neither Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., the main sponsors of theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE