The 2024 NetApp Cloud Complexity report underscores the importance of artificial intelligence-driven data storage in achieving business success in the AI era.

NetApp Inc. introduced new unified data storage systems optimized for AI workloads and offers a single unified storage operating system with ONTAP that can scale from small to massive levels, according to Jeff Baxter (pictured), vice president of product marketing at NetApp.

Jeff Baxter, VP of product marketing at NetApp talking to theCUBE about AI-driven data storage.

“I know you’ve talked to many people here, but the AFF A-Series is our thoroughbred for unified data storage, our high-performance array,” Baxter said. “And so the refresh of that line really injects a shot of adrenaline into our mid-range and high-end performance flash system…We’ve optimized it, it’s ready to take on AI workloads and pretty much anything else you want to throw at it.”

Baxter spoke with theCUBE’s Rebecca Knight and Rob Strechay at the NetApp Unveils Unified Data Storage Built for the AI Era event, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed how NetApp is introducing new unified data storage systems optimized for AI workloads and enhancing ransomware protection with AI. (* Disclosure below.)

Enhancing business and security with AI-driven data storage solutions

NetApp is enhancing its autonomous ransomware protection with AI models and tamperproof snapshots, inspired by customer feedback. The aim is to create a complete solution for building a cyber vault and protecting against ransomware, while also continuing to be the data foundation for enterprise AI, Baxter explained.

“A lot of our customers were taking the tools we had built and already building them into cyber vaults. And we said this is amazing. Let’s support you,” Baxter said. “Let’s make it even easier and let’s make it into a package-up solution so that you have a complete soup-to-nuts reference that can enable you to build this cyber vault and protect against ransomware.”

Cyber resilience is crucial for customers, with AI being the chief opportunity and ransomware the chief fear, as no system is foolproof and everyone will eventually be hit by ransomware, Baxter concluded.

“You can’t go out there and say, we’ve got the solution. We’ve got the cure. You’re going to be 100% immune to it. That’s hard for IT people because we’re used to thinking in binary terms,” Baxter said. “It’s all about, what’s my best threat avoidance? What’s my risk avoidance? And where can I really help invest? And that’s really what we’ve been doing in NetApp, is how can we take all these technologies we have and make it easier for people to consume.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE Research’s coverage of the NetApp Unveils Unified Data Storage Built for the AI Era event:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for the NetApp Unveils Unified Data Storage Built for the AI Era event. Neither NetApp Inc., the sponsor of theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE