The Network: From Foundation to AI Catalyst

This blog is co-authored by Vinay Nichani, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Sales, Solutions, and Alliances for NTT Data's $6B Technology Solutions Business.

At Cisco and NTT DATA, we've long championed the critical role of the network in powering digital transformation. In a recent blog, we shared our announcements that unlock an entirely new era of opportunity for our customers to revolutionize how infrastructure and data connect and protect your organization in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era. AI is redefining business strategy as never before-and your network's agility and intelligence will determine your ability to benefit from it.

NTT DATA and Cisco Today, we're excited to share insights from the IDC InfoBrief, "Wired for intelligence: A CIO's guide to enterprise networking and AI," which dives deeper into how CIOs and IT leaders view their networks in the context of AI. IDC estimates AI will generate a cumulative Global Economic Impact of $19.9 Trillion by 2030 and that network operations will be the first AI integration point for many enterprises looking to improve their business processes. IDC's findings underscore a critical challenge: most organizations are still operating with legacy playbooks and networks that simply weren't built to meet the unprecedented demands of AI.

The IDC research uncovers a significant disconnect. While businesses are eager to harness AI's potential for everything from predictive maintenance in manufacturing to hyper-personalized customer experiences, many are attempting to run these advanced workloads on infrastructure designed for a different era. AI thrives on data - massive volumes of it, moved at incredible speeds, with ultra-low latency, and unwavering security. Traditional networks, often siloed and lacking the necessary intelligence and automation, become bottlenecks that hinder AI adoption and limit its true potential.

This isn't just about speed; it's about intelligence, agility, and security at every layer. AI applications demand a network that can:

• Handle unprecedented data flows: From edge devices generating vast amounts of raw data to data centers processing complex AI models.
• Provide real-time responsiveness: Critical for applications like autonomous systems and real-time analytics.
• Ensure robust security: Protecting sensitive AI models and the data they consume and produce.
• Embed security everywhere: Effectively securing agents operating at the network edge, managing the increased traffic they generate, and extending robust protection to robots as they become more prevalent.
• Offer dynamic scalability: Adapting instantly to fluctuating AI workload demands.

This is precisely where the combined strength of NTT DATA and Cisco becomes a game-changer. We believe that your network shouldn't just support AI; it should be a catalyst for AI and growth.

Cisco brings the intelligent, programmable, and secure network infrastructure, from the data center to the edge, designed to handle the scale and speed AI requires. NTT DATA brings deep industry expertise, strategic consulting, and integration services to design, implement, and manage these AI-ready environments, ensuring they align with your specific business outcomes.

Together, we can help you:

• Assess your current network readiness for AI by Identifying gaps and opportunities.
• Modernize your infrastructure by building a network that is agile, secure, and optimized for AI workloads.
• Integrate AI solutions seamlessly to ensure your network facilitates the smooth deployment and operation of AI applications.
• Unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation by transforming your operations with AI, powered by a network built for the future.
• Maximize the value of your technology investments with NTT DATA's software-defined infrastructure services to streamline deployment, adoption, and renewal processes.

The future of AI is here, and its success hinges on the network. Don't let a legacy network hold back your AI ambitions. Let Cisco and NTT DATA partner with you to transform your network into a powerful engine for innovation and sustainable growth.

Download the full IDC Infobrief, "Wired for intelligence: A CIO's guide to enterprise networking and AI", sponsored by NTT DATA and Cisco.

Visit the NTT DATA-Cisco partnership page to learn more about how we deliver outcomes for you.

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