Modernization’s transformative impact is twofold when implemented at a foundational level. When modernizing cloud, the promise of agility, scalability, security, and enabling seamless AI integration holds value for every part of the business, helping to cultivate a competitive edge.
Aashoo Saxena, vice president of product management, Informatica, joined DBTA’s webinar, Modernize or Miss Out: Why Cloud Modernization is Key to Unlock AI Value, offering guidance in how adopting cloud-first strategies boosts innovation and ROI—both enabling and benefiting from AI initiatives.
“No matter how advanced AI gets, success still depends on high-quality data,” said Saxena, further adding that there is no AI without cloud and data. The “performance and output [of AI models] is only as good as the data they train on.”
Cloud is a key enabler in fulfilling AI’s data demands, providing the massive compute architecture it requires. This is affirmed by current industry sentiments, where, according to an Informatica report, 89% of data leaders strongly believe modernizing legacy data infrastructure to the cloud is critical to enable AI.
Between its promises of agility, scalability, elasticity, and overall enhancement, it’s no surprise that many data leaders are largely pro-cloud modernization.
“Cloud modernization is giving you that needed foundation to scale, to stay competitive, and truly future-proof your data strategy,” said Saxena. “Cloud is the new normal, and moving to cloud is a business imperative.”
Cloud modernization, according to Saxena, largely revolves around upgrading and transforming the data analytics infrastructure. This is at the core of cloud migration, further unlocking the possibilities of AI and machine learning.
Despite its promises, “there is a harsh reality,” qualified Saxena: Nearly 75% of cloud modernization projects fail. This is often due to:
- Budget overruns
- Delays or abandonment of projects due to time consumption
- Scarcity of skills required to modernize
- Overall complexity of migration
Saxena then introduced Informatica’s Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC), the complete cloud-native and AI-powered platform for data management capable of making cloud modernization succeed. Designed to help businesses innovate with their data on any platform, any cloud, on-prem multi-cloud, and multi-hybrid environment, IDMC is a singular platform for all your data management needs.
“IDMC was built from the ground-up with the modern cloud technology stack with an easy-to-use interface…for maximum productivity and efficiency,” said Saxena, offering the full-range of data services to drive cloud modernization. From data catalog to data integration, API and app integration, data quality and observability, and more, IDMC offers each service natively in a microservices-based manner, underpinned by consumption-based pricing.
Easing cloud modernization further, Informatica’s Cloud Modernization Program offers the fastest path and lowest risk with an out-of-the-box modernization solution. The program comprises the following components:
- Cloud-native products
- Migration automation
- Customer success and support
- Professional services and partners
- Incentives from Informatica and partners
A key part of this program and Informatica’s approach to modernization is CLAIRE, Informatica’s AI and machine learning engine. CLAIRE helps simplify data management through generative AI (GenAI)-powered natural language, enabling a robust foundation of AI-ready data to full AI success.
This is only a snippet of the full Modernize or Miss Out: Why Cloud Modernization is Key to Unlock AI Value webinar. For the full webinar, featuring more detailed explanations, customer success stories, and more, you can view an archived version of the webinar here.