What are the challenges and solutions for data connectivity in a Hybrid IT environment, and what is the future of orchestration platforms?

In the CIO.com webinar "Connected Data in a Hybrid IT World: The Key to ROI and Innovation,” Digital Realty’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Chris Sharp is joined by David Linthicum (Chief Cloud Strategy Officer, Deloitte Consulting) to discuss innovation trends in IT infrastructure and how to realize ROI from IT investments.

Watch the full webinar here.

Here are three key takeaways from the webinar.

1. Rising complexity demands a shift in data architecture and interconnected services

Enterprises need to adapt to the increasing complexity and dispersed nature of data architecture. Chris Sharp highlights that the platform of the future must enable enterprises to adapt and readapt to current and future business needs.

He emphasizes the importance of an open, flexible network that “can virtually spin up VLANs to different destinations and different speeds and feed.”

Sharp stresses, "Open means multiple things. Open means the destinations that you can access...But that platform of the future, it has to allow... the flexibility of the network."

2. Artificial intelligence is driving the need for advanced interconnection capabilities

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a key driver in accelerating the need for advanced interconnection capabilities. Having flexible and dynamic network infrastructures can support large data sets that are required for AI.

According to Sharp, AI is the main factor expanding reach to more destinations and pushing for higher throughput and lower latency.

"Artificial intelligence is the key driver that's expanding the reach to more destinations." Sharp noted that enterprises are in a race to differentiate themselves in their overall vertical by quickly collecting data and doing analytics against it to extract value.

3. Hybrid IT and multi-cloud environments can improve ROI and innovation

Leveraging Hybrid IT and multi-cloud environments can help enterprises maximize ROI from technology infrastructure investments. These technologies allow for increased flexibility, scalability, and the ability to leverage best-of-breed solutions.

Sharp advocates for open platforms that support a variety of systems and services, highlighting the importance of designing early and investing in platforms that don't lock you in.

"Ensuring that you pick the right platform that doesn't lock you in [is key]. People are forced now with architectures because of the lack of choice, the lack of reach and the proprietary nature that exists out there with a lot of platforms. That's something to be very concerned about," Sharp says.

Watch the full webinar to learn more about how enterprises can optimize their IT infrastructure to be open, flexible, and configurable to enable innovation and realize return on investment.

ServiceFabric™ is an open service orchestration platform that seamlessly interconnects workflow participants, applications, clouds, and centers of data exchange. Enable connected data communities with ServiceFabric™ on PlatformDIGITAL^®, Digital Realty’s global data center platform. 

Reach out to a Solution Architect to discuss how we can help you optimize your Hybrid IT architecture today.

3 Key Takeaways from Connected Data in a Hybrid IT World: The Key to ROI and Innovation