Key moments at NetApp INSIGHT 2024 

There was no disputing the crowd size for NetApp’s first keynote at the NetApp INSIGHT® 2024 conference. Even the overflow room was standing room only as thousands heard CEO George Kurian give a master class on the era of data and intelligence. 

For NetApp, the keynote marked a watershed moment in AI. For several years, the company has been quietly working behind the scenes with partners like Microsoft, Google Cloud, AWS, and NVIDIA to create an intelligent data infrastructure approach that can handle the volume and complexity required for AI. 

“We stood here in 2013 and told you that we would enable a seamless data fabric across all the places you have your data, and we delivered on that promise,” Kurian said. “Today, we are making you the same promise for the age of AI—that we will enable you to have the best intelligent data infrastructure for AI, bar none.” 

The crowd applauded loudly here for the first time, perhaps sensing the impact that AI will have on data and infrastructure. Guest speakers from Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, and AWS reinforced Kurian’s bullish outlook on what it takes to win with AI. 

There are challenges with AI, to be sure, but for Kurian the opportunities are exponential. If there was one takeaway from the start of NetApp INSIGHT, it was this: Get your data in order and then bring AI to your data. 

With more than 230 breakout sessions at NetApp INSIGHT 2024, there was something for everyone. Here are some highlights of Monday’s sessions. 

Let’s ride this wave  

Who knew that surfers have an advantage in technology? Metaphorically speaking, they ride the waves of technological transformation that have been shaping the industry for decades. According to a session presented by NetApp’s Chief Technology Evangelist Matt Watts, we’re in the fourth wave of transformation: AI. 

It’s no secret that AI has come to the masses, which means we need to understand and mitigate the blind spots that follow.  

“If you can’t democratize the technology, the wave will never form,” he said. 

Unlocking the power of AI is almost completely dependent on the data that fuels it—accessing, governing, and using data in a continuous cycle. Not only is the volume of data massive and unrelenting, but it’s scattered, often unstructured, and always a security risk. 

Watts is a huge proponent of the importance of data security, governance, and sustainability around AI.  

So, if AI is the fourth wave, what’s the potential fifth wave? Watts is not yet ready to formally announce it, but he has a hunch that it might be quantum computing. 

Keep track of Watts’ predictions on his YouTube channel, Watts the Future.

Meet the moment—savings and sustainability  

Everyone likes a metaphor. 

Nicola Acutt, NetApp’s Chief Sustainability Officer, opened this session with a simple but effective description of why sustainability has become such a powerful opportunity for companies. 

Sustainability understandably serves as a shield, saving costs and protecting against waste. But the tip of the spear is something new. It represents how companies can turn sustainability projects into larger innovation efforts. 

Today, many businesses want to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, but if they look deeper, they will find a new and somewhat unexpected value to sustainability: resilience, which can also result in savings.

An effective sustainability vision can set up your business for long-term success by anticipating the challenges of changing climates and energy development.

Acutt interviewed customers to help bring to life the latest sustainability efforts from Kris Suter, senior manager of IT Infrastructure, Moen Incorporated; Byron Baynham, senior manager of Cloud and Infrastructure, AGL Energy; and Tobias Duerheimer, Business & Operations manager, Porsche Penske Motorsport. To learn more, discover efficient storage or explore sustainable technology. 

Why use Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP for containerized workloads on AWS?  

NetApp Principal Architect Michael Shaul delved into integrating FSx for ONTAP with Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS) to manage stateful containerized workloads.

As digital native applications are increasingly maintaining persistent data, they need advanced features. Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP enhances the performance, availability, and scalability of containerized applications within Kubernetes environments—simplifying provisioning and offering robust data protection.

This AWS storage service can provide a pivotal role in managing stateful application data, ultimately leading to more efficient and cost-effective operations. For further details, visit our Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP page. 

NetApp showcased an exceptional set of speakers, each demonstrating how an intelligent data infrastructure can accelerate organizational success in the era of data and intelligence. Analysts appreciated the real vibe of support that speakers gave each other, their alignment on NetApp’s story, and their commitment to the analysts. 

Analysts spoke directly with CEO George Kurian, who responded to numerous questions with his characteristic openness.  

The consensus is that intelligent data infrastructure is a relevant vision for the market, and that NetApp is best positioned to claim this space, leading with data at the core of its approach. As NetApp is primed to lead in AI infrastructure, George Kurian and other presenters emphasized the need for continued innovation. 

In summary, the first day of NetApp INSIGHT 2024 marked the beginning of a promising era of data and AI. The day’s message was clear: Getting data in order and applying AI are key to success in this new age. We're excited to see what the following days will bring and how these innovations will shape the future. 

Dive deeper. See our NetApp INSIGHT 2024 site for on-demand videos and more on the sessions, speakers, and experiences. For details on recent announcements, visit our product updates page. Join us in shaping the future of data and AI.