The 2024 NetApp Data Complexity Report reveals a pivotal year ahead for AI, with organizations worldwide bracing for a surge in security threats and sustainability concerns as they scale their AI capabilities.
The report, which surveyed over 1,300 global technology executives, highlights a stark contrast between AI leaders and AI laggards, particularly in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. While AI-leading countries like India, Japan, Singapore and Australia/New Zealand are further along in their AI journeys, they are also facing nearly twice the number of security challenges compared to AI-lagging countries like Germany, France and Spain (see below).
According to the report, 72% of APAC respondents said the rise in AI adoption has led to an increase in security challenges for their businesses. This heightened focus on AI-driven security threats reflects the growing complexity of cyber risks, with 54% of APAC executives identifying these as their top stressor.
"AI's transformative potential hinges on secure, scalable, and sustainable data strategies," said Krish Vitaldevara, Senior Vice President and General Manager at NetApp. "The organizations leading in advanced analytics and AI are those that have unified and well-cataloged data, robust security for sensitive information, and a clear understanding of how data evolves."
Sustainability is another key concern, as 34% of global tech executives anticipate major shifts in corporate sustainability processes due to the accelerating AI adoption [1]. In APAC, three-quarters of respondents indicated the importance of carbon footprint reduction, slightly above the global average, with 57% reporting "high" or "extremely high" impacts from increased data and computation driven by AI.
"We are at an exciting point in AI innovation, and it's encouraging to see APAC organizations leading the charge in data readiness for AI," said Dhruv Dhumatkar, chief technology officer at NetApp Asia Pacific and Japan. "Data holds the key to AI's success. For organizations to capitalize on their lead, intelligent data management capabilities are essential to unify and make data a strategic asset for positive business outcomes."
The report underscores the critical role of intelligent data infrastructure in addressing the mounting challenges of data complexity, security, and sustainability as organizations scale their AI capabilities. By investing in secure, scalable, and sustainable data strategies, APAC CISOs can position their organizations to unlock the full potential of AI while mitigating the risks.