When Antonio Neri became CEO of HPE six years ago, he predicted that the enterprise of the future would be edge-centric, cloud-enabled and data-driven.
01
Creating Networks
Smart Enough To Optimize Themselves
Companies capture valuable intelligence at the edge of the network by applying AI computing where data is generated—from factory production lines to stadium concession stands.
Neri's view is that AI will be the most compute- and network-intensive application of this era. Further, he says, AI inferencing needs to take place where data is generated—the edge—which requires a dedicated network and computing power.
Since sending all data back to the cloud is not economical or practical, edge computing relies on intelligent network connections to allow data to move efficiently between devices and the cloud. Successful adoption of AI requires a secure, reliable, intelligent network for creating and accessing data lakes and harnessing insights from them. That’s why Neri says he wants to make networking a core foundation of his company.
In 2015, HPE acquired networking firm Aruba Networks, and since then, HPE has tripled the size of its networking business. Neri calls it a “big bet” that paid off, and he is now doubling down on networking with the planned acquisition of Juniper Networks and his intent “to build the best networking business on the planet.”
Following the expected transaction close, he says HPE will “become a new networking innovator by deploying an AI-driven networking fabric that provides intelligent connectivity from the edge to cloud.” AI-powered network capabilities can include:
Automated optimization to fine-tune network performance in real time.
Proactive security to detect and neutralize threats.
Predictive maintenance to anticipate failures, enabling preemptive action.
“We are continuing to build on the successes of our core networking businesses with expansions in innovation in AI for IT operations (AIOps), security, private 5G and wired and wireless networking,” adds Neri.
Watch To Discover Why Neri Is Doubling Down On Networking
When you combine your on-premises servers with private and third-party cloud services, you create a hybrid cloud.
However, Neri says many companies arrived at this outcome using a patchwork of tools, something he refers to as “becoming hybrid by accident.” Instead of unlocking choice and flexibility, he says this approach often left enterprises grappling with an “enormous amount of complexity.”
The HPE GreenLake cloud integrates private and public cloud services in one interface, simplifying management and allowing data and application mobility across an enterprise. It brings together all of an organization’s apps and data wherever they reside.
The Cloud Is An Experience,
Not A Destination
02
It aligns with Neri’s mantra that the “cloud is an experience, not a destination.” This means allowing customers to experience their apps and data in a more flexible way and without complex configuration and procurement.
Neri says the integration of AI will drive the adoption of the hybrid cloud: “At its core, AI is fundamentally a hybrid cloud workload. Customers need to inference data at the edge of the network where the majority of data is generated, but at the same time, the data must be connected with additional AI and cloud resources to consistently train and fine-tune the AI model to maximize its accuracy and effectiveness. This balance of on-premises and cloud services requires a hybrid-by-design approach.”
He says his vision has come to fruition now that the world has arrived at an “AI inflection point.”
Ahead of the company’s annual HPE Discover event in Las Vegas in June, Neri spoke to Forbes about the ways in which his company is uniquely positioned to help enterprises achieve their vision for AI by bringing intelligence to data, becoming hybrid by design and democratizing access to supercomputing technology for AI training.