7 Takeaways from Google Next ’23

The annual Google Next conference is always an exciting event for tech enthusiasts and cloud aficionados, and this year was no exception. As a Google Cloud Partner and Foundation sponsor, we had a front row seat to all of the action. And the major themes we saw from the event were: (1) moving high-value, data-intensive workloads to the cloud is becoming more important than ever, and (2) AI is here to stay. In this blog, we’ll delve into these themes and insights even more:

1. Infrastructure Still Matters

Despite the rapid advancements in cloud-native solutions, one undeniable truth remains: infrastructure is the foundation of any IT ecosystem. Many organizations have high-value, data-intensive workloads that require significant resources and cannot easily transition to Platform as a Service (PaaS) or Software as a Service (SaaS) models. These workloads are like “whales”, playing a crucial role in business operations and must be accommodated in cloud migration strategies.

2. Performance Matters Too

Performance is a critical consideration when discussing cloud migration. The demands placed on applications and data do not diminish when transitioning to the cloud. Cloud-native solutions are essential, but they may not always meet the performance requirements, particularly for traditional, high-I/O workloads. Ensuring that the cloud infrastructure can handle these workloads with the required speed and efficiency is paramount.

3. Overcoming Cloud Bottlenecks

Overcoming cloud bottlenecks, particularly in terms of network performance and storage, is vital. Cloud environments often impose limits on virtual machines, affecting storage, I/O, and network bandwidth. This “noisy neighbor” problem can impact application performance. However, innovative solutions like Silk can provide ways to overcome these limitations, offering higher throughput and addressing performance bottlenecks.

4. Data Management and Machine Learning

Data management and the facilitation of machine learning and analytics in modern solutions were also discussed. Thin provisioning, deduplication, and compression technologies not only save storage costs but also enable data scientists to access and analyze data quickly and efficiently.

5. Time Savings and Efficiency

Time savings in modern IT environments are of utmost importance. Thin provisioning and snapshot capabilities allow for the rapid creation of dev/test environments, reducing the time required for database administrators and developers to set up and manage these environments. This efficiency enables teams to focus on more critical tasks and innovation.

6. The Renaissance of Legacy Data

One fascinating trend discussed was the resurgence of legacy data. In the past, organizations often viewed legacy data as a burden, but now, with the rise of AI and machine learning, this historical data has become a valuable asset. Organizations are exploring ways to leverage their vast data archives to gain insights and make informed business decisions.

7. Analytics for Informed Decision-Making

Machine learning and AI are not the only beneficiaries of historical data. Analytics has been instrumental in helping organizations understand their past, present, and future. By harnessing the power of analytics, businesses can make data-driven decisions, optimize their operations, and navigate the ever-changing business landscape with confidence.

Google Next ’23 was a treasure trove of insights, with infrastructure, performance, data management, and analytics taking center stage. As organizations continue their digital transformation journeys, it’s clear that the right technology solutions and strategies will be essential to meet evolving business needs. The world of IT is evolving rapidly, and the lessons learned at events like Google Next are invaluable for staying ahead in the ever-changing tech landscape.