‘Automation and IoT integration key growth areas in next 2-3 years’

Cloud and emerging technologies such as automation and Internet of Things (IoT) and redefining data centres, resulting in a new wave of customer trends and opportunities partners and OEMs

Emergence of trends such as hybrid IT and HyperConverged Infrastructure (HCI), the data centre business in India is undergoing a transformation in itself, apart from aiding digital transformation of enterprises. Cloud has changed the way organisations’ approach to data and their data strategies; this has, thereby, created new opportunities for data centre solutions and services providers in the market.

Speaking on the demand in the data centre space, Gunjana Shah, CMO of Mumbai-based Insight Business Machines, says, “Most of demand that we see now, is from consolidation or reusing of existing IT infrastructure. Tn that process, we see an opportunity of having HCI, and 10G base network with security. Additionally, we see lots of integration of hybrid implementation and mostly it’s not choice now. This trend is either driven by customer demand, both internal and external, or compliance.

Insight Business Machines provides building and migration services, along with various optimisation services for existing workloads and cloud. Right from assessment and design, to deployment and management as well as delivering on-demand services for clients as well as customers, the company undertakes all types of turnkey projects.

In terms of industry verticals that are aggressive users of data centres, Shah informs, “New-age startups, BFSI and e-commerce customers are looking for innovation on their data centres. They are also early adopters of software defined data centres (SDDC), mostly because of regulatory and dynamic business needs. We have built various competencies and capabilities in the areas  of design, HCI, RedHat and Internet of Things (IoT), to cater to the customer needs in this age of SDDC.”

The company’s USP is said to be the creation of Infrastructure, Security, Mobility, Analytics and Cloud (ISMAC), an all-encompassing solution that spans across five core spectrum of new-age technologies.

Elaborating on the strategies towards customers, Shah says, “We go by use case and business risk on primary agenda, based on which, we suggest or redesign the SDDC,” adding, “We work with VMware, Red HaT, Nutanix, Microsoft , Checkpoint, F5, Redware, Cisco, Huawei, and Oracle.

Most of  products are around IT infrastructure, network, security and automation.”

The transformation of data centre technologies has also expanded the cybersecurity threat landscape, companies such as Insight Business Machines are proactively adopting best practices to secure the cloud-based applications of their customers, and protect the data centre from various types of attacks.

Adding to that, Shah states, “It is very critical and important to have ransomware on top priority now a days, post COVID. Whereas, in a pre-Covid scenario, DDoS was first and then ransomware. We use different kinds of solutions to mitigate ransomware. A new generation backup solution and decoy (deception) are the key solutions used, but it’s a journey which we have to go on with customer, as both solutions need some understanding and process. Whereas in DDoS, primarily use Imperva, F5, Fortinet and Redware on-premise and cloud based solutions.”

Speaking on the future trends and focus areas for Insight Business Machines, Shah adds, “We see automation and IoT integration as key growth areas in the next two to three years, but its foundation has to be done today, as both require basic learning and skill development with SOP. Both technologies have different sets of solutions architect and have no structured approach as they normally build solutions for point requirement and then try to grow into other areas. We see humongous opportunities from management and securing.”