I’ve recently discussed the evolving landscape of intelligent data infrastructure on platforms like Techstrong TV. In these conversations, a recurring theme emerges: major trends like cloud and AI are reshaping enterprises, but their adoption is propelled primarily by compelling use cases. Infrastructure may not take center stage, but it’s the essential enabler that makes those use cases viable, efficient, and secure. As we mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it’s crucial to examine how intelligent data infrastructure fortifies organizations against threats while powering AI-driven innovation.
Use Cases: The Catalyst for Technological Adoption
The drive for new technologies has always stemmed from real-world applications. Recall cloud computing’s debut nearly two decades ago. It started as a buzzword, but use cases like scalable e-commerce and remote collaboration made it indispensable. Today, AI follows a similar path. From predictive analytics in healthcare to personalized customer experiences in retail, use cases are the catalyst. Yet, without a robust infrastructure foundation, these initiatives falter. Data storage acts as the gateway—or potential roadblock—to AI success. As I often analogize, AI and computing form the engine of a high-performance vehicle, but storage is the fuel tank or battery. Without it, even the most advanced models grind to a halt.
The AI Investment Boom and NetApp’s Role
NetApp’s recent AI Space Race report underscores this. Enterprises are poised to invest trillions over the next five years in AI, marking one of IT’s most transformative moments. We’re still in the early adopter phase, with Fortune 100 companies leading by leveraging massive AI workloads for faster, cheaper, and more efficient outcomes. Many of these leaders trust NetApp with their legacy applications, confident that this proven foundation enables seamless transitions to AI without disruption. Our intelligent data infrastructure (IDI) turns raw data into actionable insights—data without outcomes offers no differentiation. Powered by ONTAP, our single operating system unifies file, block, and object storage across on-premises and public clouds, providing a “single pane of glass” for management. No other player matches this breadth and leadership, especially in hybrid environments where security threats loom large, demanding built-in protections to safeguard these massive investments.
Recently, NetApp introduced visionary new products that further strengthen its enterprise-grade data platform for AI, including the NetApp AFX all-flash storage system and the NetApp AI Data Engine (AIDE). Built with NVIDIA accelerated computing, these innovations decouple performance and capacity, unify high-performance storage with intelligent data services, and enable secure, scalable AI data pipelines across hybrid and multicloud environments. As enterprises accelerate their AI investments, the importance of a resilient and secure infrastructure becomes even more critical—especially when it comes to safeguarding data against evolving cybersecurity threats.
Cybersecurity: The Foundation of Resilience
Cybersecurity is integral to this enabler role, especially as AI amplifies risks. Threats like ransomware evolve alongside innovations, demanding security that’s built-in, not bolted-on. NetApp stands as the most secure storage on the planet—the only vendor NSA-certified for top-secret data, with a 99.9999% uptime guarantee. Our multi-layered approach includes real-time, AI-powered Autonomous Ransomware Protection (ARP/AI) with 99% detection accuracy across file, block, and cloud-native workloads. Features like immutable snapshots, end-to-end encryption (including post-quantum readiness), and multi-admin verification ensure data integrity and rapid recovery. This isn’t just about backups; it’s comprehensive cyber resilience—protecting, detecting, and recovering to maintain business continuity.
Building on this foundation, NetApp has recently enhanced its cyber resilience offerings by launching the NetApp Ransomware Resilience service. This innovative solution introduces industry-first embedded data breach detection and isolated recovery environments. Leveraging AI, these new capabilities provide early alerts for potential data exfiltration and guide users through safe, malware-free workload recovery, further reinforcing NetApp’s position as the most secure storage solution for enterprise data.
NetApp’s Differentiation: Outcomes That Matter
NetApp differentiates by embedding security at the core, aligning with key customer imperatives like data infrastructure modernization, cyber resilience, AI readiness, and cloud transformation. This holistic approach delivers tangible outcomes that go beyond technology to drive real business value. For starters, customers significantly reduce risk and financial loss by fortifying data at its foundation, minimizing breaches and ransomware disruptions through proactive, AI-driven defenses. Enhanced business continuity follows, with secure storage enabling rapid recovery, often in minutes, keeping operations uninterrupted and preventing costly downtime that could otherwise cripple revenue streams.
Take Shibaura Institute of Technology, for example. After a devastating ransomware attack in 2016, they turned to NetApp’s AI-driven security solutions, including all-flash storage and automated anomaly detection with Snapshot copies. This enabled instant threat response and protection for 10,000 users, allowing the institute to focus on academic goals rather than recovery, ultimately supporting their ambition to rank among Asia’s top engineering universities.
Similarly, Thor Motor Coach faced widespread IT outages caused by a faulty security update. NetApp’s solutions enabled them to avoid damage and restore systems before the workday began, ensuring business continuity.
The University of West Florida also exemplifies this: Using NetApp’s storage-layer data security, they stay ahead of threats and avoid breaches, maintaining operational integrity in an education environment prone to vulnerabilities.
Strengthened compliance and reputation are equally critical: Safeguarded data ensures effortless adherence to regulations like GDPR or NIS2, while building customer trust through proven resilience. Our Ransomware Recovery Guarantee exemplifies this partnership, offering not just tools but expert assistance in recovery, turning potential crises into manageable events. In AI contexts, this means secure data pipelines that fuel innovation without exposure, enabling teams to focus on use cases like advanced analytics rather than vulnerabilities. Ultimately, these outcomes—lower risks, seamless operations, regulatory peace of mind, and accelerated growth—transform data from a liability into a strategic asset, providing a competitive edge in an increasingly threat-laden world.
Further enhancing this strategic advantage, enterprises can now benefit from seamless integration with Microsoft Azure, thanks to NetApp’s enhanced unified global namespace and Object REST API capabilities. These advancements allow direct access and management of Azure NetApp Files data for advanced analysis and AI services, supporting hybrid use cases such as disaster recovery and workload balancing. With an AI-native data platform powered by NVIDIA integration, businesses have a trusted, high-performance foundation to transform vast volumes of information into actionable intelligence—ensuring that resilience, compliance, and innovation go hand in hand.
Advancing Cyber Resilience: Join Us and Secure Tomorrow’s Innovations
To dive deeper into these topics, leaders and practitioners can join the NetApp Tech Lab Series: Cybersecurity Edition webinar on October 30, 2025, at 2 p.m. ET. Led by Principal Architect Justin Welch, this Cybersecurity Edition explores why NetApp offers the most secure storage, with practical insights on layered protection and real-time threat detection. Register now and gain actionable knowledge from experts tackling these challenges daily.
In an era where use cases fuel AI adoption, intelligent data infrastructure like NetApp’s ensures security and efficiency. Let’s partner to turn your data into a resilient, competitive advantage.
In his current role at NetApp, Di Blasio is instrumental in advancing the company's Intelligent Data Infrastructure narrative, focusing on AI innovation, data security, and cloud transformation. His leadership is pivotal in positioning NetApp as the storage and data infrastructure vendor of choice in the AI era.
Prior to joining NetApp, Di Blasio served as Chief Revenue Officer at Commvault, overseeing all revenue-related activities. His career also includes significant GTM leadership roles at VMware and EMC, where he was responsible for driving strategic growth and market expansion.
In addition to his corporate roles, Di Blasio is a partner at Cortical Ventures, a Bay Area venture capital firm specializing in AI technologies. He has also contributed to the NASA iTech steering committee, reflecting his commitment to fostering innovation and technological advancement.
