By Mohammed AWAL, Barcelona, Spain
In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, cloud computing has positioned itself as the bedrock for modernized IT governance, according to industry experts who gathered at this year’s Huawei Cloud Summit held in Barcelona.
Addressing a diverse audience of IT professionals, Chief Information Officers (CIOs), and technology enthusiasts, keynote speakers underscored the transformative power of cloud solutions in reshaping the way organizations manage and govern their IT infrastructure.
.The assembly of more than 500 professionals, comprising executives and experts from varied industries such as telecommunications, finance, and the Internet, forms a segment of the events at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, held in Barcelona from February 26 to 29. With the theme ‘Advancing Intelligence through Everything as a Service,’ the Summit showcased how Huawei Cloud is the preferred infrastructure for AI applications.
The experts delved into the key aspects of cloud computing that contribute to its significance in the realm of IT governance. Scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness were identified as crucial factors that make cloud solutions indispensable for organizations aiming to stay competitive in an ever-changing digital environment.
Jacqueline Shi, President of Huawei Cloud Global Marketing and Sales Service, stated in her speech that Huawei Cloud is recognized as one of the fastest-growing cloud service providers globally. She emphasized the company’s commitment to pushing boundaries and delivering cutting-edge technology to customers worldwide. In recent years, Huawei Cloud has expanded its presence with the launch of local cloud Regions in various countries, including Ireland, Türkiye, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia, providing customers with easy access to high-performing cloud services.
Shi highlighted the importance of security, noting that Huawei Cloud boasts over 120 security certifications worldwide, ensuring the safety and integrity of businesses and data. Beyond technology, she emphasized the company’s dedication to supporting partners’ growth through initiatives like the GoCloud and GrowCloud programs.
Addressing the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI), Shi pointed out that it is reshaping various aspects of the industry, with Huawei positioned at the forefront. The company aims to build a robust cloud foundation accessible to everyone, across all industries, to expedite the integration of intelligence.
Huawei Cloud CTO, Bruno Zhang, mentioned that Huawei Cloud would assist with two strategies. He explained that the AI for Cloud strategy incorporates AI and foundational models to enhance user experiences.
“They revolutionize software development, digital content production, and more. Cloud for AI makes AI adoption seamless and efficient. Architectural innovation, AI-native storage, and data-AI convergence empower you to train and use AI like never before,” he said.
Jim Lu, the President of the European Region and Senior Vice President of Huawei, added that AI will open up new opportunities for Europe in the next decade.
“We hope to use ICT to help global customers and partners unlock the full potential of intelligence. Together with so many friends in Europe, we believe we can better support the digital and intelligent transformation of industries,” he stated.
Chief Product Officer at Huawei Cloud, William Fang, underscored the growing requirements across different facets of cloud infrastructure, driven by the swift progress of AI and foundation models. Fang noted that customers are seeking a collaborative heterogeneous computing architecture, cloud-native computing with outstanding performance, extensive data storage, adherence to security compliance, streamlined governance, and adaptable deployment.
Highlighting the expanding use of foundation models, Fang pointed out that cloud computing plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and the development of AI models. He emphasized that the synergy between AI and cloud is essential for advancing intelligence. “Huawei Cloud is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the success of this integration, thereby meeting and exceeding customer demands,” he said.
Huawei Cloud unveiled ten AI-centric innovations, further cementing its role as the go-to cloud infrastructure for AI at the summit. These include KooVerse, Distributed QingTian Architecture, AI Compute, AI-Native Storage, E2E Security, GaussDB, and more.
In addition to announcing these innovations, Huawei Cloud highlighted the integration of cloud-native and AI technologies as a strategy. This would accelerate the global implementation and advancement of AI.
At the Summit, Bruno Zhang unveiled the Global Leap Program by Cloud Native Elite Club (CNEC). With the theme “Leap with Cloud Native × AI”, this program will facilitate extensive technical exchanges, in-depth discussions, and best practice showcases.
The discussions also touched upon the role of cloud in enhancing collaboration, data security, and compliance with evolving regulatory standards. Panelists highlighted how cloud services facilitate seamless communication and information sharing among teams while maintaining robust security protocols.
As businesses continue to navigate the complexities of the digital landscape, the consensus among experts is that embracing cloud computing is not just a technological choice but a strategic imperative for modernized IT governance.
