EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Maximize your data
insights with AI
Chart your path to successby unlocking the power ofyour data

Data, the differentiator
In today’s digital world, we find ourselves traversing a landscape dominatedby rapid change and frequent disruption, all amidst the backdrop to one of themost significant technological developments since the inception of the internet,
generative artificial intelligence (GenAI).

1. Build your innovation
muscle.

How to make innovation part ofyour organization’s DNA to lead in
the AI-enabled world.
(Access here)

Data is the lifeblood of an organization, but what value is it, if it cannot be easily
accessed, processed and leveraged? The appetite and demand to maximise thevalue of data may well be insatiable, but many organizations continue to struggle.
And if they want to capitalize on GenAI, there is no time to waste as GenAI is
only as strong as data allows it to be. Organizations will find the most value if
they connect AI tools to a wide swath of internal data, allowing for more robust
solutions that consider every conceivable information point and a stronger data
chain down the line.

2. Maximize your datainsights.

To help more organizations maximise their data insights, we conducted a new
study, Innovation Catalysts, based on responses from 6,600 business andIT decision-makers (BDMs and ITDMs) responsible for driving or influencing
innovation in their organization from 40 countries. In a three-part series, wedouble-click into key areas innovation leaders thrive in and explore whereorganizations across the world struggle:

3. Embrace human-machine
partnerships.

This executive brief focuses on the second topic: Maximizing your data insights.

How to design a smart, flexible
and resilient infrastructure to act
on your data wherever it resides.

How to build an innovation culture
and productive work experience
where everyone thrives.
(Access here)

A paradoxical reality
Organizations are all too aware of the ever-shifting
landscape, and only by successfully leveraging their data
to drive innovation will they be able to keep pace with theircompetitors. Despite the scale of the task, 82% claim to bewell-positioned competitively and believe they have a solid
strategy for success.

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But are organizations operating under a false sense ofsecurity? It appears so, with almost 1 in 2 uncertain about
the near-term future of their industry. What’s more, 57% arealready reporting that they struggle to keep up with thecurrent pace of disruption. Escaping this paradox won’t beeasy, but by maximizing the value of data and acting on highimpact opportunities, organizations stand a chance.

Maximize your data insights with AI

1

Data paradox:

Security paradox:

IT Infrastructure paradox:

Data is currency, it flows through operations,fuelling decision-making processes and drivinginnovation. But it can also be increasingly
complex and time-consuming to leverage. In
fact, only 1 in 3 organizations report that they
can turn data into real-time insights.

Cyberattacks pose an increasingly growing
threat, having impacted 83% or organizationsin the past 12 months. While 82% acknowledge
the reality and invest in solutions to reduce theattack surface of their IT ecosystem, many stillfind their cybersecurity operations lacking.

Encouragingly, organizations do recognise thevalue of data, with 81% agreeing they needto make improvements to ensure employees
can access or share it faster. However, thisis easier said than done, with nearly all (95%)
respondents reporting that their organization
face hurdles over the management of theirdata.

Underscoring the importance of a mature
security posture, three quarters report that
their security operations consist of patchmanagement. While around two thirds believe
employees go around IT security guidelines andpractices because they delay efficiency andproductivity.

A modern IT infrastructure is critical, andorganizations know it, viewing investment intomodern, scalable technology as their #1 area
to improve in order to drive innovation. And yet,by continuing to use a combination of cloudenvironments to uphold their IT infrastructure,alongside outdated technologies, organizations
stifle their innovation goals.

Organizations need to embrace solutions that
don’t only protect from threats, but also build
response and recovery protections. By adoptinga Zero Trust framework, they can leverage this
holistic and intelligent approach to combat theevolving cyber threat landscape.

Its clear organizations recognize the need forinnovation, and the drive is there, but it’s also
glaringly apparent that they struggle whenstoring, accessing, protecting, and acting
on data effectively. As the demand for data
amplifies, so will the pressure, which poses
the question – what impact will technologicaladvancements like generative AI have?

The impact of GenAI
Generative AI is set to revolutionize how organizations
conduct their business, with 81% agreeing that AI and Gen AI
will significantly transform their industry. It’s understandable,
then, why leveraging these technologies to transformtheir business is regarded as one of their most importantinnovation goals for 2024.
If implemented effectively, the benefits would not be confined
to a single business area, but rather leverageable across theentire organization. In fact, half of respondents believe thatthe technology could grant their organization significant
or transformative gains in productivity, IT security and thestreamlining of processes.
As the landscape continues to shift, now is not the time
to become complacent, but to implement strategies thatembrace these innovative technologies. So, what is holding
organizations back?
Despite generative AI’s vast potential, its adoption is not asimple, challenge-free endeavor. Inviting and integrating a
new capability into an existing environment comes with risks
and uncertainties, both operational and data related. Security
around data access and/or infringement appears to be themost common concern, with nearly four in ten reporting thatit could hold their organization back from adopting Gen AI.
However, it’s not the only factor. Concerns about bias in data
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models, lack of skills to build and/or utilize the technology anddata governance regulations/compliance all have the potential
to hold organizations back.
It’s unsurprising that security is at the forefront oforganizations’ minds. Data loss in the modern age can haveprofound implications, impacting everything from business
operations, financial stability to reputation. The call for
regulations is therefore great, with 83% agreeing that AI
regulations right now is important to maximize the potential
for AI for generations to come.
If organizations can navigate these hurdles, generative AI
has the potential to become a powerful ally against the everevolving threat landscape. To the extent where nearly all (98%)
ITDMs believe that the technology could be used in IT security
to optimize and/or improve their security posture. Improving
efficacy of threat detection, assisting with security policy
development and designing security awareness training are all
potential use cases that ITDMs believe Gen AI could offer theirorganization.
Artificial Intelligence is already broadly used in cybersecurity
through analytics engines and machine learning – but as
the next frontier draws near, GenAI holds the promise ofenrichment.
Maximize your data insights with AI2

Achieving your sustainability goals
Sustainable practices and environmental responsibility areat the forefront of people’s minds, and in business, it’s noexception. In recent years organizations have had to balance
the importance of acting responsibly against their bottom
line – and it’s not been without its challenges. But while 63%
continue to anticipate struggles with ESG standards, it does
demonstrate an awareness and the growing commitment of
their efforts.
•Prioritizing the use of sustainable products and solutions•

Defining time-bound plans to properly retire or recycle
end-of-life IT equipment•Investing in products with extended lifecycles(repairability, upgradability, durability)

Encouragingly, 79% confirm they have a clear sustainability
roadmap, complete with defined goals, with a similar
proportion approaching sustainability in the following ways:
Gen AI can transform an organization’s approach tosustainability, but it also adds a complex layer to an otherwise
already challenging endeavor.
In fact, nearly 6 in 10 believe using artificial intelligence willcompromise their environmental sustainability efforts.

As pressures mount, organizations are increasingly looking
externally for help, with 73% reporting that they need help
from a third-party partner to achieve their sustainability
goals.

Maximizing the value of data
AI is transforming how we work and innovate. Withhundreds of use cases, organizations must provide the rightinfrastructure and right environment for all of them. Thisrequires the right data, strategy and a smart, flexible andresilient IT infrastructure to take proof of concept to proof ofproductivity. Maximizing the value of your data and adopting adata-driven approach will power your organization’s innovation
potential, aiding success in the future.

And you don’t need to do it alone.
With Dell Technologies as your trusted partner on your journey
to a modern data infrastructure, you’ll overcome barriers toinnovation, uncover new possibilities, reduce risks and shorten
time to value. Together, we will maximize the value of yourdata and accelerate from ideas to innovation, faster.
Dive deeper into how to maximize your data value andvisit Dell.com/InnovationCatalyst to get more insights on
subsequent innovation leader best practices around building
your innovation muscle and empowering your people.

Source: Innovation Catalysts study, Dell Technologies, February 2024.
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Maximize your data insights with AI3