NetApp, the data authority for hybrid cloud, has just wrapped up its annual, three-day conference to help data visionaries across industries and disciplines create their own data-driven journeys to better business outcomes. After four years in Berlin, the NetApp Insight conference headed for Barcelona for the first time, hosting more than 4,000 attendees at the popular Fira Gran Via. From keynotes, spotlight and technical breakout sessions, Hands-On Labs, Insight Central and a lot of networking, attendees were presented with all the news that matters when delivering innovation with cloud services, building cloud infrastructure to accelerate new services and modernising IT architectures with cloud-connected all-flash storage.
NetApp announced new data services and solutions that empower customers to innovate in the cloud, including the expanded availability of the Azure NetApp Files preview, the expanded availability of NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for Google Cloud Platform, and NetApp SaaS Backup for Salesforce. This news was supported by keynotes from George Kurian, Chief Executive Officer and President, and customers such as WuXi NextCODE, Coca Cola and DreamWorks, who shared how data has a ubiquitous role in today’s business processes. Sharing a broader perspective on the ethics and implications of this Digital Transformation was Gerd Leonhard, one of the world’s most highly respected futurists.
NetApp also announced the support of a conference-themed charity initiative with a pledge to donate to the e-learning for kids campaign every time attendees used the conference hashtag #NetAppInsight over the course of the event. With the help of all attendees, NetApp will donate more than US$8,000 in support of free and fun digital education for children worldwide.
“If you want to understand the current – and future – value of cloud data management, you only need to look at the customers joining NetApp on the keynote stage,” said Alexander Wallner, Senior Vice President and General Manager EMEA at NetApp. “The wealth of industries and applications is almost unbelievable. From genome sequencing to bringing affordable health benefits to thousands, to end-to-end support for Artificial Intelligence solutions, to resource-friendly manufacturing, to all that is hot in IT technology such as Kubernetes and DevOps. It just shows that the potential of data to help build a better, smarter world is limitless.”