Constructing safe, scalable AI within the cloud with Microsoft Azure

Forrester Analysis exhibits how Azure helps enterprises scale generative AI securely, overcoming infrastructure and compliance challenges to unlock actual enterprise worth.

Generative AI is a transformative power, redefining how trendy enterprises function. It has shortly develop into central to how companies drive productiveness, innovate, and ship impression. The strain is on: organizations should transfer quick to not solely undertake AI, however to unlock actual worth at scale or danger falling behind.  

Reaching enterprise-wide deployment of AI securely and effectively isn’t any simple feat. Generative AI is like rocket gasoline. It may propel companies to new heights, however solely with the correct infrastructure and controls in place. To speed up safely and strategically, enterprises are turning to Microsoft Azure as mission management. Tapping into Azure’s highly effective cloud infrastructure and superior safety options permits groups to successfully construct, deploy, amplify, and see actual outcomes from generative AI. 

To grasp how companies are making ready for AI, we commissioned Forrester Consulting to survey Azure clients. The ensuing 2024 Forrester Whole Financial Impression^TM research uncovers the steps companies take to develop into AI-ready, the challenges of adopting generative AI within the cloud, and the way Azure’s scalable infrastructure and built-in safety helps companies deploy AI with confidence. 

Challenges with scaling generative AI on-premises 

Scaling generative AI is like designing transportation methods for a quickly rising metropolis. Simply as city enlargement calls for trendy transportation infrastructure to perform effectively, AI leaders perceive that implementing AI in a significant manner requires a cloud basis that’s highly effective, versatile, and constructed to deal with future demand. AI leaders acknowledge that the ability and agility of the cloud is required to attain their desired outcomes.  

• In truth, 72% of surveyed respondents whose group migration to Azure for AI-readiness reported that the migration was crucial or diminished the boundaries to enabling AI.
• 65% of enterprise leaders agreed that deploying generative AI within the cloud would meet their organizational aims to keep away from restrictions and limitations of on-prem deployments. 

Companies that run most or all of their generative AI workloads on-premises face vital roadblocks. On-premises methods, usually missing the agility provided by the cloud, resemble outdated roadways—susceptible to congestion, troublesome to keep up, costly to increase, and ill-equipped for at the moment’s calls for. Companies making an attempt to scale AI in these environments encounter difficult obstacles—together with infrastructure limitations, a scarcity of specialised expertise, and integration challenges that gradual innovation—which might be irritating to beat. Challenges like restricted community bandwidth and fragmented information environments additional complicate adoption.

Deploying generative AI safely is essential to defending delicate information, sustaining compliance, and mitigating danger. Surveyed decision-makers recognized 4 key areas of issues: 

1. Information privateness dangers, particularly with the proliferation of AI-generated content material.
2. Lack of understanding relating to generative AI safety finest practices.
3. Compliance complexities with evolving laws round AI use and information safety.
4. Shadow IT dangers, as customers flip to unauthorized instruments and apps, exposing organizations to vulnerabilities.

To beat these challenges, it’s vital to companion with a cloud platform that gives built-in safety and regulatory compliance. Cloud migration supplies the scalable infrastructure, built-in functions, and AI-ready information basis crucial for generative AI success. Survey respondents who’ve already transitioned many or all AI workloads to Azure report enhanced international attain, scalability, and adaptability, all main benefits in at the moment’s quickly evolving AI panorama. 

Why enterprise chooses Azure for AI-readiness 

Infrastructure limitations are a barrier to scaling generative AI. On-premises environments usually hinder efficiency, enhance prices, and gradual innovation. In line with our survey, 75% of organizations migrating to Azure for AI-readiness reported that the migration was crucial or it considerably diminished boundaries to generative AI adoption. 

Whereas the advantages of deploying generative AI within the cloud are clear, groups nonetheless face hurdles in adopting AI responsibly. Vulnerabilities, restricted experience in AI safety, and information privateness dangers are probably the most outstanding issues. Azure addresses these issues with complete frameworks that safeguard generative AI workloads end-to-end, from growth to runtime. 

Surveyed leaders cited Azure’s colocation technique as a prime purpose for partnering with Azure for deploying generative AI, eliminating information silos and optimizing efficiency. Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Sentinel improve safety and make Azure a trusted platform for secure, enterprise-grade generative AI deployment. 

4 key differentiators for deploying generative AI with Azure

1. Enterprise-grade safety and compliant options

Safety issues are a main problem when deploying generative AI within the cloud. Azure protects AI workloads from code to cloud. Azure’s multi-layered strategy helps trendy organizations meet compliance requirements and minimizes dangers throughout the complete AI lifecycle. Key options together with Defender for Cloud, Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Azure Key Vault, and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) present end-to-end safety for generative AI workloads, making certain information privateness, growth lifecycle safety, and risk administration. Backed by Microsoft’s enterprise-grade safety, compliance, and accountable AI commitments, Azure empowers groups to construct AI options that aren’t solely highly effective but additionally moral, clear, and compliant. 

2. Scalable cloud infrastructure

Azure’s cloud infrastructure permits companies to keep away from the constraints of legacy environments, enabling them to launch AI tasks effectively and securely. Azure brings a collection of superior AI and machine studying instruments to the desk which might be mission vital for generative AI success, enabling organizations to interrupt free from siloed information, outdated safety frameworks, and infrastructure bottlenecks. By deploying generative AI within the cloud, companies can speed up innovation, streamline operations, and construct AI-powered options with confidence. 

3. Unified information and AI administration

Efficient AI begins with a stable information basis. Azure’s information integration and administration options—Microsoft Cloth, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Azure Databricks—allow organizations to centralize information, enhance governance, and optimize AI mannequin efficiency. By transferring past the constraints of legacy on-premises environments, companies achieve seamless information entry, higher compliance, and the scalability wanted to drive AI innovation for enterprise. With Azure, organizations can harness high-quality, well-governed information to energy extra correct and dependable AI outcomes. 

4. Sooner innovation

By adopting Azure, assets might be redirected from infrastructure upkeep to AI-powered innovation. Azure’s versatile, safe cloud setting allows companies to experiment, adapt, and evangelize AI options with much less danger than conventional on-premises deployments. Surveyed organizations utilizing Azure reported greater than twice the arrogance of their skill to construct and refine AI and machine studying functions in comparison with these counting on on-premises infrastructure. Key advantages embrace higher flexibility, diminished danger when modifying AI options, and the power to reinvest infrastructure assets into AI upskilling and innovation. 

The enterprise impression of safe generative AI on Azure 

Migrating to Azure for AI deployment enhances efficiency and operational effectivity. Advantages embrace: 

• Optimized useful resource allocation: Migrating to the cloud frees IT groups from infrastructure administration, permitting them to give attention to strategic initiatives—corresponding to growing generative AI use circumstances—that drive significant enterprise impression.
• Accelerated time to worth: Azure AI providers empower information scientists, AI and machine studying engineers, and builders, serving to them to ship high-quality fashions quicker.
• Enhanced safety and compliance: Azure’s built-in safety instruments defend workloads, scale back breach dangers, and meet evolving compliance requirements.
• Greater AI utility efficiency: Deploying generative AI with Azure improves utility efficiency—driving innovation and development. 

Innovation with out compromise 

As IT professionals and digital transformation leaders navigate the complexities of AI adoption, Azure stands out as a trusted companion for enterprise AI-readiness. With superior infrastructure, secure and accountable AI practices, and built-in safety, Azure provides a safe and scalable basis for constructing and working generative AI within the cloud. With Azure, organizations can unlock the complete potential of generative AI to drive innovation, speed up development, and lasting enterprise worth.