Partner POV | AI will make or break enterprises: Why 85% of projects are set to fail

This article was written by Sandra Dunbar at NetApp, and was contributed for publication by our partner, NetApp.

The AI era isn't looming—it's here, reshaping industries at breakneck speed. Executives know it: 88% claim readiness for AI-driven transformation, and 81% are already piloting or scaling AI initiatives. Yet, a stark reality check from IDC reveals that 85% of AI projects fail to reach production. The ambition is there, but the execution isn't. The hidden culprit? A shaky data infrastructure that's simply not AI-ready. NetApp® intelligent data infrastructure can help your organization prepare for AI and avoid becoming a statistic.

Data security at the storage layer

Data is the lifeblood of AI. It powers the models that propel innovation, from predictive analytics to generative AI. But as data grows in value, it becomes a prime target for breaches and misuse. Most enterprises are building AI on fragmented, poorly governed datasets—often with unclear permissions, inconsistent protections, and unknown sensitivity levels. This approach isn't just a recipe for inaccurate models; it's a ticking time bomb for reputational damage, regulatory fines, and existential risks.

Consider this: What happens when your most advanced AI model trains on compromised or sensitive data? The consequences extend far beyond technical glitches. A single misstep could expose customer information, violate compliance mandates, and erode stakeholder trust. Traditional data governance, often an afterthought that's layered on top of AI workflows, can't keep up with the scale, speed, and complexity of today's hybrid multicloud environments.

The solution lies in rethinking the foundation. Your enterprise needs an AI-ready data infrastructure that embeds security, privacy, and compliance at the storage level. That means implementation of data classification to identify what can be used for training, enforcing guardrails so that only your authorized users access appropriate data, and maintaining end-to-end posture management across your hybrid and multicloud environments. Such an approach empowers your data scientists to innovate with confidence while giving your data protection officers peace of mind that your organization isn't outpacing its controls.

Enhanced resilience to predict, to adapt, and to thrive

Securing your data goes beyond basic protections; it's about creating an intelligent, secure, and resilient infrastructure that anticipates threats and adapts in real time. Intelligent data systems use AI itself for anomaly detection, automatically flagging unusual access patterns and potential vulnerabilities before they escalate. For instance, machine learning algorithms can analyze data flows to predict and to prevent breaches so that your sensitive information remains encrypted and isolated during your AI training processes.

Resilience is key in this volatile landscape. A truly robust infrastructure incorporates redundancy and failover mechanisms, so even if a cyberattack or a system failure occurs, data integrity is preserved and your AI operations continue uninterrupted. This infrastructure includes Zero Trust architectures so that every access request is verified, regardless of origin, and continuous monitoring tools give you real-time visibility into data usage. By integrating these elements, your enterprise can build a foundation that not only safeguards your data but also enhances its utility—turning potential liabilities into strategic assets.

Evolving infrastructure to unlock potential and to stay competitive

By fostering a culture of data stewardship, you help make security everyone's responsibility, from your IT teams to your executive leadership. Regular audits, employee training on data-handling best practices, and collaboration with external experts further strengthen your ecosystem. In essence, NetApp's intelligent data infrastructure isn't static; it evolves with emerging threats, using advanced analytics to stay ahead.

A secure, AI-ready infrastructure isn't just about threat minimization. It's about unlocking potential. By streamlining data access and maintaining compliance, your enterprise can accelerate AI deployment, reduce costs, and stay competitive. The boardroom question must shift from "Are we investing in AI?" to "Are we building a data infrastructure foundation that's intelligent, compliant, secure, and fast?" Those who get it right will lead their industries. Those who don't—85% of AI projects fail, according to IDC—risk being left behind in an AI-driven world. The stakes are high, and the time to act is now.