AI is key driver of Singapore’s modernisation efforts: report

Hybrid multicloud infrastructure expected to triple over the next one to three years.

The majority of Singapore organisations pegged AI strategies as the top priority for their CIOs in yet another sign of the tech’s growing role in the IT modernisation efforts of the city-state, according to a study by Nutanix.

In its sixth global Enterprise Cloud Index (ECI) report, Nutanix found that 60% of Singapore-based businesses put the highest priority on implementing AI, much higher than the regional average of 48% in Asia Pacific and Japan, and the global average of 45%. 

89% of businesses in Singapore also have plans to increase investments in AI, although the survey revealed many admitted that their existing IT infrastructure still struggles to run AI apps and manage applications and data.

In response, the firms said they are ramping up IT modernisation and edge infrastructure deployments to help facilitate faster processing and access to data.

Singapore businesses also believe that balancing innovation and security, leveraging the hybrid multicloud infrastructure and upping ransomware security are also key to their IT modernisation efforts.

Nearly all businesses (99%) were taking a “cloud smart” approach regarding their hybrid multicloud infrastructure strategy, leveraging data centres, public cloud, edge and other environments for their applications, becoming an executive priority. This compared to the global average of 90%. 

97% admitted they could improve their protection from ransomware and malware attacks, which are set to continue throughout the year. Nearly two-thirds who were attacked revealed taking days or weeks to restore their operations. One-third (33%) of the organisations are now looking to beef up security through investments.

Sustainability was another key priority for Singaporean businesses, with 92% in agreement. The global average was only 88%. Over three-fourths (76%) in the city-state plan to increase investments to sustainability efforts and technologies this year.

“Organisations around the world are facing ever-increasing pressure to modernise their IT infrastructure quickly, and Singapore is no exception,” Ho Chye Soon, country manager for Singapore at Nutanix, said. “Data management remains a challenge across the nation, particularly as enterprises seek to leverage AI, improve cybersecurity, and achieve sustainability goals.”