Nasuni Corporation recently published key insights from its research report titled The Era of Hybrid Cloud Storage 2025. The findings stem from a survey involving 1,000 decision-makers in purchasing roles from the US, UK, France, and the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).
Key Findings
One significant conclusion indicates that while nearly half of the surveyed businesses prioritize investment in artificial intelligence (AI), only 20% believed their data is adequately prepared for AI integration.
David Grant, president of Nasuni, remarked on the situation: “Organizations are making AI a top priority and significantly ramping up their investments, but what we are finding is they are not always taking the critical steps necessary to ensure success when it comes to data management. A modern approach that unifies, organizes, and makes unstructured data accessible is needed to reliably and securely harness AI, enabling teams to navigate the complexities of AI deployment confidently.”
Challenges Highlighted
- Data Migration Difficulties: A staggering 96% of participants reported facing challenges when migrating file data, posing obstacles for AI projects.
- Investment Misalignment: Although almost half view AI as their primary spending focus for the next 18 months, only a third plan to invest in essential cloud data management.
- Data Unpreparedness: Many organizations struggle with disorganized data, with only a fifth of respondents asserting that their data is properly structured and accessible for AI initiatives.
- Security Concerns: Ongoing worries about data security and privacy persist, affecting 34% of organizations seeking to implement AI projects.
- Importance of Hybrid Cloud Models: Employing a hybrid cloud storage model emerges as a vital risk management tactic, with 51% of firms lacking such plans expressing heightened fears about data security and privacy.
As companies grow, data complexity tends to increase, particularly affecting larger businesses. The absence of a unified strategy for file storage and management may prevent organizations from leveraging AI effectively, thereby missing out on potential efficiencies and competitive advantages. Notably, while 46% expect AI initiatives to lead to cost reductions, only 27% of AI projects ensure a measurable return on investment, underscoring the crucial role of cloud infrastructure.
Survey Methodology
This research involved 1,000 purchasing decision-makers from organizations with over 1,000 employees, surveyed online in January 2025 by Sapio Research. The study focused on companies located in the US, UK, France, and the DACH region.
Resource: For detailed insights, download the full report (registration required).