Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 100 | Page 69

t cht lk efficient storage management is essential to maintaining performance and controlling costs.

t cht lk efficient storage management is essential to maintaining performance and controlling costs.

Tiered storage solutions
Technology education for rural African
Not all data needs instant access. Tiered storage optimises performance and costs by placing frequently accessed data on high-speed storage, like flash while archiving less critical data in cost-effective solutions like object storage.
Scalable storage for AI workloads
AI applications generate massive volumes of unstructured data. Distributed storage systems and object storage solutions provide the scalability needed to manage this data efficiently.
In South Africa’ s rural areas, young people face a stark reality: quality job opportunities with potential for career growth are scarce and exclusively located in urban centres. This forces many to relocate, not just resulting in a brain drain that deprives rural regions of skilled workers and stifles their economic development, but also diminishes the urbanising youth’ s chances for success once they reach the already densely populated cities.
Youth unemployment sits at a staggering 46.6 %, but a new, non-profit initiative aims to train 10,000 rural youths to become coders with secured remote jobs after graduation – all within five years.
Mvelo Hlophe, CEO Zaio
Storage-as-a-service models
With multicloud adoption increasing, more enterprises are embracing storage-as-a-service models. These on-demand solutions reduce capital investment while allowing businesses to scale storage needs as data volumes grow.
Data lifecycle management
AI models require fresh, relevant data. Automating data archiving, deletion, and migration ensures efficient storage use while maintaining compliance with data retention policies.
Operational efficiency and sustainability
As per IDC, AI data centre energy consumption is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 44.7 %, reaching 146.2 Terawatt hours, TWh by 2027, with AI workloads consuming a growing portion of total data centre electricity use. To address this, it is crucial to right-size IT solutions to avoid unnecessary computational waste and excessive energy consumption.
Implementing energy-efficient hardware configurations and environmentally responsible cooling methods while leveraging management software tools can significantly reduce power usage and extend hardware lifespan. Power management tools that use telemetry provide valuable insights to optimise power and thermal management in real-time, while identifying potential hardware issues early.
The road to enterprise AI success in a multicloud environment is based on infrastructure that prioritises agility, scalability, and efficiency. High-performance computing power, seamless data management, and
The Africa Inspired Foundation is launching a programme that is building community-based technology hubs to train the next generation of South African technology-professionals where it matters most: in the rural communities where economic opportunity is least.
By providing access to sought after technical training, the new foundation aims to drive economic self-sufficiency, enabling local talent to be able to work remotely from their hometowns and inject new vitality into rural economies.
The goal with Africa Inspired Foundation is to break this cycle by delivering accessible technology education, employment opportunities, and entrepreneurial pathways within rural communities, thereby transforming the rural economy.
To counteract the downsides of rural-to-urban migration, the foundation is implementing a multifaceted strategy aimed at creating a self-sustaining ecosystem of technology-driven employment.
Africa Inspired Foundation will establish community-based technology learning hubs that will serve as dynamic innovation centres. These hubs will enable students to acquire in-demand digital skills, develop competitive CVs, and access remote work opportunities.
The initiative will start with the establishment of three technology hubs in its first year, with a target of training 300 individuals annually. Over the next five years, the plan is to expand to 15 hubs, with the capacity to train 10,000 aspiring technology professionals, which will significantly change the landscape of South Africa’ s rural workforce.
Each hub will offer a comprehensive curriculum covering innovative disciplines such as Cloud Computing, Data Science, Cybersecurity, and more. Initially, Africa Inspired Foundation will ensure all participants complete a computer literacy course before advancing to more specialised training.
innovative storage solutions form the foundation for unleashing AI’ s potential. By taking a comprehensive approach, enterprises can unlock AI’ s full potential, drive business growth, and confidently navigate the complexities of multicloud environments. p
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