How Major Companies Are Adapting to Cloud Data Solutions

Why the EU’s Cloud Moves Signal a Global Cloud Evolution We're watching a pivotal conversation unfold in the European Union right now—one that is already shaking up how enterprises think about their cloud strategies worldwide. For years, the major US-based public cloud hyperscalers—AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud—have dominated the market, driving innovation but also concentrating workloads and, frankly, risk. But the EU is taking a second look. In the wake of high-profile outages and mounting costs, policymakers and enterprises are openly questioning the wisdom of relying so heavily on a handful of hyperscalers based outside their borders. We’re now seeing a push toward distributing workloads to a wider array of providers: sovereign clouds, colocation partners, regional managed service providers, and other non-US cloud entities. Why does this matter beyond Europe? Because these decisions set precedents that the rest of the world is sure to study carefully. If the EU successfully reduces its dependency on US hyperscalers, I believe other regions—facing similar concerns over data sovereignty, resiliency, and cost—will follow suit in the next 2–3 years. Many enterprises may not talk about it publicly, but I’m convinced that the “great cloud reevaluation” is quietly underway across the globe. Does this mean the major hyperscalers will lose significant revenue? Honestly, I doubt it. The exponential growth of AI and generative AI workloads will more than fill any gaps left by traditional enterprise migrations. But what we will see—and should encourage—is a safer, more resilient, and more distributed cloud landscape. Our critical workloads and data sets belong across a diverse mix of platforms: on-premises, across multiple clouds, and yes, with trusted regional partners. I’ll be following this story closely. I recommend you do too. The next phase of cloud is about optionality, resilience, and smart risk management—and the EU’s decisions are a key signpost for what comes next. #cloud #multicloud #digitaltransformation #cloudstrategy #EU #cloudcomputing #datasecurity

I've led cloud at 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 in the United States. I think it's time to share what I've learned. Over the past decade, I've served as Head of Cloud at Citi and Wells Fargo, and led cloud adoption and modernization programs at JPMorganChase. I've built and scaled cloud platforms with all three major hyperscalers — Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure — in one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world. I've sat on both sides of the table: as a head of an organization responsible for cloud adoption in CIO organizations and as an infrastructure leader building and scaling the cloud platform itself. That dual perspective has taught me something most cloud content misses — technology is often only one part of the cloud transformation story. Strategy, operating models, organizational readiness, regulatory navigation, and culture tend to play an equally — if not more — significant role in determining outcomes. Cloud is not just an infrastructure decision. It is the core enabler of innovation, AI, automation, software-defined infrastructure, and the retirement of outdated manual processes that hold large organizations back. Getting it right in a regulated environment requires more than engineering excellence. It requires executive alignment, sustained investment, partnership with risk and cyber organizations, and a willingness to fundamentally rethink how your organization operates. I'm launching a series of posts and articles sharing practical insights on what it actually takes to successfully deploy and scale Cloud and AI at the world's largest banks. I'll be covering: → Strategy and executive alignment → Cloud operating models and organizational design → Risk, security, and regulatory mastery → Architecture, standardization, and developer experience → FinOps and the real economics of cloud → Managing hyperscaler relationships → Driving adoption at scale → Cloud as the foundation for AI My goal is to eventually turn this into a book — a practitioner's guide for leaders navigating this journey in complex, regulated enterprises. But I don't want this to be a one-way conversation. I want to learn from you, too. What's the biggest challenge you face in your cloud journey? What topics would you like me to cover? Drop your thoughts in the comments — your input will shape what I write. Follow me here for weekly insights, and subscribe to my newsletter — "The Cloud Ledger" — so you never miss a post. Let's build this together. #CloudComputing #FinancialServices #DigitalTransformation #CloudStrategy #CloudAndAIAtScale

It’s rewarding to see a nearly 200-year-old institution reimagine itself for the AI era. During a recent conversation with the team at Citizens Bank, I was impressed by how they're shifting data management from a back-office function into a strategic competitive advantage. This example also reminded me that the most powerful transformations happen when you build on a foundation of trust.     Citizens took a bold approach with their master data management (MDM) modernization. They moved from batch processing that took days to near real-time data synchronization across their 1,000+ branches in 14 states. Using Informatica's Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) platform on Amazon Web Services (AWS), they've reduced data onboarding time by approximately 85% and transformed MDM into what they call a "Tier 1" operational asset, meaning it’s always available, accurate and ready to power customer interactions.    The results speak volumes. What used to take three days — even something as simple as updating a customer's phone number — now happens instantly. Their contact center call volumes decreased, their mobile experience became seamless and every customer interaction now draws from a single, trusted source of truth.    What I find particularly compelling is how Anand Vijai M R and his team built flexibility into their architecture while maintaining consistency across every customer touchpoint. The cloud-native approach freed their teams from infrastructure complexities so they could focus on what truly matters: ensuring data accuracy and powering AI use cases. With CLAIRE as an AI copilot, they've democratized access to trusted data across the organization.    This is the transformation I'm seeing across industries. Organizations that treat data as a strategic platform are building sustainable competitive advantages in the AI era. For a bank with roots dating back to 1828, Citizens proves that innovation and tradition can coexist harmoniously. https://lnkd.in/gZCua-M9  

The Barclays CIO Survey 2024 highlights a significant shift in cloud strategies among enterprises, with 83% of CIOs planning to repatriate workloads back from public cloud environments to private clouds. This trend represents a substantial increase from 2020, where only 43% of enterprises considered such a move. The drivers behind this shift include concerns over data security, the rising costs of public cloud services, and the need for greater control over IT environments, particularly as enterprises grapple with AI workloads and data gravity issues. Moreover, the trend towards multi-cloud and hybrid cloud strategies is becoming more pronounced, as organizations seek to balance the agility and scalability of public clouds with the control and security of private infrastructure. This approach allows companies to optimize their IT environments for cost, performance, and regulatory compliance. The survey’s findings suggest that while public cloud adoption will continue, the overall landscape is becoming more nuanced, with enterprises increasingly opting for a mix of cloud environments that best suit their specific workload needs. Here are some hashtags you could use: #CloudComputing #PrivateCloud #HybridCloud #CloudStrategy #ITInfrastructure #AIWorkloads #DataSecurity #CloudRepatriation #EnterpriseIT #CIOTrends #PublicCloud #TechInnovation #CostOptimization #DataGravity #MultiCloud

One thing is clear in Accenture’s latest report on building an AI‑ready cloud foundation; organizations aren’t just modernizing their tech stacks; they’re redefining how they create value.     What we’re seeing now is a shift from cloud as an efficiency play to cloud as the backbone of continuous reinvention. AI is accelerating that shift, but AI can only deliver its full potential when the underlying architecture is ready for it.      The companies pulling ahead are the ones treating cloud, data, and AI as one integrated system, not separate investments. They’re simplifying core operations, creating flexible digital foundations, and empowering their people with the skills and tools to move with speed and confidence.     This isn’t about chasing every new technology. It’s about building the resilience and adaptability to keep reinventing, again and again as the environment changes. At its core, an AI‑ready cloud foundation is about preparing the enterprise for what’s next, not just optimizing for today. The leaders who understand this will set the pace for their industries.    https://lnkd.in/gvrX4rqp    Andy Tay, Lan Guan, Jason Dess Jefferson Wang, Shalabh Kumar Singh 

Excited to share insights from our latest Next at Chase blog post by Praveen Tandra and Sudhir Rao where we dive into the transformative journey of migrating our data ecosystem from Hadoop to AWS. This shift is a game-changer for our data strategy, addressing tech debt and setting the stage for future innovation. Key insights from our journey: • Migration Milestone: We're moving our Data Lake from on-premises Hadoop to AWS, embracing a flexible and future-proof cloud solution. • Tackling Tech Debt: Addressing challenges like data duplication, metadata drift, and platform incompatibilities to streamline our data processes. • Adopting Open Standards: Transitioning to Apache Parquet for efficient, open-format data storage, enhancing interoperability and performance. • Project Metafix: A collaborative effort to reconcile and adapt decades-old metadata, ensuring seamless migration and data integrity. • Lineage 2.0: Mapping data movement end-to-end, providing a clear view of data assets across legacy and target platforms. None of this may be groundbreaking, but for a 225-year-old company, this migration is more than just a tech upgrade—it's a strategic leap forward in how we manage and utilize petabytes of data at Chase. Stay tuned for part two, as we continue to share our journey and the innovations driving our data transformation. So proud of all of our teams driving this forward, boom! Question for You: How do you see cloud migration impacting the future of data management? Share your thoughts below! #DataTransformation #Innovation

20% of enterprises are moving their AI off public clouds.   Forrester’s Predictions 2026 report signals a sharp pivot. companies are building "private AI factories" instead of renting intelligence.   you cannot build a moat on infrastructure you don't control.   public clouds leak data. they create dependencies that break under geopolitical stress. leaders are moving sensitive workloads to sovereign environments.   if you lead Ops or Tech, the roadmap requires an immediate infrastructure audit.   → audit data sovereignty classify assets immediately. draw distinct lines between public model leverage and proprietary data retention.   → secure the supply chain verify hardware vendors against privacy requirements. "neoclouds" are eroding hyperscaler dominance because they handle specific GPU workloads generalist clouds ignore.   → leverage phased approaches don't boil the ocean. start the private build with a single high-value use case, like R&D, where leakage is catastrophic.   → build a digital HR strategy plan for the friction between AI agents and human teams. you need a strategy to manage and evaluate these agents, or operational risk will skyrocket.   we are returning to owned infrastructure. if you are planning the build, let's talk.   #CloudRepatriation #AIStrategy #DataSovereignty

A year has passed since I last visualized the cloud provider landscape, and the changes are striking.  While each provider's strengths remain consistent, several key trends have reshaped the ecosystem: • 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗺:  Organizations are increasingly moving away from single-provider reliance, adopting multi-cloud strategies to optimize spending, avoid vendor lock-in, and leverage best-in-breed services from various platforms. • 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀:  Sustainability is no longer optional.  Major cloud providers are doubling down on renewable energy and providing tools for customers to monitor and reduce their environmental impact. • 𝗔𝗜/𝗠𝗟 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:  The accessibility of artificial intelligence and machine learning has exploded.  Providers are offering increasingly user-friendly tools, empowering businesses of all sizes to harness the power of AI. • 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴'𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲:  Edge computing is transforming industries. Platforms like Azure Arc, AWS Outposts, and Google Anthos are evolving rapidly, enabling innovation in areas like IoT and real-time data processing. • 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Serverless computing continues its ascent, abstracting away infrastructure complexities and allowing developers to focus on code.  Recent advancements have focused on improved tooling and broader functionality. • 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱: Interestingly, alongside cloud adoption, some companies are also exploring "reverse cloud," moving certain workloads back on-premise.  This often reflects a focus on cost optimization for specific applications or data governance requirements. The ideal cloud solution remains dependent on individual business requirements.  Regularly evaluating your cloud strategy is essential to ensure it aligns with your evolving needs. What significant shifts have you noticed in the cloud landscape lately? I'm interested in hearing your insights.

The "Cloud Cold War" is Officially Thawing: AWS & Google Just Built a Bridge For a decade, the unwritten rule of cloud strategy was simple: pick a lane, because crossing them is painful. That era effectively ended yesterday. In a move that would have been unthinkable five years ago, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud have broken new ground by announcing a jointly engineered multi-cloud networking solution. This is an architectural shift for enterprise IT. My latest article, "AWS and Google Cloud Break New Ground," analyzes why this is the tipping point for the true multi-cloud era. https://lnkd.in/e5DgfeVB Here is the "Industry Insider" breakdown for CIOs and CTOs: The Metric that Matters: Minutes, Not Weeks. Historically, setting up private, high-bandwidth pipes between two major clouds was a logistical nightmare of physical provisioning that took weeks. This new integration combines AWS Interconnect - Multicloud and Google Cross-Cloud Interconnect to let you provision these connections in minutes. True "Active-Active" is Now Reality. We've all designed disaster recovery plans that were theoretically robust but practically fragile due to latency. With this direct, private interconnect, you can now run applications that synchronize state across the AWS/Google boundary as if they were co-located. This enables genuine active-active resilience strategies that were previously too complex or slow to implement. The End of the Walled Garden? Perhaps most significantly, they didn't just build a proprietary tunnel; they published an open specification for network interoperability. This signals a massive philosophical shift: the cloud providers are finally acknowledging that your data's gravity is more important than their perimeter. The Strategic Takeaway: Multi-cloud is no longer just a "good development" or a hedging strategy—it's now a unified operational reality. You can finally stop designing your architecture around the limitations of cloud connectivity and start designing for best-of-breed services (e.g., AWS compute talking privately to Google BigQuery). Does this seamless connectivity change your 2026 cloud migration plans? #MultiCloud #AWS #GoogleCloud #CIO #CTO #CloudStrategy #Interoperability #EnterpriseIT @awsreinvent #reinvent