~ Kevin Dunn, Wasabi

What industry trends and tech developments are you looking forward to seeing at this year’s show?

I’m excited to see continued advancements in AI, and more importantly, how organizations are leveraging their own data for AI training. Now more than ever, an organization’s data is critical to staying ahead of the curve and ensure that they are not left behind as AI continues to dominate the industry. Additionally, I’m eager to see how organizations are continuing to adopt cloud storage, whether it is in hybrid or multi-cloud environments. As the need for more flexible and scalable solutions continues, these multi-cloud and hybrid approaches will be more critical than ever before.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing your industry in 2025?

One of the main challenges is meeting the ever-growing demand for adequate, secure, and cost-effective cloud storage. Data is growing at an exponential rate, and many organizations simply cannot keep up with the demand. Especially as AI continues to become more and more popular, organizations need a way to adequately store their proprietary data needed to train AI on. Another key challenge is storing this data sustainably. Everyone knows that AI requires a huge amount of power to function, so organizations that want to operate sustainably must ensure they are using cloud providers that offer insights into their sustainability practices.

What excites you most about your industry right now?

I’m most excited about the new advancements and innovations happening across the cloud industry right now. We’re seeing significant strides in security, scalability, and of course, AI integration. All of this is coming together to make migrating to the cloud more accessible and cost-effective than ever. Additionally, the growing emphasis on data security is paving the way for the cloud to become even more secure than ever before.

Why is it important to bring industry professionals together at events like this?

I always look forward to industry events like this one because they provide a unique opportunity for bringing people together to have important discussions. These events are so important because they provide an opportunity to discuss new innovations, emerging trends, challenges, and what we all can do better as an industry. Additionally, they are great opportunities for getting to know new members of the industry and reconnect with familiar ones.

What’s the best piece of advice you would give to newcomers joining the industry?

My advice is to stay on top of trends so you can always see what is coming down the road. This industry is ever evolving, and this rapid pace is not slowing down any time soon. Newcomers should always keep their finger on the pulse of what is happening now, but also what the next big trend or advancement will be. Take the time to really understand and learn these new innovations so that you can figure out how to best incorporate them into your strategy. Additionally, I would always advise networking at great events like this one so you can form collaborative and inspiring relationships.