Unlocking True Cloud Value Through Data Simplicity
Techstrong IT, Thursday, October 15th, 2026
Multi-cloud data friction, not models, is sinking AI projects; CIOs should simplify the data layer rather than the clouds.
Jim Gannon argues that most CIOs have a cloud strategy but not one for keeping it simple.
Expanding estates across providers and on-premises systems add the overhead of copying data, separate tools and policies, and reconciling governance, with each silo adding risk and cost.
Citing S&P Global's finding that 42% of companies abandoned most of their AI initiatives in 2025, up from 17%, he says failures trace to data infrastructure rather than models.
Simplicity doesn't mean fewer clouds but consistent data services, governance and mobility across them, so data can be used wherever AI services run.