Hitachi Vantara unveils AI-ready iQ M Series to boost data solutions

Hitachi Vantara has launched the Hitachi iQ M Series, the newest member of its AI-ready infrastructure solutions - providing companies with cost-effective and scalable options to manage evolving data needs.

The introduction of the iQ M Series aims to address the challenges many businesses face with the rapid growth in generative AI usage and the accompanying increase in data processing demands.

With many businesses adopting AI technologies, managing data effectively without incurring prohibitive costs is becoming more vital.

Jason Hardy, Chief Technology Officer for Artificial Intelligence at Hitachi Vantara, said, "We're on a mission to help customers from all industries harness the power of AI regardless of the market they're in."

"With the expansion of computing power from Hitachi iQ M Series and the high performance and reliability standards inherent in the NVIDIA AI Data Platform, we have created a unique opportunity for businesses to innovate, revamp user experiences, streamline operations, and optimise cost. This enables businesses to capitalize on AI without overburdening their teams or their bottom line."

The iQ M Series integrates high-performance storage systems with NVIDIA's accelerated computing technology, offering optional NVIDIA AI Enterprise software for further customisation according to customer requirements. This integration is designed to allow firms to manage different workloads efficiently, scaling compute and storage separately as needed to combat wasteful overprovisioning.

Hitachi Vantara's collaboration with NVIDIA also sees the incorporation of the NVIDIA AI Data Platform reference design into the iQ M Series. This design is intended to facilitate more effective use of AI, providing enterprises with the ability to derive near real-time insights, thereby driving quicker returns on AI investments.

Bob Pette, Vice President of Enterprise Platforms at NVIDIA, commented on the accessibility that this solution provides: "Enterprises generate and store vast amounts of data, much of it unstructured and inaccessible to modern AI-driven applications. With the AI Data Platform reference design, stored data is accessible in real time on Hitachi iQ, giving applications access to full knowledge of the business and providing invaluable insights that strategically accelerate AI initiatives."

Further enhancing its service offerings, Hitachi Vantara has entered a strategic resell agreement with software company Hammerspace, assisting in handling the orchestration of extensive GenAI workloads.

This agreement aims to integrate Hammerspace's software with Hitachi Vantara's VSP One storage, thus supporting a wider range of data management processes from creation to protection.

The Hitachi iQ M Series offers flexible configurations characterised by a choice between high-performance file systems or global namespace file systems, along with an optional object storage repository. These configurations are tailored to meet the needs of diverse data types and workloads, serving businesses that operate within data-intensive sectors.

The addition of the iQ M Series to the Hitachi iQ portfolio forms part of an extensive suite of AI-enabled infrastructure solutions offered by Hitachi Vantara, including an AI Discovery Service.

This service helps clients identify valuable AI uses, assess data readiness, and develop a roadmap for successful AI adoption, further cementing the company's commitment to advancing AI accessibility in various industries.