NetApp and Google Cloud Enhance Partnership to Fuel Generative AI and Hybrid Cloud Workloads

NetApp, a leader in intelligent data infrastructure, has announced an expansion of its partnership with Google Cloud, marking a significant leap forward in making data more accessible for generative AI (GenAI) and hybrid cloud workloads. This collaboration introduces the Flex service level for Google Cloud NetApp Volumes, accommodating storage volumes of nearly any size, and unveils a preview of NetApp’s GenAI toolkit reference architecture. This architecture is designed for retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) operations utilizing the Google Cloud Vertex AI platform, aiming to streamline and secure AI data pipelines.

More Flexible Data Storage Options for Google Cloud NetApp Volumes

NetApp and Google Cloud have unveiled the Flex service level for NetApp Volumes, providing customers with unparalleled control to fine-tune their storage to meet the specific demands of their cloud workloads. Pravjit Tiwana, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Cloud Storage at NetApp, emphasized the importance of this new offering in delivering a unified data storage solution that enhances organizational agility in data management across cloud environments.

The Flex service level complements existing service levels—Standard, Premium, and Extreme—by offering highly scalable storage volumes that support a broad spectrum of use cases, including AI applications. This service is set to become generally available in 15 Google Cloud regions by Q2 2024, with plans to expand further by the end of the year.

Unlocking Enterprise Data for Generative AI in Google Cloud

NetApp’s introduction of its GenAI toolkit, supporting NetApp Volumes, represents a strategic advancement in deploying RAG operations. This toolkit, coupled with its reference architecture, is designed to facilitate secure, consistent, and automated workflows. These workflows connect data stored in NetApp Volumes with the Google Cloud Vertex AI platform, thereby enhancing the generation of high-quality insights and automations.

Pravjit Tiwana Senior Vice President and General Manager, Cloud Storage at NetApp highlighted the strategic significance of this toolkit in enabling customers to leverage Google Cloud’s AI services and models and said,  “As the intelligent data infrastructure company, we have unmatched capabilities to support data classification, tagging, mobility, and cloning for data wherever it lives so our customers can run efficient and secure AI data pipelines.Building on our partnership with Google Cloud to streamline RAG enables customers to tap into market-leading AI services and models to generate a unique competitive advantage.”

Miles Ward, CTO at SADA said “GenAI is a tidal wave of opportunity for the companies that can effectively apply their data to their industry.” 

“At SADA we are fired up about pairing our extensive expertise with NetApp and Vertex AI to help customers accelerate their AI journeys. Why generate uninformed chats when you could generate unique, specific, relevant insights?”

About NetApp

NetApp stands as the epitome of intelligent data infrastructure innovation, offering a comprehensive blend of unified data storage, integrated data services, and CloudOps solutions. The company is dedicated to transforming the challenges of disruption into opportunities, providing clients with a competitive advantage through advanced data management, cyber resilience, and application agility. As a pioneer in enterprise-grade storage services embedded in the world’s leading clouds, NetApp ensures seamless data flexibility, governance, and observability, empowering customers to realize their full business potential.