Is Your IT Infrastructure Ready to Support AI Integration?

Artificial intelligence is becoming a key part of all areas of our lives, including our work: Surveys show that 65% of organizations use generative AI in their regular operations. Taking advantage of AI tools opens the door to a wide range of possibilities that can give your business the competitive edge you've been looking for.

However, not all tech systems have the necessary computing, storage, and network to effectively support an AI infrastructure. Today's post will help you determine whether or not your business is prepared for AI integration—and what you can do to get ready.

How Will a New AI Infrastructure Affect My IT?

Launching new AI tools can give your business access to detailed analytics, quicker service, efficient data sorting and management, and more, but these benefits don't come without a cost. AI applications work by processing huge amounts of data, running real-time analytics, and utilizing machine learning models, all of which require significant bandwidth and resources.

Your current hardware and software must be able to handle high computing loads, store large data sets, and support sufficient security measures to avoid system crashes and expensive downtime. Let's take a close look at each of these challenges, including what you can do to combat them.

What Does My Tech Need to Be Ready for AI?

Preparing for these challenges is incredibly doable, and it all starts with understanding exactly how an AI infrastructure will impact different parts of your infrastructure.

Computing Power

Because of the complex calculations and sheer amount of data AI uses for analyses, it requires devices that can support high-performance processing. Standard computers often struggle to keep up, so you may need to switch to specialized hardware like GPUs or cloud-based solutions. These tools ensure that AI systems can run smoothly and deliver results without interruptions.

Network Infrastructure

AI workloads often require high bandwidth to transfer large datasets quickly and reliably, putting extra pressure on your network. Also, latency—the time it takes for data to travel across the network—can impact how smoothly your AI tools perform, especially for real-time calculations or content generation. A strong, stable connection is key to keeping everything running efficiently.

Data Storage and Management

Managing large AI datasets means your tech needs to handle massive amounts of information smoothly. This requires a reliable system for storing data and strategies to organize it efficiently so it’s easy to access. Without proper planning, your existing setup might struggle to keep up, which could affect the performance of your AI infrastructure and result in expensive downtime.

Cybersecurity and Compliance

AI models often rely on sensitive business and customer information, making it critical to put the proper protections in place. Carefully control how AI apps pull data and secure the models themselves against unauthorized access. This includes encrypting data, securing access points, and regularly monitoring for threats.

How Can I Prepare for an AI Infrastructure?

These basic steps will help you get your tech ready to handle the challenges that can accompany a new AI infrastructure and minimize downtime or hiccups during the transition.

• Upgrade Hardware and Software: Confirm that your systems are compatible with AI apps, and make sure they're equipped to support the increased computational and processing demands.

• Support Scalability with Cloud Solutions: Adopt cloud platforms to provide the flexibility and scalability needed for the increased workloads and data volume. 

• Enhance Data Management & Governance: Implement strategies and stricter policies to organize, secure, and optimize data so that AI apps can interact smoothly and securely with your databases.

• Strengthen Cybersecurity Measures: Re-evaluate your cybersecurity framework and be sure it protects data sufficiently and accounts for how AI systems pull and share information from your systems.

How Can a Professional IT Provider Help?

One of the best things you can do to prepare for your new AI infrastructure is to recruit help from a managed service provider (MSP). The experts at these companies have the skills and tools necessary to run a thorough assessment of your current setup and develop a detailed roadmap for how AI can fit into your existing systems.

They can offer specific insights into cloud and on-site AI deployment, ensure your AI programs align with proper data security and compliance policies, and provide ongoing support and maintenance for your new AI applications. In short, they can make launching your new AI plan seamless, safe, and efficient, leaving you time to focus on core operations.

Get AI Ready with ICS

You should be able to look towards the future of your technology with confidence. Our goal at ICS is to help you do just that. Whether you're preparing to launch a new AI infrastructure or just looking for ways to take your technology to the next level, our team of experts is here to help with cutting-edge tools, proactive solutions, and personalized service.

Schedule a meeting with a team member to talk about getting your tech ready for the future.

Fill out our form to get started with a consultation.