Cloud Smart: Rebalancing the Hybrid Cloud Approach
Data insight begins at the edge, where it is generated and processed for real-time or near real-time analysis and action. This is why enterprises need to create edge experiences that are cloud-connected, and data enabled to unlock value of that data. Learn how to solve today’s challenges: Unprecedented data growth Increased distribution of workloads and work forces The right mix of hybrid cloud, including on-premises vs. off-premises; CAPEX vs. OPEX Costs of public cloud, including data movement and egress fees How to determine what types of data can be hosted in “the cloud” versus in private DC facilities Our speakers will review how you can: Adopt a data-centric mentality and philosophy Drive a unified service delivery and unified experiences across a multi-cloud environment Speed up decision velocity enterprise-wide via secure connectivity across edge to cloud Have choice, flexibility, and control of your data assets The webinar will be presented in English. Closed captioning in Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese will be available across AMER, EMEA and APAC broadcasts.Deploy a Global Hybrid Cloud on Equinix Metal in 30 minutes
Combine the benefits of a Private and Public cloud using Equinix Metal and VMware. In this Tech Talk, we'll cover how to use Equinix Metal and Equinix Fabric to globally deploy a VMware private cloud that is connected with your Public Clouds of choice. You'll learn to solve today's challenges: Solve hardware supply chain issues using Equinix Metal Bare-metal-as-a-service Move away from managing your datacenter environment with fully automated Infrastructure as a service Save on CAPEX with Pay as you go OPEX deployment model Connect your VMware Private Cloud to public clouds for integration solutions The webinar will be presented in English. Closed captioning in Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese will be available across AMER, EMEA and APAC broadcasts.SD-WAN Middle-Mile Optimization with Cisco and Equinix
Navigating cloud connectivity and SD-WAN is a constant challenge for IT teams. Public networks, while cost-effective, can fall short on security and performance. On the flip side, private networks offer unmatched reliability but often come with a hefty price tag and deployment headaches. In this 20-minute Tech Talk, immerse yourself in the seamless integration of Cisco SD-WAN Cloud Interconnect with Equinix Network Edge, and see how enterprises can enhance their network efficiency and provide better user experiences. Our experts will explain: The nuances of deploying SD-WAN: From models to crucial considerations Strategies for simplifying cloud connectivity with Cisco Cloud OnRamp and Equinix Network Edge Best practices for optimizing and securing cloud connectivity The blueprint for crafting a resilient and robust global backbone across the middle mile The steps in deploying Cisco SD-WAN Cloud Interconnect in minutes The webinar will be presented in English. Closed captioning in Spanish, Portuguese, French Canadian, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese will be available across AMER, EMEA and APAC broadcasts.AI/ML Solutions for Large-Scale Development and Deployment
Join Equinix at NVIDIA #GTC22 to hear the latest breakthroughs in AI and for our on-demand session where we’ll explore new consumption models for AI infrastructure that make it easier for enterprises to speed time-to-insight. About the Session In a recent survey, 91% of enterprise respondents indicated a preference for hybrid cloud infrastructure for AI development, and 93% said hosted/managed infrastructure services is critical to AI success. Businesses today are turning to new approaches that can simplify and expedite the process of delivering business-critical AI apps without the complexity of standing up their own infrastructure, or building out their own data centers. In this joint Equinix and NVIDIA session, we’ll explore new consumption models for AI infrastructure that make it easier for enterprises to speed time-to-insight.European Cloud Summit
With 1200+ attendees, the European Cloud Summit is the largest conference in Europe focused on Microsoft Azure, OpenAI, and Cloud Computing. Going to the European Cloud Summit offers more than just personal benefits. The knowledge you gain can be directly applied to help achieve your company's objectives. Expect to come back with practical strategies for improving operations and resource management, specifically in Microsoft Azure, Cloud Computing, and Artificial Intelligence. The European Cloud Summit takes networking to a new level. You won't just meet like-minded professionals; you'll also connect with Microsoft executives, leading industry experts, and MVPs. These relationships can become stepping stones for future collaborations, partnerships, or groundbreaking solutions for your company's challenges.BMaaS Will Play a Critical Role in Cloud Computing's Future for Customers
Join us for this Fireside Chat covering IDC’s White Paper: BMaaS (Bare Metal as a Service) Will Play a Critical Role in Cloud Computing's Future for Customers. Jack Hogan and Dave McCarthy will discuss: Why organizations are looking for alternatives to public cloud infrastructure without the management burden of on-premises data centers. What strategies exist for handling the disillusionment associated with public cloud costs while still operating in an as-a-service environment. How bare metal infrastructure is solving unique customer challenges by giving customers a fresh canvas to design their cloud with the use of any software stack components they like, and in a dedicated, private environment with the benefits of physical, single tenant hardware which they have the familiarity and skills needed to manage legacy workloads. About This Webinar The cloud computing market is evolving in a manner that blurs the lines between on-premises, edge, and public clouds. This is because customers can have the broad benefits of cloud – such as scalability, flexibility, and consumption-based pricing – in all these locations thanks to advancements in hardware and in the supporting software stack. Cloud customers increasingly want this flexibility, and vendors are working to meet the need.Get Multicloud Right
Join our upcoming 30-minute Tech Talk featuring Thomas Lee, Senior Product Manager, Equinix, and Kenneth Chau, Chief Technology Officer, PAO Bank. Their conversation will take you through three of the most common challenges with examples of how you can overcome the hurdles of unlocking the benefits of multicloud architectures through intentional multicloud networking: Improving user experience with cloud-adjacent networking resources Building a highly adaptable multicloud network Optimizing multicloud cost and available OPEX-based models Key takeaways for attending this webinar: Why multicloud is the new norm How you can navigate the sources of complexity in your multicloud networking The common challenges organizations face when deploying a multicloud architecture and the benefits of multicloud networking How you can unlock the full potential of your multicloud strategy What should be your AI strategy in multicloud networking The webinar will be presented in English. Closed captioning in Spanish, Portuguese, French Canadian, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese will be available across AMER, EMEA and APAC broadcasts.VMware Explore 2022
VMware Explore 2022 is taking place in Barcelona from November 7-10. We will be joining thousands of peers and experts at the event so we hope to see you in Spain. Schedule a meeting with our team of experts here and be sure to visit us at booth #613 during the event. Attend our speaking sessions at the event to learn all about how Equinix and VMware partner for hybrid multicloud infrastructures: New VMware Cloud Solution for Distributed Cloud [MCB2999EUR] Wednesday 9 Nov 14:00-14:30 Speakers: Ben Jenkins (Equinix, CTO) , Esteban Torres (Director, Product Management, VMware) Meet the Expert: New VMware Cloud Solution for Distributed Cloud [CEIM2998EUR] Wednesday 9 Nov 11:30-12:00 Speakers: Ben Jenkins (Equinix, CTO) , Esteban Torres (Director, Product Management, VMware) Thursday 10 Nov 10:30-11:00 Speakers: Ben Jenkins (Equinix, CTO) , Esteban Torres (Director, Product Management, VMware) Be sure to email us today at VMworld@equinix.com to schedule a meeting with our team of experts who will be onsite. See you in Spain!Nutanix Terraform Cluster Provisioning
Come join Equinix's Chris Privitere! Nutanix Terraform Cluster Provisioning simplifies the process of setting up cloud environments. By using a few lines of code, you can efficiently configure and deploy clusters. This method ensures a streamlined and consistent setup, reducing manual errors. It's a reliable solution for managing complex IT infrastructures.Your AI Network Blueprint: 7 Critical Questions for Hybrid and Multicloud Architects
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has moved beyond the lab and is now the engine of digital transformation, driving everything from real-time customer experiences to supply chain automation. Yet, the true performance of an AI model—its speed, reliability, and cost-efficiency doesn't just depend on the GPUs or the data science; it depends fundamentally on the network. For Network Architects, AI workloads present a new and complex challenge: how do you design a network that can handle the massive, sustained bandwidth demands of model training while simultaneously meeting the ultra-low-latency, real-time requirements of model inference? The wrong architecture can lead to GPU clusters sitting idle, costs skyrocketing, and AI projects stalling. In this deep-dive, we tackle the seven most critical networking questions for building a high-performance, cost-optimized AI infrastructure: What are the networking differences between AI training and inferencing? How much network bandwidth do AI models really need? What’s the optimal way to interconnect GPU clusters and storage to minimize latency? What’s the most efficient way to transfer multi-petabyte AI datasets between clouds? Best practices for protecting AI training data in transit? How to architect for resiliency for AI in multicloud environments? What are my options for connecting edge locations to cloud for real-time AI? We’ll show you how Equinix Fabric and Network Edge can help you dynamically provision the right connectivity for every phase of the AI lifecycle from petabyte-scale data transfers between clouds to real-time inference at the edge, turning your network from a constraint into an AI performance multiplier. Ready to dive into the definitive network blueprint for AI success? Let's get started. Q: What are the networking differences between AI training and inference? A. AI training and inference workloads impose distinct demands on connectivity, throughput, and latency, requiring network designs optimized for each phase. Training involves processing massive datasets, often multiple terabytes or more, across GPU clusters for iterative computations. This creates sustained, high-volume data flows between storage and compute, where congestion, packet loss, or latency can slow training and increase cost. Distributed training across multiple clouds or hybrid environments adds further complexity, demanding high-throughput interconnects and predictable routing to maintain synchronization and comply with data residency requirements. Inference workloads, by contrast, are latency-sensitive rather than bandwidth-heavy. Once a model is trained, tasks like real-time recommendations, image recognition, or sensor data processing depend on rapid network response times to deliver outputs close to users or devices. The network must handle variable transaction rates, distributed endpoints, and consistent policy enforcement without sacrificing responsiveness. A balanced approach addresses both needs: high-throughput interconnects accelerate data movement for training, while low-latency connections near edge locations support real-time inference. Equinix Fabric can enable private, high-bandwidth connectivity between on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments, helping minimize congestion and maintain predictable performance. Equinix Network Edge supports the deployment of virtualized network functions (VNFs) such as SD-WAN or firewalls close to compute and edge nodes, allowing flexible scaling, optimized routing, and consistent policy enforcement without physical hardware dependencies. In practice, training benefits from robust, high-throughput interconnects, while inference relies on low-latency, responsive links near the edge. Using Fabric and Network Edge together allows architects to provision network resources dynamically, maintain consistent performance, and scale globally as workload demands evolve, all without adding operational complexity. Q: How much network bandwidth do AI models really need? A. Bandwidth needs vary depending on the type of workload, dataset size, and deployment model. During training, large-scale models process vast datasets and generate sustained, high-throughput data movement between storage and compute. If bandwidth is constrained, GPUs may sit idle, extending training time and increasing costs. In distributed or hybrid setups, synchronization between nodes further amplifies bandwidth requirements. Inference, in contrast, generates smaller but more frequent transactions. Although the per-request bandwidth is lower, the network must accommodate bursts in traffic and maintain low latency for time-sensitive applications such as recommendation engines, autonomous systems, or IoT processing. An effective strategy treats bandwidth as an elastic resource aligned to workload type. Training environments need consistent, high-throughput interconnects to support data-intensive operations, while inference benefits from low-latency connectivity at or near the edge to handle bursts efficiently. Equinix Fabric can provide private, high-capacity interconnections between cloud, on-prem, and edge environments, enabling bandwidth to scale with workload demand and reducing reliance on public internet links. Equinix Network Edge allows VNFs, such as SD-WAN or WAN optimization, to dynamically manage traffic, compress data streams, and apply policy controls without additional physical infrastructure. By combining Fabric for dedicated capacity and Network Edge for adaptive control, organizations can right-size bandwidth, keep GPUs efficiently utilized, and manage cost and performance predictably. Q: What’s the optimal way to interconnect GPU clusters and storage to minimize latency? A. The interconnect between GPU clusters and storage is critical for AI performance. Training large models requires GPUs to continuously pull data from storage, so any latency or jitter along that path can leave compute resources underutilized. The goal is to establish high-throughput, low-latency, and deterministic data paths that keep GPUs saturated and workloads efficient. Proximity plays a major role; placing GPU clusters and storage within the same colocation environment or campus minimizes distance and round-trip time. Direct, private connectivity between these systems avoids internet variability and security exposure, while high-capacity links ensure consistent synchronization for distributed workloads. A sound architecture combines both physical and logical design principles: locating compute and storage close together, using private interconnects to reduce variability, and applying software-defined tools for optimization. Virtual network functions such as WAN optimization, SD-WAN, or traffic acceleration can help reduce jitter and enforce quality-of-service (QoS) policies for AI data flows. Equinix Fabric enables private, high-bandwidth interconnections between GPU clusters, storage systems, and cloud regions, supporting predictable, low-latency data transfer. For multi-cloud or hybrid designs, Fabric can provide on-demand, dedicated links to GPU or storage instances without relying on public internet routing. Equinix Network Edge can host VNFs such as WAN optimizers and SD-WAN close to compute and storage, helping enforce QoS and streamline traffic flows. Together, these capabilities support low-latency, high-throughput interconnects that improve GPU efficiency, accelerate training cycles, and reduce overall AI infrastructure costs. Q: What’s the most efficient way to transfer multi-petabyte AI datasets between clouds? A. Transferring large AI datasets across clouds can quickly become a performance bottleneck if network paths aren’t optimized for sustained throughput and predictable latency. Multi-petabyte transfers often span distributed storage and compute environments, where even small inefficiencies can delay model training and inflate costs. Efficiency starts with minimizing distance and maximizing control. Locating GPU clusters and storage within the same colocation environment or interconnection hub reduces round-trip latency. Establishing direct, private connectivity between environments avoids the variability, congestion, and security exposure of internet-based routing. For distributed training, high-capacity links with deterministic paths are essential to keep GPU nodes synchronized and maintain steady data flows. A well-architected interconnection strategy blends physical proximity with logical optimization. Physically, high-density interconnection hubs reduce latency; logically, private, high-throughput connections and advanced VNFs such as WAN optimizers or SD-WAN enhance performance by reducing jitter and enforcing quality-of-service (QoS) policies. Equinix Fabric can facilitate this model by providing dedicated, high-bandwidth connectivity between clouds, storage environments, and on-premises infrastructure, helping ensure consistent performance for large data transfers. Equinix Network Edge complements this with traffic optimization, encryption, and routing control near compute or storage nodes. Together, these capabilities can help organizations move multi-petabyte datasets efficiently and predictably between clouds, while reducing costs and operational complexity. Q: What are best practices for protecting AI training data in transit? A. AI training frequently involves transferring large volumes of sensitive data across distributed compute, storage, and cloud environments. These transfers can expose data to risks such as interception, tampering, or non-compliance if not properly secured. To mitigate these risks, organizations should combine private connectivity, encryption, segmentation, and continuous monitoring to maintain data integrity and compliance. End-to-end encryption with automated key management ensures that data remains protected while in motion and satisfies regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA. Network segmentation and zoning isolate sensitive data flows from other traffic, while monitoring and logging help detect anomalies or unauthorized access attempts in real time. Private, dedicated interconnections—such as those available through Equinix Fabric—can strengthen these protections by keeping sensitive data off the public internet. These links provide predictable performance and deterministic routing, ensuring data stays within controlled pathways across regions and providers. Equinix Network Edge enables the deployment of VNFs such as encryption gateways, firewalls, and secure VPNs near compute or storage nodes, providing localized protection and traffic inspection without additional hardware. VNFs for WAN optimization or integrity checking can also enhance throughput while maintaining security. Together, these measures help organizations maintain confidentiality and compliance for AI data in transit, protecting sensitive assets while preserving performance and scalability. Q: How should I architect for resiliency in multicloud AI environments? A. AI workloads that span data centers and cloud environments demand resilient, high-throughput network architectures that can maintain performance even under failure conditions. Without proper design, outages or routing inefficiencies can delay model training, underutilize GPUs, or drive up egress costs. Building resiliency starts with private, high-bandwidth interconnects that avoid the variability of the public internet. Equinix Fabric supports this by enabling direct, software-defined connections between on-premises data centers, multiple cloud regions, and AI storage systems, delivering predictable performance and deterministic routing. Resilience also depends on flexible service provisioning. Equinix Network Edge enables VNFs such as firewalls, SD-WAN, or load balancers to be deployed virtually at network endpoints, allowing traffic steering, dynamic failover, and policy enforcement without physical appliances. Combining redundant Fabric connections across cloud regions with Network Edge-based failover functions helps ensure business continuity if a link or region goes down. Visibility is another key component. Continuous monitoring and flow analytics help identify congestion, predict scaling needs, and verify policy compliance. Integrating private interconnection, virtualized network services, and comprehensive monitoring creates a network foundation that maintains performance, controls costs, and keeps AI workloads resilient across a distributed, multicloud architecture. Q: What are my options for connecting edge locations to cloud for real-time AI? A. Real-time AI applications, such as autonomous vehicles, industrial IoT, or retail analytics, depend on low-latency, reliable connections between edge sites and cloud services. Even millisecond delays can affect inference accuracy and responsiveness. The challenge lies in connecting distributed edge locations efficiently while maintaining predictable performance and security. Traditional approaches like internet-based VPNs are easy to deploy but suffer from variable latency and limited reliability. Dedicated leased lines or MPLS circuits offer consistent performance but are costly and slow to scale across many sites. A more flexible option is to use software-defined interconnection and virtualized network functions. Equinix Fabric enables direct, private, high-throughput connections from edge locations to multiple clouds, bypassing the public internet to ensure predictable latency and reliability. Equinix Network Edge extends this model by hosting VNFs, such as SD-WAN, firewalls, and traffic accelerators, close to edge nodes. These functions provide localized control, dynamic routing, and consistent security enforcement across distributed environments. Organizations can also adopt a hybrid connectivity model, using private Fabric links for critical real-time traffic and internet-based tunnels for non-critical or backup flows. Combined with intelligent traffic orchestration and monitoring, this approach balances performance, resilience, and cost. The result is an edge-to-cloud architecture capable of supporting real-time AI workloads with consistency, flexibility, and scale.
