NTT DATA, digital business and technology services, has announced a major advancement in its 30-year partnership with Cisco. The company has revealed the launch of AI-powered Software Defined Infrastructure (SDI) services for Cisco’s infrastructure and software products.

This move reinforces the long-standing collaboration between the two companies. The goal is to support organizations in modernizing their IT infrastructure and accelerating digital transformation.

Aditya Afzulpurkar, Senior Vice President of Technology Solutions at NTT DATA, stated that the new SDI services reflect their strategic vision. He said the AI-powered services offer proactive, intelligent automation to help organizations align hardware and software with business needs.

He added, “We are proud of our evolving partnership with Cisco. Together, we are moving beyond traditional services to solve real business challenges in the AI era.”

NTT DATA also reported that modern infrastructure demands non-traditional solutions. According to its 2024 GenAI research:

• 80% of organizations agree outdated tech slows innovation.
• 94% of C-suite leaders say legacy systems limit business agility.

Despite urgency, Cisco’s 2024 AI Readiness Index revealed only 13% of organizations are fully ready to leverage AI.

Leslie Rosenberg, IDC’s Research Vice President, noted that businesses need partners offering automation, intelligence, and results. She emphasized that SDI services deliver on all fronts, transforming how enterprises manage IT infrastructure.

NTT DATA’s new services for Cisco products include intelligent automation and real-time insights. These features help optimize infrastructure, reduce costs, and improve outcomes.

The company has invested heavily in AI to ensure consistent results, asset management, and operational efficiency.

Shannon Leininger, Vice President of Global Partner Sales at Cisco, commented on the announcement. She said NTT DATA will now offer AI-powered digital infrastructure services to support future-proof workplaces and AI-ready data centers.

She added this will combine networking and security to deliver a modern digital infrastructure for the AI era.

Key capabilities of NTT DATA’s AI-powered SDI services include:

• Outcomes-based success plans with clear goals and accountability.
• AI-driven reliability to reduce downtime and improve system performance.
• Smart license management to avoid software issues and control costs.

Other features include business-aligned technology strategies and seamless digital access via a mobile app. The app provides instant updates on requests, risks, licenses, and AI insights.

NTT DATA is currently Cisco’s only Gold partner in 34 countries. At the 2024 Cisco Partner Summit, NTT DATA earned 40 awards, including three global Partner of the Year honors.

Together, they have supported over 4,000 enterprises globally. Their services span small branch networks to global infrastructures, including private 5G.

The AI-powered SDI services are now available worldwide. NTT DATA will showcase these innovations live at Cisco Live Americas 2025 on June 9.

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