From hybrid clouds to AI-optimized arrays, NetApp demonstrated how enterprises can turn data into a true competitive advantage. In his key takeaways from the Tech Field Day Experience at NetApp INSIGHT 2025, Stephen Foskett explores how NetApp is transforming storage for the AI era. Key takeaways highlight the company’s AI-focused innovations: the AI Data Engine simplifies deployment and operations while making data queryable, versioned, and RAG-ready across hybrid and multi-cloud environments; NetApp AFX, a next-generation disaggregated storage array, scales compute and storage independently while retaining core ONTAP features and delivering high-performance AI-ready workloads; and the NetApp Data Platform offers cloud-native, hyperscaler-integrated storage services with both self-managed and storage-as-a-service options. Across all offerings, NetApp emphasizes that data is the bedrock of AI innovation, providing enterprises with a unified, scalable platform for AI, analytics, and multi-cloud adoption, solving real-world data challenges rather than chasing trends.