Oracle is undertaking several steps as it articulates what the future holds for the tech major. From discussing the shift to autonomous cloud, driving forward a multi-cloud strategy and investing more in a new generation of security tools, the company has much on its plate.
One of the key areas to watch out for is its strategy around the autonomous cloud and why this is becoming a core shift for the company. At the Oracle CloudWorld 2024, Larry Ellison, the chairman of the board and Oracle’s chief technology officer outlined a bold vision for the future of Oracle’s cloud strategy, emphasising that by 2025, all of Oracle will operate on an autonomous cloud. Ellison’s core message on this is that “no human labour, no human error”. He made it clear that autonomous systems, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), are the key to minimising mistakes, enhancing security and maximising efficiency.
Eliminating The Error
He highlighted the role of autonomous cloud technology in revolutionising the way Oracle’s infrastructure operates. Describing how traditional systems rely on human oversight often leads to errors, he cited incidents such as data breaches caused by improper configurations. In contrast, the autonomous cloud leverages AI to automate everything, which is from system configuration and data backup to scaling and disaster recovery, without the risk of human error.
"Almost all cyberattacks begin with human error," Ellison stated, stressing that Oracle's autonomous systems eliminate that vulnerability. These systems manage themselves, continuously monitor for issues, and take corrective actions without human intervention.
The move to a fully autonomous cloud is not only about security but also about cost efficiency. Oracle’s autonomous database is designed to handle everything from data management to application performance autonomously, ensuring scalability and performance at lower operational costs.
Positioned itself at the forefront of the autonomous cloud revolution, by 2025, Oracle will migrate its entire suite of applications to the autonomous cloud, providing enhanced reliability and security. “This is Oracle’s commitment to delivering the most advanced, secure cloud infrastructure,” Ellison said.
Time For A Multi-cloud World
Oracle’s multi-cloud vision is based on the fact that the future of cloud computing lies in interconnected systems. Ellison spoke on how Oracle has embedded its Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) data centres in major cloud providers such as AWS, Google and Microsoft to give customers greater flexibility.
This collaboration across various cloud environments allows companies to mix and match services from different providers. This multi-cloud approach ensures that customers are not limited by infrastructure, enabling them to choose the best solutions from various vendors without sacrificing integration.
Another big area of focus for the company is the private cloud space. The private clouds, which are identical to Oracle’s public cloud counterparts, give its customers the ability to run secure, isolated environments. Ellison explained that this is particularly attractive to industries with strict data regulations, such as financial services or government sectors. He referenced Oracle’s work with NTT and Fujitsu in Japan, including powering the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Oracle's cloud.
The Security Future
Security was another major theme in Ellison’s keynote. He explained Oracle’s approach to improving cloud security through AI, focusing on eliminating human error also in areas such as password management and application security. He strongly advocated for the use of biometric authentication, dismissing traditional password systems as obsolete and vulnerable. According to him, biometric systems such as facial recognition and fingerprint authentication offer a much more secure and user-friendly alternative.
Speaking on Oracle’s advancements in AI-based code generation, he said, “By using tools such as Oracle’s Apex, we are improving the efficiency of application development while enhancing security. These generated applications are less prone to security vulnerabilities, ensuring that they are recoverable and scalable without human intervention.”
Oracle’s way forward is prioritising collaboration and finding solutions together. Its investment in AI and automation will be an important area to watch out for.
BW Businessworld is attending SuiteWorld in Las Vegas as a guest of Oracle CloudWorld 2024
