Why AI workloads are changing the infrastructure game

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer an emerging technology—it’s the engine behind competitive advantage. Whether it’s real-time fraud detection, hyper-personalised healthcare, autonomous logistics, or predictive maintenance, AI and machine learning (ML) are now powering mission-critical outcomes across industries.

But here’s the catch: legacy infrastructure wasn’t built for the volume, velocity, and variety of AI workloads. Traditional environments often buckle under the demands of high-performance computing, GPU acceleration, and massive unstructured data flows.

Enterprise IT leaders now face a daunting challenge: how to build AI-ready infrastructure that’s not only powerful, but secure, scalable, and future-proof. From managing surging data volumes to maintaining continuity and performance across hybrid environments, the challenges are as complex as the opportunities AI presents.

According to ADAPT, 61% of Australian organisations are reevaluating their cloud strategy, often repatriating workloads due to performance, sovereignty, and cost concerns. These same pressures apply to AI—and in many ways, they’re amplified. Which brings us to the infrastructure model leading the way: Cisco FlexPod.

What ‘AI-ready infrastructure’ actually means

When we talk about ‘AI-ready infrastructure,’ we’re not just talking GPUs.

AI infrastructure must support the entire lifecycle of model development and deployment—from data ingestion and transformation to model training, inference, and continuous optimisation. This demands:

• High-performance, GPU-accelerated compute
• Low-latency, high-throughput storage
• Secure, flexible networking
• End-to-end interoperability and real-time analytics

That’s where Cisco FlexPod, integrated with NetApp storage, shines. Designed for mixed workloads, FlexPod delivers seamless scalability and integrated management. Whether you’re training complex ML models or running inference on edge devices, FlexPod helps you consolidate infrastructure and reduce AI deployment complexity—without sacrificing performance or control.

Learn more about Interactive’s FlexPod solution

Introducing AI Pods: Australia’s first live enterprise AI environment

Interactive’s groundbreaking deployment of AI Pods

Interactive is proud to be the first in Australia to deploy a live AI Pod environment, powered by Cisco FlexPod and NetApp. Located in our ISO-certified, sovereign Australian data centres, these AI Pods represent a leap forward in enterprise AI enablement.

Purpose-built for complex AI use cases

AI Pods aren’t conceptual—they’re built for action. Think overnight actuarial models, AI-driven imaging analysis, or large-scale customer data processing. These environments are purpose-engineered to support complex, compute-intensive tasks, so businesses can operationalise AI without building everything from scratch.

Test, train, and scale in a production-grade AI Lab

Want to trial an AI use case before scaling? You can do that right now. Interactive’s AI Pods offer a fully operational AI lab, letting you test, train, and iterate AI models in a production-grade environment. It’s a hands-on, risk-mitigated path from pilot to production.

Power behind the Pod: FlexPod & NetApp for AI

Why FlexPod? Because AI success depends on the right foundations.

Cisco FlexPod combines compute, networking, and storage in one converged, scalable architecture. It’s proven to accelerate time to insight and reduce complexity for AI and ML workloads.

NetApp AI storage plays a critical role in ensuring fast, secure data pipelines—essential for machine learning model training, data preparation, and inference.

Together, FlexPod and NetApp offer:

• High-speed data throughput
• Intelligent tiered storage
• Built-in data protection and compliance features
• Seamless scalability to support AI growth

This infrastructure is designed for the entire AI lifecycle—from pilot models to production-grade deployments.

Learn more about our NetApp partnership.

From pilot to production: How Interactive supports scalable AI adoption

AI deployment doesn’t stop at infrastructure. It requires guidance, governance, and agility.

Interactive helps customers scale AI securely through:

• AI Pods hosted in ISO-certified, sovereign Australian data centres
• Cisco-supported infrastructure for reliability and resilience
• Compliance-first frameworks to address regulatory risk
• Business continuity and advisory services to ensure AI success from day one

Whether you’re just beginning your AI journey or ready to operationalise models, Interactive provides the expertise and infrastructure to get you there—securely and at scale.

Get started with scalable, secure AI infrastructure

Enterprise AI starts with the right foundation. Interactive’s AI Pods—powered by Cisco FlexPod and NetApp—offer a ready-to-run platform for testing, training, and deploying high-performance AI models.

We have you covered:

• AI-ready infrastructure
• GPU acceleration
• Hybrid deployment options
• Local support and advisory
• Compliance and security built in

Let’s design an infrastructure that meets your AI ambitions.

Contact us today to explore how our AI Pods and FlexPod architecture can help you scale securely—from pilot to production.

Frequently asked questions

What is AI-ready infrastructure?

It’s a converged system combining compute, storage, and networking optimised for AI workloads, including real-time analytics and model training.

How does FlexPod support AI workloads?

FlexPod integrates Cisco UCS compute and NetApp storage, enabling fast data pipelines, GPU support, and scalable infrastructure for AI use cases.

What are the benefits of AI Pods in Australia?

AI Pods offer local, secure environments for enterprise-grade AI development, supported by sovereign hosting and compliance frameworks.

How can businesses scale their AI deployments securely?

With Interactive’s AI Pods, businesses gain scalable infrastructure, compliance controls, and advisory services to accelerate secure AI adoption.