The all-flash data center is inevitable

(November 2025) What’s the biggest shift happening in data storage right now?

Is it higher speed? Greater capacity? Or something more fundamental?

The defining trend isn’t any single feature, but a complete architectural overhaul that makes modern AI and computing possible.

“Having a full-flash, all-flash data center — I think this is unstoppable,” says Philippe Nicolas, Founder and Lead Analyst at Coldago Research.

In a Transform Talks interview with Huawei’s Executive Editor-in-Chief Gavin Allen, Nicolas explains that the move to all-flash storage is key to unifying data silos, slashing energy consumption, and delivering the massive throughput required for AI training and inference.

This shift will ensure that the next generation of data storage isn’t held back by legacy systems. And this transformation also has a green lining: the discussion highlights how extreme energy efficiency, validated by standards like ENERGY STAR, is no longer a bonus but a necessity.