01732 759725 22 60 seconds VMstore T7000 hardware platform, giving customers the flexibility to deploy Tintri technologies outside the private data centre. TCE is purpose-built for virtualized workloads, opening the door to new levels of infrastructure efficiency in hybrid cloud ecosystems. In Europe, we are seeing the adoption of virtual machines (VMs) for production roll outs, sandbox and CICD workloads. A VM-inclusive topology enables customers’ data scientists to seamlessly test and deploy within traditional production application roll-outs. We have already seen massive improvements to our customers’ workflows and all the signs point to a big ramp-up in 2024. We are also seeing opportunities in ‘Cloud as a Service’. Increasingly, channel partners are diversifying their value-add by building out their own infrastructure to offer cloud-like ‘as a service’ or managed services options, enabling buyers to choose the optimal solution for different applications, as opposed to blanket adoption with ever-increasing monthly ingress and egress charges. Looking further ahead, generative AI will present challenges (and opportunities) for IT environments which, in addition to handling exponential data storage demands, will need to upscale to support rapid production, development and workload scenarios. Vendors and channel partners will need to provide the correct solution and to work with customers to ensure its scalability. TR: Did you get into IT by accident or design? MW: A bit of both! As a young biochemist I worked in research, then pharmaceutical sales. On a beach holiday I read Odyssey – from Pepsi to Apple and decided there and then that I wanted to work in IT sales. Within six months, I was selling Apple desktop publishing systems in the graphics industry. TR: If you could swap your current job for any other what would it be? MW: I’m immensely proud of the work my wife does with children who have Special Educational Needs, so I think I would devote myself to that sector. Mark Walsh is VP EMEA of Tintri, a provider of VM-aware data management solutions that combine autonomous workload optimisation, real-time insights and AI-driven analytics to reduce storage management costs by up to 95%. Technology Reseller (TR): What have been your business highlights of the last 12 months? Mark Walsh (MW): We have expanded our reach into various UK markets, particularly within the public sector, where Tintri’s cost/benefit value proposition really resonates with IT departments that, faced with tightening IT budgets and skillset constraints, are required to do more with less. We have also expanded our footprint in the MEA regions, where we are experiencing new customer wins and a surge in sales as our focus on support and increased marketing efforts bear fruit. TR: What is currently having the greatest impact on your business? MW: Last year, economic uncertainty in Europe meant customers took longer to make buying decisions. Any delay in upgrading legacy equipment inevitably leads to issues with dated equipment (often out of support contract), with knockon effects for vendors and customers. Companies like Tintri will endeavour to help loyal customers, but doing so does put a strain on resources for all parties. The long-term costs of running legacy equipment may be greater than simply upgrading it! TR: Where do you see the next big opportunity for Tintri and its partners? MW: Cloud-based solutions have huge potential for us, following last year’s launch of the Tintri Cloud Platform (TCP). Providing the scalability and flexibility of a Tintri VMstore-powered managed cloud infrastructure, this turnkey offering delivers host-in-cloud and process-in-cloud capabilities, plus Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), ensuring continuity of critical workloads in the event of a disaster. At the same time, we launched the Tintri Cloud Engine (TCE), which decouples Tintri’s AI-powered software from the 60 seconds with... Mark Walsh, VP EMEA, Tintri Mark Walsh TR: What’s the best bit of business advice you’ve been given? MW: Everybody makes mistakes. Own them, apologise and learn from them. TR: Have you ever had any embarrassing moments at work? MW: Lots! I once had a roomful of busy doctors waiting for a presentation, but I had brought the wrong slide deck…in the days of 35mm slides and overhead projectors, which really dates me. TR: What would make your day job easier? MW: Truly autonomous vehicles, so I could work while being driven to appointments! Until then, it would be really useful to have working WiFi on trains. Please, Avanti! TR: What is your favourite quote and why? MW: ‘Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right!’ (Henry Ford). Because it shows the power of positive thinking, and the destructiveness of negativity. TR: What’s on your playlist at the moment? MW: Roachford’s new album, Then and Now. I’ve been a fan since my student days – he’s an awesome musician and writer and a thoroughly lovely guy! TR: What’s your most used app? MW: Probably Facebook! I know it can be ‘The Devil’, but there is a wealth of feelgood positivity on there if you curate your connections carefully. TR: How do you like to spend your spare time? MW: With my wife, family and pets … three rescue dogs, two cats, two horses (both rescued) … oh, and three grown-up kids! TR: Fine dining and good wine or curry and a pint? MW: Curry and a pint every time, although I do love a nice Red! TR: Favourite holiday destination? MW: Italy! I’ve loved it since we honeymooned in Sardinia 27 years ago … Bellissima!!
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