Dell Survey: 72% of South Korean Companies Lack AI Infrastructure, Modernizing Data Centers Becomes Top Priority

Artificial intelligence technology is rapidly entering the enterprise application phase, and AI infrastructure has become a key component of digital transformation for businesses. Dell Technologies recently pointed out at the "Dell Technologies Forum 2026" event held in South Korea that while many companies are actively exploring AI applications, they still face numerous challenges in areas such as data centers, data governance, and security management. The next two years will be a critical window for enterprises to enhance their AI capabilities.

At the event, the President of Dell Technologies Korea stated that an increasing number of companies view AI as a new growth opportunity. However, during the actual implementation process, they still need to address multiple issues, including security, regulation, data governance, and infrastructure readiness. He noted that Dell Technologies aims to provide long-term technical planning for enterprises through an end-to-end product portfolio and an open ecosystem, assisting companies in leveraging AI to create real business value.

Enterprises Face Challenges in AI Implementation; Data Center Modernization is a Top Priority

Matt Dunphy, Senior Vice President at Dell Technologies headquarters, stated in his keynote speech that enterprises have now entered a phase where they need to create tangible business outcomes through AI. He believes that in the face of rapid changes brought about by AI, companies need to focus on three key areas: data center modernization, secure and trustworthy AI expansion, and the construction of modern office environments.

According to the "2026 Modern Enterprise Readiness Survey" released by Dell, companies are still under significant pressure during their AI transformation process. The survey shows that 87% of respondents reported difficulties in coping with the rapidly changing business environment, and 66% of companies believe that the development direction of their industry in the next 3 to 5 years is hard to predict. Among them, insufficient AI infrastructure has become a significant barrier to advancing AI applications, with 72% of respondents from South Korean companies believing that the current data center environment cannot adequately support large-scale AI and data analytics workloads.

The report also noted that 84% of companies are planning to advance data center modernization through the integration of old equipment, upgrading servers, and storage devices to reduce infrastructure complexity and provide more stable computing power for AI applications. Dell Technologies stated that these initiatives help enterprises maintain system reliability as AI workloads continue to grow.

Security Compliance and Endpoint Device Issues Are Major Concerns

In addition to hardware infrastructure, security and compliance issues also affect the pace of AI deployment in enterprises. The survey shows that 75% of South Korean respondents believe that there are challenges in meeting regulatory requirements related to AI data, and 65% of companies indicated that security and compliance issues have become significant factors delaying or even halting AI applications. Furthermore, 60% of enterprises expressed concerns about inputting critical business data into generative AI tools that may be accessed by third parties, making data control and security a focal point for businesses.

As new AI applications such as agent-based AI continue to develop, the demands on endpoint device capabilities are also increasing. Dell Technologies pointed out that in future AI work environments, employees' personal devices will play a more critical role. Survey data indicates that 90% of South Korean respondents believe that modernized devices can significantly enhance meeting and collaboration efficiency, while 87% of companies consider outdated devices to be a barrier in promoting AI applications. Dell Technologies stated that enterprises must simultaneously advance infrastructure and endpoint device upgrades to remain competitive in the wave of AI applications.