NetApp deepens Google Cloud tie-up with Gemini rollout

NetApp has expanded its partnership with Google Cloud with a new unified storage service and an internal rollout of Gemini Enterprise. The announcement also coincides with NetApp receiving Google Cloud's 2026 Infrastructure Modernisation Partner of the Year for Storage award.

The latest update makes the Flex Unified service in Google Cloud NetApp Volumes generally available in all Google Cloud regions. It combines file and block storage in a single pool, allowing customers to move existing enterprise data into Google Cloud and use Google services, including AI tools, without moving or duplicating that data again.

The move reflects a broader push by infrastructure providers to reduce the operational burden that has slowed AI projects in large organisations. Many companies want to use data already stored in existing systems for AI applications, but run into problems with migration, duplicated datasets, and separate storage environments for different workloads.

Google Cloud NetApp Volumes is aimed at that point of friction. Customers can run enterprise applications, databases, and AI workloads in the cloud without redesigning their environments, while Flex Unified brings file and block workloads together under a single service level.

“Customers can move their enterprise data, whether block or file, into Google Cloud NetApp Volumes easily, and once it's there, they can use Google Cloud services, including for AI, directly on that data without needing to move or duplicate it again,” said Pravjit Tiwana, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cloud Storage and Services at NetApp.

Tiwana said the updates remove a major source of cost, delay, and complexity in AI adoption.

Google said the arrangement is part of a wider effort to make enterprise data more accessible for AI models and applications.

“The key to AI innovation is AI-ready data, which requires flexible, unified architecture that enables data to be fluid, not siloed,” said Sameet Agarwal, Vice President and General Manager, Storage, for Google Cloud.

He said the continued collaboration with NetApp removes the traditional friction of data migration, enabling organisations to move more quickly with Google Cloud's data and AI services.

Internal Use

Alongside the infrastructure changes, NetApp has adopted Gemini Enterprise across its product development and sales teams. It described the move as an internal use of the same Google Cloud AI tools it offers customers through the NetApp Volumes environment.

The rollout is aimed at product teams and commercial operations. According to NetApp, sales teams are using AI to match customers to products more quickly and streamline onboarding, cutting sales ramp time by an estimated month. Product development teams are using Gemini Enterprise to shorten development cycles through AI-driven insights.

“AI is an imperative for enterprise success, and NetApp is committed to leading by example,” said Cesar Cernuda, President at NetApp.

Cernuda said adopting Gemini Enterprise to accelerate internal sales and development workflows builds on the company's role in enterprise AI, and gives customers practical expertise to draw on as they adopt or build AI systems of their own.

NetApp said the decision followed its work with Google Cloud on NetApp Volumes and the Gemini Enterprise data connector. That combination, it said, showed productivity gains in data-driven decision-making and day-to-day operations.

“Our ongoing collaboration with Google Cloud is accelerating how enterprises put AI to work with trusted, enterprise-grade data,” said Tiwana.

He added that customers can bring data from the NetApp data platform to Gemini Enterprise through Google Cloud NetApp Volumes while maintaining the security and control associated with ONTAP. Seeing the impact on decision-making and productivity at scale made internal adoption a natural next step, he said.

Google Cloud said NetApp's internal adoption shows how channel partners are beginning to deploy the same AI systems they recommend to customers.

“Gemini Enterprise is unlocking tangible business outcomes and fundamentally reshaping how enterprises operate,” said Kevin Ichhpurani, President, Global Partner Ecosystem, Google Cloud.

Ichhpurani said NetApp is an example of a partner acting as an AI practitioner by adopting Gemini Enterprise internally to reshape product development and sales operations, while also helping joint customers do the same with their own proprietary data.

Award Recognition

The closer alignment with Google Cloud comes as NetApp collects its seventh Google Cloud Partner of the Year award. This year's honour, Infrastructure Modernisation Partner of the Year for Storage, recognises work tied to Google Cloud NetApp Volumes and customer efforts to move enterprise workloads into Google Cloud.

“The Google Cloud Partner Awards honor the strategic innovation and measurable value our partners bring to customers,” said Kevin Ichhpurani, President, Global Partner Ecosystem and Channels, Google Cloud.

He said Google was proud to name NetApp a 2026 Google Cloud Partner Award winner for its role in driving customer success over the past year.

Tiwana said the recognition reflects ongoing work to help customers shift workloads without redesigning existing applications.

“This recognition for the seventh time reflects the work we've done with Google Cloud to help customers run enterprise workloads in the cloud without rearchitecting,” said Tiwana.

He added that Google Cloud NetApp Volumes lets customers bring data into Google Cloud and use it for applications and AI without adding complexity.