As digital transformation accelerates in Belgium, the infrastructure conversation is evolving. Enterprises are no longer debating the merits of storing data in the cloud versus on-premises: they’re designing hybrid data centre strategies that combine the strengths of both while delivering agility, control, and resilience.
In Belgium, the urgency for hybrid transformation is clear. While 90% of executives trust their IT infrastructure, only two in five believe it’s ready for the future, according to The Kyndryl Readiness Report. This disconnect between confidence and readiness is pushing IT leaders to rethink traditional data centre models and underscores the need for hybrid architectures that balance innovation with resilience. As enterprises embrace experimentation, hybrid data centres offer a pragmatic path forward, enabling agility, compliance, and sustainability in equal measure.
A hybrid data centre is not a compromise. It’s a deliberate architecture choice that allows organisations to place workloads where they make the most sense, across hyperscaler clouds, colocation facilities, and sovereign edge environments. This “cloud smart” approach is gaining traction in Belgium, where regulations, energy efficiency goals, and latency-sensitive applications demand nuanced infrastructure decisions.
A leading example of this transformation is a large global retailer with a presence in Belgium. Faced with ageing infrastructure in its Brussels headquarters, the retailer partnered with Kyndryl to migrate 100% of its on-premises systems to a Tier 3+ hybrid cloud data centre in southern Belgium, without any business downtime. In parallel, over 700 store servers were modernised and moved to Google Cloud Platform, enabling consistent in-store experiences and laying the foundation for future AI-driven retail innovation.
As hybrid architectures mature, we’re also seeing a strategic resurgence of on-premises AI systems within the mix. For Belgian enterprises navigating regulatory complexity, latency-sensitive workloads, and digital sovereignty concerns, deploying AI closer to the data source within modernised on-prem environments offers distinct advantages. Kyndryl’s Agentic AI Framework, for instance, is designed to scale across hybrid estates, enabling intelligent agents to operate securely and efficiently whether in the cloud, at the edge, or on-prem. This flexibility ensures that AI innovation aligns with infrastructure realities, unlocking performance without compromising control.
Beyond technology, financial realities are also reshaping infrastructure strategies. While cloud platforms offer scalability and innovation, many organisations are finding that full cloud adoption doesn’t always deliver the expected return on investment. Hybrid data centres allow for better cost control, workload optimisation, and operational flexibility, especially in sectors with fluctuating demand or strict compliance requirements.
Technological specialisation is another driver of hybrid environments. The rapid evolution of cooling systems, energy management, and power supply makes it increasingly difficult for enterprises to maintain proprietary data centres. Hybrid models enable access to cutting-edge capabilities through trusted colocation partners, while retaining control over mission-critical workloads.
In Belgium, the hybrid model is also a response to sustainability mandates and digital sovereignty concerns. Colocation providers are held to rigorous standards, and their infrastructure is often more energy-efficient and compliant than bespoke enterprise setups. This makes hybrid data centres a compelling option for organisations seeking to modernise responsibly.
Ultimately, hybrid data centres empower businesses to align infrastructure with strategy. They support innovation without sacrificing control, and they enable resilience without compromising agility. For Belgian enterprises navigating complex digital landscapes, hybrid models aren’t just smart, they are essential for future-ready growth.