Commvault, a multinational corporation engaged in data protection for the hybrid cloud, is doubling down on its long-term commitment to China, citing the country's robust economic growth and rapid advancement in digital innovation as key drivers of its future strategy in the market.

"We believe that China's economy holds tremendous growth potential. In 2024, China's GDP grew by 5 percent year-on-year, ranking among the top major economies globally and serving as a key driver of worldwide economic growth," said Kevin Lu, spokesman for Commvault.

As China accelerates its digital transformation, data security has become increasingly crucial to business operations and economic development. Lu said Commvault views China's thriving digital economy as a major opportunity for its further growth in China. In 2023 the digital economy contributed 66.45 percent to the country's GDP growth.

"The digital economy plays an essential role in China's economic development," Lu added. "Data, as a critical element, serves as the core engine behind the continued advancement of the digital economy. Consequently, data security has become an increasingly vital aspect impacting business operations and overall economic development."

Lu said Commvault has spent two decades cultivating its presence in China, establishing one of its largest and most comprehensive teams within its Asia-Pacific operations.

"China's digital economy has made remarkable achievements, and we look forward to continuing to build a strong presence in the Chinese market," he said. "Together with our customers and partners, we aim to drive a new paradigm in data protection and explore new development opportunities."

This year, China is placing a priority on fostering new quality productive forces and boosting technological innovation in its economic agenda. According to the annual Government Work Report, China will strive to develop new quality productive forces based on local conditions and accelerate the development of a modernized industrial system. This will require the fostering of emerging industries and industries of the future, such as artificial intelligence.

Lin Shen, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of World Economics and Politics, emphasized the structural transformation of the Chinese economy, where new growth drivers are replacing traditional ones. "Our new quality productive forces, supported by AI, have integrated well with manufacturing and the real economy. The next step will be significant advancements in application scenarios," Lin said.

To address increasingly complex digital threats, Commvault is leveraging AI to redefine the future of data protection. "The advancement and application of AI technologies have heightened the complexity of threats, while the data environments of enterprises have also evolved," Lu said. "Using AI to counter AI has become imperative, and AI-driven data protection solutions are critical for the real-time detection and mitigation of emerging data protection risks."

He added that this transformation presents "significant development opportunities" for Commvault, especially as Chinese businesses adopt smarter and more secure data strategies. "Commvault helps enterprises enhance their data protection capabilities in this AI-driven era, using emerging technologies like AI to advance data protection and recovery."

China's commitment to high-standard opening-up and foreign investment also reinforces Commvault's confidence in its long-term strategy. "China has sent a positive signal about its commitment to high-standard opening-up, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to attracting foreign investment, and injecting more certainty and confidence into the global economy," Lu said.

Looking ahead, Commvault will continue to deepen its localization efforts and support digital growth through tailored solutions. "We continue to invest in localized solutions and partnerships to further improve the solutions we offer to our customers," he said.

With China's consumption-led growth model gaining momentum, Commvault also sees rising demand for secure data infrastructure as companies scale up. "China's consumption engine continues to fuel steady economic growth. As the economy grows rapidly, businesses have more opportunities for expansion, and in today's fast-paced digital transformation, this often means a rapid increase in digital assets," Lu said.

"Managing and protecting data has become a critical factor in business success, with the demand for data protection rising steadily. The Chinese market is a key focus for us and as a fast-growing market, it offers great potential, and we look forward to collaborating with customers and partners to drive the continued growth of the digital economy."

ouyangshijia@chinadaily.com.cn