Unlocking Enterprise Data for AI: The Collaboration Between Commvault and Databricks

Commvault and Databricks Join Forces

In an exciting development for businesses focused on harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence, Commvault (NASDAQ: CVLT) has announced a collaboration with Databricks. This partnership introduces the Commvault Data Activate for Databricks, a solution designed to enhance the use of enterprise data within AI applications and analytics. This innovative approach promises to enable organizations to better leverage their data, particularly the vast amounts of unstructured information that are often underutilized.

Context is Key

Current estimates suggest that a staggering 70% of AI and data leaders report that less than half of their unstructured data can actually be accessed and utilized effectively. The unfulfilled potential of enterprise data presents a significant barrier for organizations looking to gain insight from their information. Commvault and Databricks are aiming to address this challenge head-on. By utilizing the Data Activate feature, businesses can access governed enterprise data without the cumbersome process of reconnecting to each individual data source.

The integration between Commvault and Databricks is particularly noteworthy. Built on the Databricks platform, the solution allows for the preparation and sharing of enterprise data managed by Commvault through OpenSharing. This means that data is made available as governed tables, which can be managed via Unity Catalog, further simplifying the process for organizations. This organized access aims to empower businesses to build more context-aware and accurate AI applications, aligning data governance with AI workloads seamlessly.

The Benefits Unveiled

The collaboration is set to provide several benefits for customers who adopt this joint solution:

1. Expanded Access to Governed Data: Organizations can bring additional enterprise data into the Databricks environment, selecting data protected by Commvault for analyses and AI jobs without needing new connections for each data source.
2. Preservation of Data Context: The solution maintains essential context—such as data source, ownership, access permissions, and lineage—which is critical for ensuring that AI applications and insights remain relevant and reliable.
3. Current and Relevant Information: As data sources evolve, the system automatically reflects new, changed, and deleted content over time. This feature ensures business insights remain aligned with the latest data, enhancing decision-making processes and AI performance.

As Alan Atkinson, Chief Business Development Officer of Commvault, noted, "Commvault protects the data enterprises depend on. Together with Databricks, we aim to make more of that trusted data available for AI while preserving the context that gives it value. This is about turning protected data into an active business asset."

Stephen Orban, SVP Product Partnerships and Ecosystem at Databricks, emphasized the importance of context in the data used within Databricks: "Customers tell us their data is most valuable in Databricks when that data's context travels with it. Working with Commvault can expand the governed, trusted data available across Databricks, giving search, analytics, and AI applications more to work with across the business."

Availability & Future Prospects

The early access phase for Commvault Data Activate for Databricks is set to be rolled out in December 2026, starting in select Azure regions. This rollout is timely, as many organizations are eager to leverage AI solutions while overcoming the limitations associated with data handling and governance. To learn more about how this partnership can benefit businesses today and in the future, interested parties are encouraged to participate in the upcoming SHIFT Virtual event scheduled for November 18.

About Commvault

Commvault’s mission is to provide continuous recovery solutions for the AI era, ensuring that enterprises remain prepared for constant disruptions. Its advanced technologies enable organizations to restore critical data, applications, and AI systems, optimizing them for resilience in today’s fast-paced business environment. The alliance with Databricks is a significant step forward in increasing the effectiveness of data utilization for AI, promising enhanced insights and operational efficiency for organizations globally.