Breaking Analysis with Dave Vellante

The Road to ‘Service-as-Software.’ Salesforce co-founder and CEO Marc Benioff is articulating a bold vision for the next era of enterprise software. In an exclusive interview with theCUBE on April 25, 2025, Benioff outlined how AI-driven agents and a unified data architecture will transform Software as a Service (SaaS) into what we’re calling “Service as Software” – a model where software-based digital agents augment every business process. The Salesforce chief has often quipped that today’s CEOs are “the last generation of executives leading exclusively human workforces,” underscoring his conviction that AI agents (what many call agentic AI) will soon work alongside humans in every enterprise. Our premise is that this “digital labor” revolution could be more disruptive than the cloud and mobile waves of 15 years ago, fundamentally redefining how applications function. In this Breaking Analysis, we focus on Salesforce’s Agentforce and Data Cloud strategies – the twin pillars of its agentic vision – and how they position the company to become what we call the first software-only hyperscaler. We also examine the broader industry context, including competitive dynamics with Microsoft and Salesforce’s interoperability with platforms like Snowflake, Databricks and AWS.FULL ARTICLE: https://thecuberesearch.com/276-breaking-analysis-salesforce-agentforce-data-cloud-a-path-to-the-software-only-hyperscaler/

As the RSAC 2025 Conference approaches, key themes are emerging that are set to dominate the world’s largest cybersecurity gathering. Industry dynamics are shifting rapidly – from AI enabling higher velocity threats, an intensified platform consolidation debate, high-profile M&A, rising interest in AI agents (with somewhat tepid adoption in cyber), and shifting security budget priorities.Our research shows that though cybersecurity remains a top priority for information technology leaders, it is not immune from macroeconomic headwinds. Moreover, geopolitical tensions have heightened perceived and actual threats, causing a large portion of customers to change their spending habits. On balance, cybersecurity remains the most challenging sector in tech, where 100% success is virtually unattainable; and failure can cripple a firm’s brand.In this Breaking Analysis, we dig into Enterprise Technology Research’s Annual State of Security Research (free download). We’ll examine the macro picture in cybersecurity, share the shifting spending patterns and priorities exposed in the research, examine the hype and realities of platform consolidation, and share which companies chief information security officers feel are helping them innovate to fight the fight.