## **Overview** Implement a new unified artifact management product that operates at the Organization level, providing centralized management for all artifact types (containers, packages, ML models, etc.). This initiative addresses the fragmentation of GitLab's current project-level artifact management by creating a single control plane that eliminates operational overhead, enables AI-powered optimization, and positions GitLab as the enterprise artifact management leader. ## **Key Features** 1. **Organization-Level Management** * Centralized artifact management across all repositories and projects within an organization * Single control plane for lifecycle policies, security controls, and cost management * Elimination of repetitive per-project configuration overhead 2. **Unified Multi-Format Support** * Support for containers (Docker, OCI), packages (npm, Maven, NuGet, PyPI), ML models, and future artifact types * Content-addressable storage with organization-level deduplication * Consistent management experience across all artifact formats 3. **Virtual Registry Architecture** * Advanced proxying and caching from multiple upstream sources * Cloud provider integration (AWS ECR, Google Artifact Registry, Azure Container Registry) * Legacy tool integration (JFrog Artifactory, Sonatype Nexus) for migration scenarios 4. **AI-Enhanced Management** * AI-powered cost optimization recommendations with one-click application * Intelligent configuration assistance and troubleshooting * Predictive analytics for storage needs and capacity planning * Automated lifecycle policy creation based on usage patterns 5. **Enterprise Migration & Import** * Automated bulk import from JFrog Artifactory and Sonatype Nexus * Migration validation with dry-run capabilities and rollback support * Metadata preservation and progress tracking throughout migration process 6. **Advanced Security & Compliance** * Dependency firewall with allow/deny filtering for security control * Vulnerability scanning integration with organization-wide visibility * Artifact signing and attestations (SLSA, SPDX, CycloneDX) support * Comprehensive audit logging for compliance requirements 7. **Cost Management & Analytics** * Real-time storage usage visibility with cost breakdown by repository and artifact type * Automated retention policies with intelligent cleanup recommendations * Usage analytics including download patterns, cache hit rates, and geographic distribution * Predictive cost forecasting and budget alerts 8. **Developer Experience Optimization** * Seamless GitLab CI/CD integration with embedded build metadata * "Just works" package management with transparent authentication * Clear error messages and self-service troubleshooting capabilities * Configuration templates for rapid setup and best practices ## **Goals** * **Eliminate Tool Sprawl**: Replace specialized artifact management tools (JFrog, Nexus) with integrated GitLab solution * **Reduce Operational Overhead**: Transform project-level management burden into organization-level automation * **Enable Enterprise Scale**: Support 1,000+ user organizations with centralized governance and cost control * **Accelerate Migration**: Provide automated tooling to migrate from legacy systems in weeks instead of months * **Demonstrate AI Leadership**: Showcase industry-leading AI capabilities in artifact management and optimization * **Achieve Cost Optimization**: Deliver 20-30% storage cost reduction through intelligent automation and deduplication ## **Target Market & Value Proposition** **Primary Target**: Enterprise customers (1,000+ users) currently using JFrog Artifactory or Sonatype Nexus seeking tool consolidation and cost optimization. **Key Value Propositions**: - Organization-level artifact management vs. project-level limitations - AI-powered cost optimization and configuration assistance - Automated migration from JFrog/Nexus with validation and safety controls - Virtual registry architecture supporting hybrid and multi-cloud strategies - 75% reduction in platform engineering effort through automation ## **Strategic Alignment** This initiative directly supports GitLab's platform consolidation strategy and aligns with: - **Cells Architecture**: Organizations as the primary sharding boundary - **AI-Enhanced DevSecOps**: Intelligent automation and optimization capabilities - **Enterprise Market Expansion**: Competing with specialized tools in the artifact management space - **Cost Optimization**: Demonstrable ROI through reduced licensing costs and operational efficiency