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AI and Hybrid Cloud Starts at the Edge

Steadman
NetApp
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What if you could process data right where it’s created without waiting for it to travel back to a central data center? That’s exactly what Cisco and NetApp are delivering with FlexPod Unified Edge, unveiled at Cisco Live Amsterdam.

 

This isn’t just another edge solution. It’s a smarter, faster way to bring AI and hybrid cloud capabilities closer to where your business happens. In today’s distributed world, speed and agility aren’t optional, they’re essential. FlexPod Unified Edge is designed to cut latency, simplify operations, and keep your data secure, all while giving you the flexibility to scale across edge, core, and cloud.

 

Built on the Cisco Unified Edge platform and powered by NetApp ONTAP, FlexPod Unified Edge offers unmatched flexibility with two storage options: the NetApp AFF storage appliances for enterprise-grade performance or ONTAP Select for software-defined storage flexibility. This versatility ensures businesses can tailor deployments to meet their unique edge requirements without sacrificing speed, security, or scalability.

 

Here’s what makes FlexPod Unified Edge stand out:

  • AI at the Edge: Process data where it’s generated, reducing latency and accelerating decision-making for AI-driven applications. By eliminating the need to send large datasets back to centralized data centers, organizations can achieve real-time insights and improve operational efficiency.

  • One Platform, Endless Possibilities: Simplify operations with a converged solution that unites compute, networking, and storage. This integrated architecture reduces management overhead and ensures consistent performance across distributed environments.

  • Security You Can Trust: Protect data and workloads from edge to cloud with integrated security across Cisco and NetApp technologies. Built-in encryption, secure boot, and zero-trust principles safeguard sensitive information wherever it resides. NetApp Ransomware Recovery guarantee provides the highest level of operational security regardless of where workloads run: at the edge, in the core, or in the cloud.

  • Hybrid Cloud Ready: Seamlessly extend workloads to public cloud for agility, disaster recovery, and cost optimization. FlexPod Unified Edge supports cloud-native services and orchestration tools, enabling businesses to scale quickly and adapt to changing demands.

  • Faster Time-to-Value: Reduce complexity and accelerate edge deployments with a proven, validated architecture. Pre-tested designs and automation capabilities minimize risk and speed up implementation, so businesses can start realizing benefits sooner.

  • Flexible Storage Choices: Choose between high-performance AFF appliances or software-defined ONTAP Select for ultimate deployment freedom. This flexibility allows organizations to optimize for performance, cost, and footprint based on their edge strategy.

 

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Figure: one, two, or four node ONTAP Select configurations can be deployed in the UCS Edge chassis providing flexible HA, performance, and capacity points to meet site requirements.

 

Flexible, Secure, and Cloud-Ready Deployments

FlexPod Edge is catalyst for innovation by bringing AI infrastructure closer to where data is generated or consumed. Businesses can unlock real-time insights, improve efficiency, and deliver better experiences while staying securely connected to the core and the cloud.

 

Ready to learn more? Our team will be at Cisco Live Amsterdam February 9-13th, 2026. Swing by booth B03 in the expo to engage with our Cisco and NetApp product experts.

 

Aren’t able to make the event? Learn more online.

 

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