Cisco has unveiled its vision for Cisco Networking Cloud, an integrated management platform experience for both on-prem and cloud operating models.

Building a Better Future for Cisco Customers and Partners
Managing networks in today’s era of connecting everyone, everywhere is hard. According to Cisco’s State of Global Innovation report, 85% of IT professionals indicate they value simplicity in their IT systems. Simplicity becomes increasingly important with the advancement of cloud, IoT, Wi-Fi + 5G, AI/ML, and security. With so many technologies and applications coming together, it can be difficult for IT staff to deliver a consistent, unified experience whether in the office, at home, or on the go.

A simplified IT experience influences customer satisfaction, employee retention, and competitive differentiation. Cisco recognizes the struggles with fragmentation, lack of visibility, security threats, and time-consuming integration that get in the way of delivering better experiences. It understands that the journey to simplification is defined by each operator’s business objectives, functional needs, and preferred consumption model. Whether the use cases require on-premises delivery, cloud-enabled delivery or anything in between, Cisco is meeting IT where they are.

The Vision for Cisco Networking Cloud

As part of its journey to simplification, Cisco has been working to create a simpler network management platform experience to help customers easily access and navigate its platforms to manage all Cisco networking products from one place. Featuring cloud-driven automation, rich network insights, and innovation through its partner ecosystem, Cisco Networking Cloud will accelerate the delivery of unified experiences and drive measurable business outcomes.

“Today we are sharing our vision and first steps to eliminate networking complexity and securely connect the world,” said Jonathan Davidson, executive VP and GM, Cisco Networking. “Only Cisco has the portfolio, experience, and partner ecosystem to bring together campus and branch, data center, compute, IoT, and SD-WAN to optimize outcomes using one networking management platform to deliver unified experiences.”

From Vision to Value: Innovation Launching Today

• As a first step, Cisco is delivering the following components across its existing networking products portfolio, which will increase operational simplicity, efficiency, and reliability:
  • Single sign-on (SSO) simplifying access across Cisco networking platforms.
  • API key exchange/repository, when linked with SSO, making it easier for Cisco networking platforms to connect and exchange data through automation to reduce friction and opportunities for error.
  • Cross-platform navigation, delivering more seamless navigation between Cisco networking platforms.
  • Common user interface across Cisco networking platforms, bringing greater consistency and ease of use across a customer’s operational functions.

• Elevating the power of the network with end-to-end assurance and expanded cloud monitoring capabilities:
  • Cisco ThousandEyes for end-to-end network assurance over any network: ThousandEyes delivers expanded visibility, automated insights, and seamless workflows to assure digital experiences across any network—whether on premises, the internet, or in the cloud. New innovations include:
    • Expanded visibility into internet and cloud networks with new vantage points on Meraki MX and Webex RoomOS devices.
    • Faster insights into incidents impacting digital experiences with new automated Event Detection plus unmatched insight into your AWS connections for enhanced troubleshooting.
    • Seamless workflows with simplified ThousandEyes endpoint deployment with Cisco Secure Client, adding to ThousandEyes’ already rich set of ecosystem integrations, including data export via OpenTelemetry.
  • Cloud Monitoring for Catalyst to view, troubleshoot and manage Catalyst devices: Enhancements to the Meraki dashboard will now support new capabilities for Cisco Catalyst switches including a CLI view, image management, and advanced troubleshooting. 

• Simplifying operations with an easier, more predictable, and more scalable Cisco Catalyst stack, improved visibility into data center power consumption insights and energy footprints, and new AI data center blueprints:
  • Simplified branding for the Cisco Catalyst Stack: Cisco is now connecting the power and flexibility of the Catalyst brand across the entire enterprise networking stack with Catalyst Center (formerly DNA Center), Catalyst Software and Licensing (formerly DNA Software and Licensing), Catalyst Wireless, Catalyst Switching, Catalyst Routing, and Catalyst SD-WAN (formerly Cisco SD-WAN or Viptela SD-WAN). 
  • New Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN Consumption Model: With cloud-delivered Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN, customers can now consume SD-WAN as a utility with a flexible subscription model. Customers can simply purchase and have the SD-WAN software and services spun up in minutes. Cisco will be responsible for management of the underlying delivery of the SD-WAN fabric automating solution with zero-touch lifecycle deployment and management.
  • Simplified Licensing Options: Starting with Cisco Catalyst switches, new licensing combines hardware and software support into a single subscription—simplifying buying and renewing.
  • Sustainable Data Center Networking Bolstered by new integrations for Cisco data center networking and Nexus Dashboard, customers will gain real-time and historical insights for power consumption of all IT equipment in their data center and estimate the energy footprint of their data center operations. 
  • AI Data Center Blueprint for Networking: Leveraging Cisco experience with customer deployments, the Cisco AI/ML data center network blueprint will give customers a new and proven solution for high performance compute, InfiniBand to Ethernet network migrations, and large-scale ML fabrics. With visibility into AI workloads via Cisco Nexus Dashboard and automation templates, customers can meet the demand for specific network performance characteristics such as deterministic load-balancing, line-rate transmission, congestion management and no drop characteristics with their Cisco Nexus 9000 and NX-OS implementations.

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Tags: Cisco, networking

Like a science fiction novel, artificial intelligence (AI) is ready to disrupt how many industries operate in the 21st century.

For some of these industries, the advantages of AI are a boon. For others, the changes might be a hindrance. Whether a company can adapt to this new technology might make or break them. Here are ten industries disrupted by AI.

1. Healthcare

One of the most critical industries that AI disrupts is healthcare. The applications of AI and machine learning programs are what allowed the healthcare industry to meet the rapidly increasing needs of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While most people think of healthcare as doctors and medical science, many administrative duties go on behind the scenes. Scheduling, filing insurance, and medical reports are the backbone of hospitals and healthcare facilities. That’s where AI comes in. Automating processes such as filing insurance, taking patient calls, and helping scheduling tasks can free nurses and healthcare staff to use their time on more pressing matters, such as taking care of patients. 

Artificial intelligence has also made contributions to medical labs. Automating much of the testing process has allowed laboratories to keep up with the need for testing despite a staff shortage. Ensuring that tests are done on time ensures patients get the care they need as quickly as possible.

2. Manufacturing

Another industry disrupted by AI is manufacturing. Over the past several years, manufacturing has shifted towards automation using computer and robotics technology. These machines perform mundane but essential tasks, such as assembly and management.

The use of robotics technology makes the manufacturing process more efficient. One application of AI is learning how to perform repetitive tasks as quickly as possible. AI uses formulas and templates to perform necessary functions. Some tasks, such as gage calibration, are essential yet mundane — something that artificial intelligence can perform effortlessly, compared to humans who may become restless or bored. 

Combined with robotics technology, AI can perform repetitive tasks better and with fewer mistakes than humans. This is a game changer in the manufacturing industry, where repetitive processes are common. In addition to bearing some of the workload, AI machines can also keep workers safe by taking on more dangerous tasks.

3. Weather Prediction

AI is also making strides in meteorology, specifically the ability to make weather forecasts. Predicting the weather involves a lot of computational power from many scanning devices worldwide. Even with the power of supercomputers, the ability to predict the weather is limited as forecasts degrade the further into the future you go.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning can make weather prediction more accurate and more efficient. Satellites are constantly sending new data to supercomputers, making it arduous to sift through it all. AI’s ability to handle large data sets makes it perfect for this task — compiling reports of all the data collected for users to read.

Machine learning takes this capability a step further by making predictions based on the data collected without human input. This feature allows for accurate predictions further into the future than ever before.

4. Customer Service

As AI chat programs like ChatGPT become more sophisticated, people-facing industries like customer service are adopting them to help fulfill more tasks. Automated calls and answering robots can remove much of the burden from human representatives by completing mundane tasks and answering frequently asked questions. 

AI programs can even guide customers through several processes, such as making payments and changes to their accounts. This capability allows representatives to use their time helping customers with genuinely pressing issues and personalized assistance.

5. Advertising and Marketing

AI and machine learning applications are even making their way into the advertising and marketing industries. The key to any successful marketing strategy is to have the correct data to fulfill the company’s purposes. Artificial intelligence can make gathering that data faster and more efficient than ever. 

AI tools can be used to launch surveys and observe a target market’s interests so companies can properly plan their advertising campaigns. AI can even help design advertising materials, such as signs and containers, based on trends the target audience is interested in.

6. Finance

The financial sector is another industry disrupted by AI. Many banks and other financial institutions were deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. When people could no longer visit these places, they turned to digital banking to manage their finances. 

Digital banking continues to be the preferred method for people to work on their finances. AI applications make managing money from anywhere a much simpler affair. Chatbot programs and voice assistants can guide consumers to the solution to any problem they might face. 

In addition to proving convenience, AI has made digital banking more secure by tightening cybersecurity — ensuring that hackers and viruses stay out of people’s bank accounts.

7. Cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence isn’t just raising cybersecurity for banks. As the world becomes more reliant on digital technology, the rate of cyber attacks on businesses and individuals has also skyrocketed. New cybersecurity tools powered by machine learning have emerged to combat these ever-growing threats.

These tools can perform analysis of the newest and most common cybersecurity threats and scan internet traffic for them — destroying malicious programs before they can enter the system. Machine learning allows for more accurate threat detection and can even automate tasks such as alert response and reports.

8. Logistics

As worldwide events such as the conflict in Ukraine create difficulties in the global supply chain, the applications of AI have become important to keeping logistics on track on a local and international scale. Artificial intelligence can allow greater interaction between companies, ensuring that all parties involved in logistics are kept informed of each other’s activities. 

Being aware of any disruptions in the supply chain allows companies to adjust their expectations and make plans to minimize the impact of said disruptions. It can also streamline the travel process and give greater insight into the status of goods traveling from long distances.

9. Retail

New applications of AI are also disrupting the retail sector. Digital tools are becoming the standard for retail management. Tasks such as inventory management and payment processing can be automated using artificial intelligence — making it easier for companies to retain employees and make business processes more efficient.

10. Lifestyle

Finally, artificial intelligence technology has become a facet of everyday life. AI operates on every level of the modern home, from personal computers to voice assistants like Alexa and Siri. As digital technology advances, machine learning will play an even bigger part in everyday life.

Self-driving cars and buses, more accurate GPS and virtual hobbies are all poised to become big industries in the near future. Meanwhile, voice assistants are growing more sophisticated as machine learning continues to evolve.

AI Is the Future of Every Industry

Artificial intelligence was once thought of as something you could only find in a sci-fi novel. Now, it has become a fact of life. AI and machine learning have made places for themselves in every industry — and they’re here to stay. 

Dell Technologies has unveiled new Dell APEX offerings across cloud platforms, public cloud storage software, client devices and compute.

These additions to its as-a-Service and multicloud portfolio spanning data centre to public cloud and client devices could help businesses operate and innovate faster through improved management and mobility of their applications and data wherever they reside.

“Our customers continue to look for a simpler technology experience to easily manage and access their assets and applications with predictable costs and greater flexibility,” said Chuck Whitten, co-chief operating officer, Dell Technologies (pictured). “That’s where Dell APEX comes in. Now, Dell APEX spans the breadth of our portfolio to give customers greater freedom for technology to support businesses as their needs dictate – from PCs and IT on-premises to public clouds and edge locations.”

Dell APEX Cloud Platforms deliver consistent multicloud operations

Dell APEX Cloud Platforms are a portfolio of fully integrated, turnkey systems integrating Dell infrastructure, software and cloud operating stacks that deliver consistent multicloud operations by extending cloud operating models to on-premises and edge environments. Workloads can be placed in the optimal location based on desired performance, cost and security requirements with data mobility across a common multicloud storage layer. Customers will be able to move data seamlessly between on-premises environments and Dell APEX Block Storage for Public Cloud deployments. Each system is designed to accelerate IT and developer productivity using familiar management tools and software-driven automated deployment and lifecycle management.

The cloud platforms are developed in collaboration with Microsoft, Red Hat Und VMware:

• Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azureenhances the Azure hybrid experience with full stack software integration and automated lifecycle management through Microsoft native management tools and extensive engineering collaboration between Dell and Microsoft. The platform is ideal for application modernisation and delivers faster time to value of Azure based on Azure Arc-enabled infrastructure with consistent operations and governance across on-premises data centres, edge locations, and the Azure public cloud using Azure Arc.

• Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Red Hat OpenShiftsimplifies container-based application development and management, wherever applications are developed and deployed, through full stack software integration and automation with the industry’s leading hybrid cloud application platform powered by Kubernetes. Customers can run containers and virtual machines side by side, natively within Kubernetes, with a unified experience for a wide variety of workloads, including AI/ML and analytics, with broad GPU support across any hybrid cloud footprint. This offering represents a deep engineering collaboration between Dell and Red Hat, using enterprise Kubernetes and backed by the world’s leading enterprise Linux platform, Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

• Dell APEX Cloud Platform for VMwaregives customers the flexibility to deploy vSphere on a fully integrated system with highly scalable, high performance Dell software-defined storage. This new offering joins Dell APEX Private Cloud and Dell APEX Hybrid Cloud within the broader Dell APEX portfolio to offer more choice for VMware customers on their multicloud journey.

“For more than a century, Xerox has continually redefined the workplace experience,” said Tino Lancellotti, chief information officer, Xerox. “Dell APEX has helped us optimise our multicloud strategy so that we can deliver software and services that meet the needs of the modern workforce.”

Dell APEX Storage for Public Cloud enriches the public cloud experience

Delivering on the promise of Project Alpine, Dell brings the performance and advanced software capabilities of its industry-leading enterprise data storage to public clouds while delivering operational simplicity with a unified approach to Dell cloud storage and Kubernetes management.

Dell APEX Block Storage for Amazon Web Services (AWS), Dell APEX Block Storage for Microsoft AzureUnd Dell APEX File Storage for AWScombine Dell’s enterprise-class storage performance, scalability and cyber-resilience with public cloud economics and services, such as analytics and artificial intelligence (AI). Organisations can fine-tune their cloud strategies based on business need, and maximise existing skillsets through advanced data mobility and management consistency between Dell on-premises storage and public clouds. This approach avoids the need to refactor applications and retrain staff.

Dell APEX Block Storage can rapidly expand performance and capacity for mission critical workloads through a unique scale out architecture. Increased resiliency is achieved by distributing data efficiently across multi-availability zones. Dell APEX File Storage delivers enterprise class file performance and capabilities in the public cloud. Customers can support a broad variety of performance-intensive workloads including AI, machine learning, media and entertainment and life sciences. 

These offers join Dell APEX Protection Storage for Public Cloudas part of Dell’s portfolio of software-defined storage for public clouds. Dell APEX Protection Storage delivers industry-leading data protection storage for AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and Alibaba Cloud with more than 17 exabytes of data protected by Dell software in public clouds to date.

Dell APEX Console enhancements include new management, deployment, data mobility and discovery software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings that make it easier for operations teams to maintain multicloud storage and Kubernetes clusters.

• Dell APEX Navigator for Multicloud Storage is SaaS that centralises, simplifies and secures management of Dell APEX Block and File Storage with easy configuration, automated deployment, storage monitoring and data mobility between on-premises and public cloud environments. This allows organisations to manage their multicloud estate consistently and securely at scale, optimising workload placement to match their business needs.
• Dell APEX Navigator for Kubernetes is SaaS that simplifies Kubernetes storage management, bringing advanced data services such as data replication, application mobility and observability, to containers with easily deployed and managed Dell Container Storage Modules.

“Organisations are looking to streamline their IT environments so that data and applications can live in the right place to deliver the most value for their businesses,” said Matthew Eastwood, senior vice president, IDC. “Dell Technologies has delivered a significant expansion of its Dell APEX portfolio that creates commonality between public cloud and on-premises environments to simplify workload placement.”  

Dell APEX brings the cloud experience to PCs and servers

Dell expands the Dell APEX portfolio to help users easily handle day-to-day IT operations, speed infrastructure deployment, control costs and manage device takeback securely and sustainably through an as-a-Service experience.

• Dell APEX Computedelivers scalable, secure bare metal compute resources in a data centre, edge environment or in a colocation facility. Customers can support virtualised or container-based environments by installing the hypervisor or operating system of their choice. Organisations will be able to meet their workload and IT operations needs with scalable and secure compute resources available through a predictable, monthly subscription.  

• Dell APEX PC-as-a-Service (PCaaS) helps companies simplify IT and deploy the latest client technology with predictable costs while freeing up capital to invest in modern employee experiences. Organisations can customise offerings across the entire PC portfolio—inclusive of devices, software and services – with flexible one- to five-year terms and scaling up or down as needed. Early customers using Dell APEX PCaaS have reported 50% less help desk effort, 30% savings in support costs and 50% less time spent onboarding employee devices.

Dell expands data management ecosystem for simpler access to data insight with Databricks’ Lakehouse Platform 

To provide customers greater freedom to extract insights from data wherever it resides, Dell and Databricks, the data and AI company, announce a new, multifaceted relationship to connect on-premises data in Dell’s industry-leading enterprise storage platformsand the Databricks Lakehouse Platform.

Dell customers can connect Databricks in the public cloud with Dell object storage, on-premises or in a co-location facility, to analyse data in-place, store results and securely share it with third parties using Databricks’ Delta Sharing capabilities. Dell and Databricks are collaborating to jointly engineer additional integrations that will deliver a seamless experience for Dell object storage within the Databricks Lakehouse Platform.

“Microsoft and Dell are simplifying hybrid cloud management with an integrated solution that gives customers consistent operations across the Azure public cloud and their on-premises and edge environments,” said Bernardo Caldas, corporate VP, Azure Edge PM, Microsoft. “Dell APEX Cloud Platform for Microsoft Azure provides native integration of Dell’s differentiated infrastructure platforms and management software with Azure Arc, and Arc-enabled services like Azure Stack HCI and AKS for a unified experience from cloud to edge.”

“As organisations continue to evolve and scale their cloud strategies, customers are looking for a consistent user experience across hybrid infrastructure to accelerate cloud-native application development and faster time to value,” said Stefanie Chiras, senior VP, Partner Ecosystem Success, Red Hat. “Red Hat OpenShift provides that common foundation, and through our continued work with Dell Technologies, customers can benefit from a fully integrated Red Hat OpenShift experience on Dell’s on-premises infrastructure to extend capabilities wherever they deploy applications across the hybrid cloud.”    

Want to learn more about cybersecurity and the cloud from industry leaders? Check out Cyber Security & Cloud Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge Hier.

Tags: dell, multicloud