LAS VEGAS — Dell Technologies is gearing up to enhance hybrid cloud infrastructure right at customer data centers. At the Dell Technologies World conference, they shared their vision for future workloads on Dell hardware, highlighting the upcoming Dell Private Cloud platform and updates to Dell NativeEdge and PowerProtect Data Protection Software.
The core of the Private Cloud platform is about choice. Customers can pick from various hypervisors and cloud-native OS options like VMware, Nutanix, and Red Hat OpenShift. Enterprises are increasingly recognizing the need to manage workloads both on-premises and in public clouds, said Simon Robinson, an analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group. Many want to seamlessly connect these models and manage everything without micromanaging each part. Dell aims to bring cloud-like automation directly into their hardware, supporting diverse software options and distancing itself from a single vendor reliance.
“We’ve been in this public vs. private cloud debate, and now most organizations see themselves as hybrid,” Robinson said. “They like the cloud operating model but haven’t fully transitioned their data centers.”
Dell Private Cloud will simplify the automated deployment and management of popular hybrid platforms using the new Dell Automation Platform. This lets users quickly set up infrastructure through ready-to-use blueprints. Similar in concept to HPE’s GreenLake, which integrates hardware and software for private cloud solutions, Dell’s approach targets customers looking for AI workloads without locking them into a specific configuration.
“GreenLake has more features since it’s been around longer,” noted Steve McDowell, an analyst at NAND Research. “Both companies are eyeing customers leveraging private clouds for AI and large language models.”
As HPE also ventures into the private cloud arena with its virtualization platform, HPE Morpheus Enterprise, both companies are working toward similar goals in different ways. Robinson explained, “HPE builds a complete stack from virtualization down, while Dell supports whatever virtualization customers choose and optimizes it with their automation.”
Dell is also ramping up its edge and security software capabilities after a redesign of its storage lines last month. The Dell NativeEdge management suite will support non-Dell hardware to automate configurations in diverse settings. Dell’s PowerStore and PowerScale storage systems now boast enhanced cybersecurity features, including a new AI-driven ransomware detection system. Plus, the PowerProtect line introduces an all-flash backup solution with the Dell PowerProtect Data Domain All-Flash.
Dell is clearly transitioning towards software and data management, sparking comparisons to companies like NetApp. “They’re staking their claim in the software and services arena,” McDowell concluded.