With new AI PODs and GPU-powered servers, Cisco accelerates enterprise AI adoption, providing adaptable, secure solutions for modern AI workloads.
Cisco’s new plug-and-play AI solutions with NVIDIA make it easier for enterprises to deploy scalable and secure AI infrastructure, streamlining AI adoption for data centers. Symbolic image |
Los Angeles, California, USA - October 29, 2024:
Cisco’s unveiling of its plug-and-play AI solutions marks a pivotal shift in its strategy to meet the surging demand for enterprise-ready AI infrastructure. By introducing AI PODs and a dedicated AI server family in collaboration with NVIDIA, Cisco aims to streamline the deployment of AI within data centers, addressing industry needs for scalability, speed, and simplicity in AI adoption. This move leverages Cisco’s networking and infrastructure expertise to provide a foundation that not only supports advanced AI workloads but also integrates security and operational simplicity for enterprises.
With generative AI poised to contribute trillions to the global economy, enterprises face pressure to upgrade their infrastructure to keep up. Cisco’s strategy is directly aligned with this trend, evidenced by its Cisco AI Readiness Index, which highlights a significant gap between AI ambitions and actual deployment readiness within organizations. Cisco’s new AI server family and AI PODs—ready-to-deploy stacks tailored for specific use cases—address these infrastructure challenges by providing a flexible yet robust solution that reduces deployment complexity.
At the heart of Cisco’s new offerings are high-density servers built on NVIDIA’s HGX supercomputing platform, complete with NVIDIA H100 and H200 Tensor Core GPUs and networking solutions that enhance GPU access to data. This partnership with NVIDIA not only ensures compatibility with advanced AI workloads but also aligns Cisco’s products with a leading technology standard in the AI space. This is significant as it gives Cisco a strong foothold in the enterprise AI server market, a space traditionally dominated by other players.
Cisco’s AI PODs stand out as a solution for industry-specific AI infrastructure, combining compute, networking, and cloud management in a single package. This modular approach provides enterprises with the infrastructure they need, without the burden of complex customization. By integrating Cisco Validated Designs (CVDs) with NVIDIA’s AI software, AI PODs facilitate faster deployment times, enhanced scalability, and lower risk—critical factors for organizations hesitant about the high costs and complexity associated with AI.
Cisco is strengthening its position in AI by working closely with partners, including Presidio, CDW, and World Wide Technology. This ecosystem of partners is essential for Cisco’s expansion into AI infrastructure, as partners can help guide organizations in selecting and deploying the right solutions for their needs. Through these alliances, Cisco can further cement its value proposition and ensure its solutions reach a broad range of customers, from those new to AI to those looking to scale existing AI projects.
Cisco’s expanded UCS portfolio, enhanced by NVIDIA’s accelerated computing, positions the company as a key player in the evolving AI landscape. These developments are timely, considering the market’s readiness to embrace AI in business operations but lacking the requisite infrastructure. Cisco’s AI solutions, supported by new 800G switches and centralized management via Cisco Intersight, offer enterprises a viable path to adopting AI while managing operational and financial risks.
In summary, Cisco’s latest innovations highlight a comprehensive approach to meeting AI demand through scalable and secure infrastructure that reduces complexity and supports the growing AI-driven economy. By addressing both technology and business challenges, Cisco is well-positioned to capitalize on the anticipated growth in AI adoption across industries.