Cisco launches unified edge platform for distributed AI workloads

SAN DIEGO - Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) unveiled its new Unified Edge platform on Monday, designed to support distributed AI workloads by bringing computing power closer to where data is generated. The tech giant, currently trading near its 52-week high at $73.11 and boasting a market capitalization of $288.11 billion, continues to strengthen its position as a prominent player in the Communications Equipment industry.

The integrated computing platform combines compute, networking, storage, and security capabilities to enable real-time AI inferencing at edge locations such as retail stores, healthcare facilities, and factory floors.

According to Cisco, the platform addresses infrastructure constraints that have stalled AI implementation, with the company noting that 75 percent of enterprise data is created and processed at the edge this year.

"Today’s infrastructure can’t meet the demands of powering AI at scale," said Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco. "As AI agents and experiences proliferate, they will naturally emerge closer to where customers interact and decisions are made."

The Unified Edge platform features a modular chassis with various CPU and GPU configurations, redundant power and cooling systems, and high-performance SD-WAN networking capabilities. It supports zero-touch deployment and offers centralized management through Cisco Intersight with automated fleet-wide operations.

Security features include tamper-proof hardware, deep telemetry, consistent policies, and configuration controls to protect AI environments at multiple levels.

Cisco developed the platform in collaboration with customers across retail, manufacturing, financial services, and healthcare sectors to address real-world operational challenges.

The company has partnered with technology providers including Intel, which supplies its Xeon 6 SoC processors for the platform. Verizon and Rockwell Automation have expressed support for the edge computing approach in their respective industries.

Cisco Unified Edge platforms are available to order now and expected to be generally available by the end of the year, according to the company’s press release statement.

In other recent news, Cisco has reported several significant developments. The company unveiled new networking solutions aimed at modernizing campus, branch, and industrial networks for AI workloads. These innovations are designed to simplify network operations through cloud-managed fabrics and a unified branch solution. In collaboration with Pure Storage, Cisco also launched a new enterprise AI infrastructure solution to help enterprises transition from AI pilot projects to production-scale deployments. Additionally, Cisco introduced multi-customer management capabilities within its Security Cloud Control platform for Managed Service Providers, aiming to streamline operations and reduce costs. On the technology front, Cisco launched a new series of AI-ready network switches incorporating NVIDIA’s Spectrum-X Ethernet technology. These switches form part of Cisco’s NVIDIA Cloud Partner-compliant reference architecture. Furthermore, UBS upgraded Cisco’s stock from Neutral to Buy, highlighting growth drivers such as AI infrastructure demand and a large-scale campus refresh cycle. These recent developments underscore Cisco’s strategic focus on AI and security solutions.

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