NetApp, Cisco expand FlexPod to support AI deployments

NetApp has announced an expanded collaboration with Cisco to offer solutions designed to simplify and secure enterprise AI deployments.

The companies are expanding their joint FlexPod converged data infrastructure and storage portfolio with solutions that support use cases including the deployment of high-performance infrastructure for AI use cases such as semantic search and retrieval-augmented generation.

To support edge computing, the expanded portfolio combines Cisco Unified Edge with flexible NetApp storage options into a flexible, converged solution. Another joint solution supports AI inferencing with a pre-integrated solution designed to lower the costs and complexity associated with deploying AI.

NetApp Chief Commercial Officer Dallas Olson said AI workloads are placing increasing demand on enterprises’ data infrastructure as they are deployed across environments.

“NetApp and Cisco’s longstanding partnership on FlexPod has already proven effective, saving customers up to 20% of their time in infrastructure management and maintenance. Now, we are applying our combined expertise to modern challenges to accelerate AI adoption while reducing risk with built-in security,” he said.

Cisco GM and SVP Jeremy Foster said security must not be an afterthought during real-world AI deployments. “It has to be built in from the start,” he said.

“By collaborating with NetApp to extend Cisco Secure AI Factory with NVIDIA to our validated FlexPod solution, we’re helping customers address AI‑specific risks such as data exposure, governance gaps and compliance challenges while simplifying how AI infrastructure is deployed and operated.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Bahadir Eroglu