Dell Technologies World: Dell APEX Portfolio Advancements Help Customers Strengthen Multicloud Strategies

Summary:

Dell APEX expands with 1st Microsoft and Red Hat offerings, a series of collaboratively engineered APEX cloud platforms to extend public cloud operating environments to on-premises IT deployments
APEX Storage for Public Cloud brings Dell’s block and file enterprise storage performance and features to public clouds for management, data mobility and security
APEX Navigator software simplifies data mobility, storage and container management across multicloud environments
APEX Compute delivers high performance compute for organizations to scale based on business needs
APEX PC-as-a-Service delivers PC solutions while allowing customers to free up capital through a predictable subscription
Dell and Databricks to connect on-premises data in Dell object storage with Databricks’ Lakehouse Platform for simpler access to data insights

Dell Technologies, Inc. unveils Dell APEX offerings across cloud platforms, public cloud storage software, client devices and compute. These additions to as-a-service and multicloud portfolio spanning data center to public cloud and client devices ⁽¹⁾ will 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-COO, Dell. “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.”

APEX Cloud platforms deliver consistent multicloud operations
APEX Cloud platforms are a portfolio of 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 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.

Cloud platforms are developed in collaboration with Microsoft Corp., Red Hat, Inc. and VMware, Inc:

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APEX Cloud platform for Microsoft Azure enhances 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 for application modernization and delivers faster time to value of Azure based on Azure Arc-enabled infrastructure with consistent operations and governance across on-premises data centers, edge locations, and the Azure public cloud using Azure Arc.

APEX Cloud platform for Red Hat OpenShift simplifies container-based application development and management, wherever applications are developed and deployed, through full stack software integration and automation with the 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 variety of workloads, including AI/ML and analytics, with 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 enterprise Linux platform, Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Dell Apex Cloud Platform For Vmware Graphic 1 V2

APEX Cloud platform for VMware gives customers the flexibility to deploy vSphere on a fully integrated system with highly scalable, high performance Dell SDS. This offering joins APEX Private Cloud and APEX Hybrid Cloud within the 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, CIO, Xerox Holdings Corp. “Dell APEX has helped us optimize our multicloud strategy so that we can deliver software and services that meet the needs of the modern workforce.”

APEX Storage for public cloud enriches public cloud experience
Delivering on the promise of Project Alpine, the company brings the performance and advanced software capabilities of its enterprise data storage ⁽²⁾ to public clouds while delivering operational simplicity with a unified approach to Dell cloud storage and Kubernetes management.

APEX Block Storage for AWS, APEX Block Storage for Microsoft Azure and APEX File Storage for AWS combine the firm’s enterprise-class storage performance, scalability and cyber-resilience with public cloud economics and services, such as analytics and AI. Organizations can fine-tune their cloud strategies based on business need, and maximize 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.
APEX Block Storage can 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. 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, ML, M&E, and life sciences.

These offers join Dell APEX Protection Storage for Public Cloud as part of the company’s portfolio of software-defined storage for public clouds. APEX Protection Storage delivers data protection storage for AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and Alibaba Cloud with more than 17EBs of data protected by Dell software in public clouds to date.⁽³⁾

APEX Console enhancements include management, deployment, data mobility and discovery SaaS offerings that make it easier for operations teams to maintain multicloud storage and Kubernetes clusters.

- - APEX Navigator for Multicloud Storage is SaaS that centralizes, simplifies and secures management of APEX Block and File Storage with easy configuration, automated deployment, storage monitoring and data mobility between on-premises and public cloud environments. This allows organizations to manage their multicloud estate consistently and securely at scale, optimizing workload placement to match their business needs.
- - 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.

“Organizations 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, SVP, 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.”

APEX brings the cloud experience to PCs and servers
The company expands the APEX portfolio to help users handle day-to-day IT operations, speed infrastructure deployment, control costs and manage device takeback securely and sustainably through an as-a-Service experience.

APEX Compute delivers scalable, secure bare metal compute resources in a data center, edge environment or in a colocation facility. Customers can support virtualized or container-based environments by installing the hypervisor or OS of their choice. Organizations will be able to meet their workload and IT operations needs with scalable and secure compute resources available through a predictable, monthly subscription.
APEX PC-as-a-Service (PCaaS) helps companies simplify IT and deploy the latest client technology with predictable costs ⁽⁴⁾ while freeing up capital to invest in modern employee experiences.⁽⁵⁾ Organizations can customize offerings across the entire PC portfolio—inclusive of devices, software and services – with flexible 1-to-5-year terms and scaling up or down as needed. Early customers using APEX PCaaS have reported 50% less help desk effort, 30% savings in support costs and 50% less time spent onboarding employee devices.^{(6 )}Dell expands data management ecosystem for simpler access to data insight with Databricks’ Lakehouse platform

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

The company’s customers can connect Databricks in the public cloud with Dell object storage, on-premises or in a colocation facility, to analyze data in-place, store results and securely share it with third parties using Databricks’ Delta Sharing capabilities. The 2 companies are collaborating to jointly engineer additional integrations that will deliver an 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 Corp. “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 organizations 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, SVP, partner ecosystem success, Red Hat, Inc. “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.”

“VMware and Dell Technologies have a track record of jointly engineered solutions and innovation that spans nearly 2 decades,” said Dave McGraw, VP, partner solutions engineering, office of CTO, VMware, Inc. “The introduction of Dell APEX Cloud Platform for VMware broadens customers’ VMware multicloud deployment options, providing greater choice and flexibility to modernize applications while streamlining multicloud operations.”

“Databricks is focused on helping businesses extract the most valuable insights from their data, wherever it resides,” said Adam Conway, SVP, products, Databricks. “ Combining the best of Dell and Databricks changes the data landscape for customers as they operate in today’s multicloud world.”

Availability

- - APEX Cloud platforms will be globally available starting in the 2H23.
  - APEX Block and File Storage for AWS are globally available.
  - APEX Block Storage for Microsoft Azure will be globally available in the 2H23.
  - APEX Navigator for Multicloud Storage will be available in USA with planned future geographic expansion during the 2H23.
  - APEX Navigator for Kubernetes will be available in USA, UK, France and Germany during the 2H23.
  - APEX PC-as-a-Service is available now in North America, Europe and AsiaPac.
  - Dell APEX Compute is available in North America, Europe and AsiaPac.
  - Dell object storage and Databricks Lakehouse Platform connection is available with access to public cloud data coming soon.

(1) Based on Dell Analysis, May 2023.
(2) IDC WW Quarterly Enterprise Storage Systems Tracker, 2022Q4, March 23, 2023. Dell ranked 1^st for vendor revenue in 4Q22.
(3) Based on Dell Technologies analysis, February 2023.
(4) Based on a Forrester Total Economic Impact Study commissioned by Dell The Total Economic Impact of Dell’s PC As A Service November 2022. Results derived from customer interviews and survey data. Estimated savings in $US, calculated over 3 years for 4,000 users. Actual results will vary.
(5) Payment solutions provided and serviced by Dell Financial Services L.L.C. or its affiliate or designee (DFS) for qualified customers. Offers may not be available or may vary in certain countries. Where available offers may be changed without notice and are subject to product availability, applicable law, credit approval, documentation provided by and acceptable to DFS and may be subject to minimum transaction size. Offers not available for personal, family or household use. Restrictions and additional requirements may apply to transactions with governmental or public entities. Dell APEX PCaaS: At the end of the contract, the customer may renew the contract or return the equipment to DFS.
(6) Based on a Forrester Total Economic Impact Study commissioned by Dell The Total Economic Impact of Dell’s PC As A Service November 2022. Results derived from customer interviews and survey data. Estimated savings in $US, calculated over 3 years for 4,000 users. Actual results will vary.