Dell unveils updates to advance data centre automation & security

Dell Technologies has announced new developments designed to support the transformation of data centre operations with software-driven disaggregated infrastructure.

Organisations are increasingly confronted with the need to manage and secure a wide range of workloads across on-premises data centres, cloud and edge environments. Dell Technologies' approach to disaggregated infrastructure aims to address these challenges by integrating management of shared compute, networking, and storage resource pools with automation, security, and support for partner integrations.

Dell's most recent advancements include updates to storage and cyber resiliency, intended to improve performance and efficiency in the management and protection of critical data. According to Dell, its PowerProtect Data Domain All-Flash appliances deliver up to four times faster data restores and double the replication performance, in comparison with previous hard-disk drive systems. These appliances are also designed to be more efficient, occupying 40% less rack space and reducing power usage by as much as 80%.

Enhancements to Dell's PowerScale software aim to broaden support for object storage and bolster cyber resilience. The PowerScale Cybersecurity Suite offers a comprehensive approach to protect, access, and recover essential data. Organisations can also take advantage of improved application performance through Amazon EC2 cloud burst and minimise backup costs by using Dell ObjectScale, Amazon S3, or Wasabi cloud storage services.

A new feature for Dell PowerStore, Advanced Ransomware Detection, leverages artificial intelligence analytics to validate data integrity and mitigate downtime resulting from ransomware attacks. This update comes as Dell marks the fifth anniversary of PowerStore, which has been adopted by over 17,000 customers worldwide.

To streamline operations, Dell has also updated its software to automate the deployment and management of disaggregated private cloud and edge solutions using both Dell and partner technologies. Dell Private Cloud is positioned as a new method for setting up, managing, and scaling private clouds, built on cloud software from providers such as Broadcom, Nutanix, and Red Hat, operating on Dell's disaggregated infrastructure.

This solution is intended to safeguard investment through the use of reusable infrastructure, simplify workflows with end-to-end lifecycle management, and provide choice with a range of validated blueprints. Dell reports that automation in its Private Cloud offering can reduce provisioning steps for a private cloud stack by up to 90% compared to manual methods, delivering a functioning cluster in just two and a half hours without manual input following hardware installation, configuration, and onboarding.

Dell Private Cloud is managed via the Dell Automation Platform. This software platform is purposed to facilitate deployment and operation of disaggregated solutions, equipped with secure, zero-touch onboarding and centralised control.

Addressing customer perspectives, Keith Bradley, Vice President, IT and Security at Nature Fresh Farms, stated: "Dell Private Cloud has proven to be the right fit to helps us meet our business priorities. The flexibility to transition between cloud ecosystems and the ability to repurpose hardware is a game-changer for us by providing investment protection and enabling us to respond to evolving business needs quickly."

Updates to Dell NativeEdge introduced new features aimed at supporting virtualised workloads at the edge and within remote branch offices. These include policy-based load balancing, virtual machine snapshots, backup, and migration capabilities to protect and secure mission-critical data. The platform now also offers consistent management across varied edge environments, and supports integration of non-Dell and legacy infrastructure.

Arthur Lewis, President, Infrastructure Solutions Group at Dell Technologies, commented: "At Dell Technologies, we're defining the future architecture of the intelligent enterprise. Our disaggregated infrastructure approach helps customers build secure, efficient modern data centers that turn data into intelligence and complexity into clarity."

Some of these new solutions and updates will be available in stages. Dell PowerStore Advanced Ransomware Detection is scheduled for release in the second half of 2025. The Dell PowerProtect All-Flash Appliance is expected to be available in August 2025, while PowerScale Cyber and Disaster Recovery solutions and additional PowerScale software enhancements are anticipated to be accessible in the third quarter of 2025. Dell Private Cloud with VMware vSphere is currently available, with expanded ecosystem support and software-as-a-service deployment anticipated later in the year. Updates to Dell NativeEdge are expected by July 2025.