Global networking leader Cisco introduced its Unified Edge platform, a fully integrated system designed to deliver compute, storage, networking and security in a unified architecture for distributed AI workloads. As enterprises move from centralized datacenters toward real-time, localized AI inference, the Unified Edge makes it possible to process data where it is generated, whether in retail stores, manufacturing floors, healthcare sites or branch-office settings.
AI at the Edge: A Strategic Shift
As organisations globally pilot artificial intelligence initiatives, a significant percentage are encountering infrastructure bottlenecks that stall progress. According to Cisco, more than half of current AI pilots are hindered by infrastructure constraints.
Meanwhile, the edge is becoming the “new centre of gravity” for enterprise data: an estimated 75 % of enterprise data will be created and processed outside traditional datacenters this year.
With the proliferation of agentic AI (intelligent systems that can act autonomously), network traffic is transforming: Cisco reports agentic AI workloads can generate up to 25 times more network traffic than a typical chatbot.
“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 branch office, retail store, factory floor, stadium, and more. That’s where compute needs to live. With our Unified Edge we’re making it easier to power AI in the real world with flexible, secure systems that are simple to deploy, operate, and scale as demand grows.”
Features and Benefits: Built for AI, Built for Deployment
Performance and Modularity: Unified Edge delivers a full-stack converged architecture merging compute, storage and networking into a single system. It supports GPU and CPU configurations, offers redundant power and cooling, and arrives with pre-validated designs supported by Cisco’s extensive partner ecosystem.
Operational Simplicity: Deployment is expedited with zero-touch provisioning and pre-validated blueprints. Centralised management via Cisco Intersight and integrations with Splunk and ThousandEyes deliver fleet-wide observability, streamlined upgrades and automated operations minimising the need for specialised on-site staff.
Built-in Security: A multi-layered, zero-trust architecture protects AI environments at every layer from device through network to application. Features include tamper-proof components, deep telemetry, consistent policy enforcement and audit trails for compliance. This addresses the expanded attack surface presented by edge deployments.
Real-World Industry Impact
Cisco developed Unified Edge in collaboration with customers across sectors such as retail, manufacturing, financial services and healthcare, to reflect real-world constraints and ambitious AI-driven use cases.
In manufacturing, for example, real-time decisions on the factory floor mean vast volumes of data cannot be sent back to a central datacenter for inference it must be processed locally. As Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO of Rockwell Automation, noted:
“To maximize AI’s productivity benefits in a manufacturing environment, connecting islands of automation is critical. … Edge computing requires an integrated platform approach where the compute, the networking, and of course, the security all come together. Performant, secure networking at the edge is absolutely essential.”
Other strategic partners highlighted the shift in distributed computing: “The Intel-Cisco collaboration for Unified Edge represents a fundamental shift in how we think about distributed computing. … we’re not just connecting edge locations – we’re extending the full power of the data center to wherever data needs to be processed.” Cristina Rodriguez, Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Network & Edge Group.
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“The importance of the Edge is more apparent now than ever before. Early adoption of AI at the Edge delivers a competitive advantage that can transform entire industries. Sitting on the sidelines is no longer an option. … Building flexibility into a future-proof Edge platform is essential.” Lee Field, Vice President of US Solution Architecture at Verizon.
“As AI and data processing shift from centralized data centers to the on-premises edge, our customers will need solutions that deliver both agility and security right at the source. With Cisco Unified Edge we can seamlessly extend powerful secure cloud and AI infrastructure to wherever data is generated, empowering customers and their models to inference at the edge to make decisions faster than ever before. Offering this solution not only strengthens our customer relationships but also positions us at the forefront of future-ready technology adoption.” Brian Ortbals, SVP of Global Solutions and Architecture at World Wide Technology.
“The true power of AI will be unlocked when we can move the inferencing and analysis closer to where the data originates, making the edge the new frontier for the next wave of AI. Agentic and Physical AI will require compute at the edge to handle the substantial increase in network traffic and real-time analysis. Cisco Unified Edge simplifies adoption and operations for those enterprises that have struggled with how to implement AI to deliver true business impact.” Bob Laliberte, Principal Analyst at theCUBE Research.