Intel and Cisco are expanding a two-decade partnership to provide optimized performance that scales from data centers to networks and out to the edge, with Intel technology forming the foundation of Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) servers, Cisco Compute Hyperconverged with Nutanix and a range of Internet of Things and industry solutions. The strategy positions network and data infrastructure as a unified fabric, aiming to enable enterprises to power applications and data from anywhere while simplifying operations and boosting resiliency.
A centerpiece of the collaboration is Unified Edge, which Cisco describes as a first-of-its-kind integrated platform for distributed artificial intelligence workloads, powered by Intel Xeon 6 system-on-chip. The Unified Edge solution is designed to bring compute, networking, storage and security closer to where data is generated for real-time artificial intelligence inferencing and agentic workloads at the edge. Cisco UCS, powered by Intel Xeon Scalable processors, is pitched as a core platform for both traditional and generative artificial intelligence, including inference operations that are being mainstreamed on 5th Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors in Cisco UCS configurations.
The Cisco UCS X-Series modular system, using Intel Xeon Scalable processors, targets simplified data center environments by centralizing innovation in IT while supporting applications and data from any location. Cisco highlights the UCS C880A M8 rack server, which now combines NVIDIA HGX B300 SXM GPUs with Intel Xeon 6 CPUs to create a stack optimized for modern artificial intelligence workloads such as large language models, image inferencing and media processing. Intel’s Data Center GPU Flex Series acts as a general-purpose graphics processor optimized for media stream density and quality, and can be used on its own or with Intel Xeon processors for flexible, open media delivery solutions.
Intel Xeon Scalable processors also incorporate Intel Volume Management Device to enhance reliability, availability and serviceability in Cisco HyperFlex hyperconverged environments, while Intel Accelerator Engines inside the same processor family are positioned to increase application performance, reduce costs and improve power efficiency across on-premises, cloud and edge deployments. Cisco Compute Hyperconverged with Nutanix builds on these capabilities to accelerate infrastructure and application delivery with cloud-like operations and flexibility. Cisco Intersight, offered as-a-service or as a connected or private virtual appliance, provides centralized lifecycle management so IT teams can see, control and automate compute, storage and networking infrastructure from a single interface.
The partnership extends into vertical industry solutions that use Intel technologies within Cisco architectures to solve specific operational challenges. In retail, Cisco HyperFlex Edge combined with the Intel Distribution of the OpenVINO toolkit enabled Vispera to digitize store inventory and improve recognition accuracy for stocking and replenishment. Cisco Connected Factory in manufacturing leverages Intel technologies to converge plant and business networks for capabilities such as predictive maintenance and network access control. In healthcare, Cisco Digital Network Architecture for Healthcare featuring Intel Xeon processors connects medical devices, clinicians and patients to streamline collaboration, operations and compliance for patient data and device security.
Smart building deployments such as The Sinclair hotel use experience analytics powered by Cisco and Intel to drive more efficient building operations and support all-digital guest experiences, including intelligent heating and cooling and flexible dining services. In transportation, Cisco and Intel work together to improve safety, operational efficiency, security and mobility, illustrated by initiatives like Cisco Connected Stadium and a partnership with Network Rail Telecom to modernize the United Kingdom railway network for better passenger experience and resilience. The companies are also collaborating on private 5G services that simplify both 5G and IoT operations and support global IoT adoption, and on smart port projects such as the Port of Rotterdam, which uses technologies including 5G connectivity, real-time digital twins and Cisco OpenRoaming solutions to create more efficient and sustainable maritime infrastructure.
Customer success stories demonstrate how Cisco and Intel technologies are applied in real-world environments such as the Mall of America, where Intel, WaitTime and Cisco have deployed an artificial intelligence solution providing real-time capacity, crowd density and shopper experience insights to help inform business decisions while maintaining visitor privacy. A series of executive discussions and demos from events like Cisco Live showcase how the joint stack underpins use cases from software-defined broadcasting and virtual desktop infrastructure, powered by Intel Data Center GPU Flex Series, to generative artificial intelligence deployments on Cisco UCS with Intel Xeon Scalable processors. Across these examples, Intel and Cisco position their partnership as a way to minimize risk, accelerate time to value and simplify artificial intelligence and data infrastructure for enterprises across sectors.
