Businesses face the constant challenge of fortifying their defenses to maintain resilience, productivity, and uninterrupted operations. This is especially important given the world’s increased data breach events, server outages, and the growing volume of data and users accessing their systems.

Striking a balance between keeping servers in top condition and managing costs is an ongoing struggle for most organizations. Additionally, IT infrastructure needs to be fast enough to detect and neutralize threats before further damage is caused. How can organizations ensure their server equipment consistently performs at peak level? This article examines solutions that may help support your business’s IT and cybersecurity goals.

Servers Are Working Double Time

Servers are under increased pressure due to evolving cybersecurity threats. Key challenges include:

1. Vulnerability to malware attacks and compromised data integrity/accessibility. Cybercriminals exploit human trust to steal sensitive information through methods like phishing and baiting.
2. Some attackers compromise software components during development or distribution.
3. Advanced persistent threats (APTs) are stealthy, targeted attacks coordinated by well-funded adversaries. They persistently sneak into networks and intercept server communication, typically aimed at conducting espionage or stealing data.
4. Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks constantly overwhelm servers, thus rendering them inaccessible to legitimate users.
5. Security teams are always on high alert due to threats powered by artificial intelligence (AI), as well as security risks related to the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing. This is particularly challenging when their infrastructure is outdated and lacks adequate monitoring and automated mitigation capabilities.

Organizations must adopt a proactive, layered approach to safeguard their servers and data. 

Invest In Robust IT Infrastructure For Optimal Performance

Imagine a scenario where vulnerabilities are embedded within the very infrastructure powering your business. Data breaches and APTs cripple operations, erode customer trust, and inflict significant financial damage. This is a harsh reality for many organizations relying on servers with inadequate security measures. More than ever, investing in a strong cybersecurity infrastructure is essential to achieve an organization’s security goals. Dell understands the challenges of modern IT teams and they answer the call to introduce more secure platforms. With the advanced features offered by the 16^th Generation (16G) PowerEdge servers, you are assured of optimal server performance and security tailor-fit for your business requirements.

Let’s explore four ways PowerEdge servers can fortify an organization’s defenses.

1. Built-in Security

Dell’s 16G PowerEdge servers address cybersecurity challenges head-on with the (DSDLC). This comprehensive approach integrates security throughout the entire development process, from initial design to ongoing monitoring.

The benefits for enterprises include:

• Proactive Vulnerability Mitigation: DSDLC identifies and addresses vulnerabilities early in the development process through threat modeling and adhering to secure coding and vulnerability testing practices.
• Rapid Threat Response: The DSDLC framework enables swift responses to emerging threats. Dell’s security experts continuously monitor the threat landscape to ensure timely patches and updates.
• Compliance Advantage: The process aligns with industry standards, providing a solid foundation for compliance.

2. Hardware-Enforced Security

Beyond secure development, PowerEdge servers boast a range of hardware-based security features at the supply chain level that provide a strong foundation for your overall security posture. These features include:

• Silicon Root of Trust (RoT): This hardware technology establishes a hardware-based foundation for Zero Trust, which is also applied in their supply chain process. RoT uses cryptography to verify that a computer’s firmware is genuine before it even starts up. This prevents hackers from tampering with the system and drastically reduces their potential targets.
• Secure Boot: PowerEdge servers leverage to ensure only authorized firmware is loaded during the boot process. This safeguards against unauthorized modifications and malicious code injection.
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0: An integrated security chip is embedded in each server to store encryption keys and perform secure authentication tasks.

These hardware-backed security features work together seamlessly to create a more robust and trustworthy server environment.

3. Automated Security Management

Manual security configurations are time-consuming and prone to human error. PowerEdge servers address this concern with the Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC), a management tool that streamlines workflows to minimize errors.

iDRAC allows you to:

• Automate firmware updates.
• Centralize security policies across your entire PowerEdge server fleet.
• Monitor system health and identify potential security threats in real time. iDRAC provides comprehensive system logs and alerts, allowing you to proactively address security concerns.

iDRAC empowers IT teams to focus on higher-level security strategies while reducing the risk of human error in security configurations.

4. Flexible Security Solutions

PowerEdge servers offer a wide range of security options including software integrations and features that are tailored to specific workloads. For example, virtualized environments benefit from for improved isolation. This flexibility allows you to develop a thorough security strategy that correlates with your organization’s needs and the threats it is defending against.

Final Thoughts

Dell 16G PowerEdge servers offer a compelling value proposition for security-conscious enterprises. These servers combine advanced technology, automation, and flexible security to help strengthen your cyber resilience, empower your IT team, and stay ahead of evolving threats.

Well-versed in server solutions, WEI is dedicated to helping your organization strengthen its cybersecurity posture by investing in advanced solutions such as Dell PowerEdge servers. Contact us as our team of experts is committed to empowering your organization to confidently navigate the digital landscape.

Next Steps: As a longtime partner, WEI knows that Dell Technologies follows an intrinsic approach to cybersecurity. Security is integrated, not bolted-on after the fact, and it is integrated into every step of Dell PowerEdge. Learn how Dell PowerEdge servers follow this strategy and mindset in this short video.

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Hybrid work, hybrid vehicles, hybrid energy and of course, hybrid cloud. It is a hybrid world as the hybrid transformation is affecting so many aspects of our lives. For enterprises, the shift to the hybrid cloud didn’t happen in isolation. It is the result of multiple, incremental changes across business and technology:

• Companies are evolving from centralized data storage to enterprise-wide data distribution.
• They’re shifting from complex on-premises management to streamlined, cloud-based oversight.
• Security teams are moving from a patchwork of individual devices and add-on solutions to integrated, core security systems.
• Businesses are replacing rigid, traditional operational models with flexible, as-a-service offerings.

The transition is a holistic adaptation to a world that demands greater flexibility, improved efficiencies, and accelerated innovation. The question is, how do you provide the same streamlined experience of the cloud across all facets of your IT estate?

Being Proactive: Data-Driven Business

Being data-driven offers companies a crucial advantage as data provides actionable insights into customer behavior, market trends, and operational efficiencies that are enabling organizations to make more informed decisions. It empowers them to anticipate market demands, tailor products or services, optimize supply chains, and improve customer experiences. According to a recent study, data-first-led organizations are:

• 49% more productive in terms of service innovation than their non-data-centric competitors.
• 20x more likely to beat their competitors to market by multiple quarters.
• 11% more likely to beat their revenue goals by 10% or more.

Becoming a data-driven business requires data-driven modernization, an approach that elevates data as the pre-eminent organizing principle for the business. This requires having the ability to apply the right resources to host, analyze and manage it all. HPE is providing the next generation of servers to meet the needs of data-driven organizations with their premier Gen 11 line. As we dive into their capabilities, IT leaders are finding that HPE is the for SAP Hana and Microsoft SQL Servers today.

Why Compute Matters

The most important resource when it comes to data is compute. Computing power is the primary force for organizing, processing, and retrieving an organization’s assets and data as it provides access to critical information regardless of where it resides. You need computing power that not only meets the current needs of your data-driven organization, but also the needs of tomorrow. To future-proof your business, you need to future-proof your server infrastructure. Enter HPE’s Gen 11 servers, designed to be the bedrock of a modern, hybrid cloud environment.

A Universal Cloud Experience

IT guru or not, people like the simplicity and convenience of the cloud. If your enterprise deploys a hybrid cloud architecture, you want cloud experience from data center, to edge to cloud so that you get the same level of serviceability for all servers. That is not an unrealistic expectation, as HPE’s next-gen ProLiant servers are engineered to deliver the same cloud experience regardless of consumption model. Whether you choose to get GEN11’s computing power through a traditional infrastructure purchase or through a pay-as-you-go model with HPE GreenLake, you gain status access to server health and firmware status within a single admin portal. By streamlining the management experience, server admin teams can pivot from reactive monitoring to proactive administration that automates tasks that used to be manually implemented.

The Power of AI

HPE’s ProLiant Gen 11 servers are engineered to do more than just automate tasks. They are fine-tuned to elevate AI capabilities across the enterprise. Specifically designed to capitalize on the AI revolution, these servers offer 33% more GPU density per unit to handle graphic-intensive and AI workloads compared to the previous server generation. This enhanced computing power is bolstered by a 50% increase in CPU cores, enabling more efficient workload consolidation. Not enough? HPE engineers doubled the I/O bandwidth to meet the demands of high-performance applications. All these advancements make Gen 11 an ideal choice for organizations aiming to scale AI operations.

Setting The Bar High

Just how high has HPE set the bar? Its new server generation has set 43 records along with 28 new world records for its HPE ProLiant Gen 11 line. These records involve measurements of not just computing power, but also energy efficiency. Setting these kinds of records is necessary to help ensure that companies break their own marks when it comes to data creation and analyzation.

Integrated Security

From silicon to software, that is the new mantra regarding today. Security is not an add on, nor are they bolted on. It’s integrated from design, to manufacturing, to delivery. Security is also simplified thanks to the iLO6 Security Dashboard that offers administrators a user-friendly tool that streamlines security and empowers them to effortlessly fortify their server infrastructure against potential threats. HPE has also integrated the Security Protocol and Data Model (SPDM) as a security standard that provides a uniform and secure method for these components to identify themselves, establish secure communication channels, and execute authenticated commands. Other security inclusions are a silicon root of trust, firmware validation and platform certificates, all of which help to collectively ensure the security and integrity of your server environment.

Conclusion

The world has changed to make way for a hybrid world that is driven by the intelligent use of data. Make sure you have the servers that were designed excel in that new world. With the line of HPE ProLiant servers, you can be assured that the transition to hybrid is worth it.

Next steps: The future of data storage is here with the HPE Alletra Storage platform supporting both block and file stores, along with the HPE GreenLake edge-to-cloud platform that enables workload administration and data protection from a single-pane-of-glass. Learn more by downloading our free tech brief, Eliminate Costly Data Silos For Data-First Modernization.

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As various businesses embrace the digital transformation era, sustainability has become a pressing concern, especially when it comes to aligning with initiatives. For this reason, data centers have come under scrutiny for their significant power usage, which accounts for an astounding . To stay within ordinances, enterprises are adopting greener initiatives as part of their digital transformation journey and their data centers.

This brings us to Dell Technologies, which has made remarkable strides in sustainability with its latest generation of PowerEdge servers, offering businesses a simple way to scale workloads while prioritizing eco-friendly practices

Next-Gen PowerEdge Servers: A Proactive Approach On Sustainability

These servers not only offer exceptional performance and reliability, but also provide customers with a clear pathway to achieve their energy efficiency and sustainability goals as part of their digital transformation journey. Let’s delve into the forward-thinking features PowerEdge servers offer and how these attributes are designed to drive positive change in operations efficiency for your organization.

1. Enhanced Power And Cooling

Dell has leveraged engineering advancements to introduce smart cooling technology in their PowerEdge servers. This next-gen approach offers personalized air and liquid cooling options tailored to individual data centers. Additionally, this technology includes innovative CPU heatsink systems that ensure optimal temperatures without compromising energy efficiency.

As a result, customers have achieved remarkable energy savings, with human-computer interface (HCI) products experiencing an impressive . Additionally, PowerEdge servers have shown a remarkable 29% increase in energy efficiency compared to the previous generation.

2. Support For Leading Processors

Dell’s dedication to sustainability goes far beyond power and cooling enhancements. The company fully embraces and supports the use of in its PowerEdge servers. This level of support empowers businesses to harness the full potential of the latest technological advancements and enables them to achieve optimal energy efficiency throughout diverse workloads.

3. Energy-Efficiency Certifications And Partnerships

With a remarkable total of 43 ENERGY STAR 3.0 certifications, as well as EPEAT Bronze and Silver certifications, Dell’s latest PowerEdge servers provide tangible reassurance to organizations committed to adopting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives.

Moreover, Dell actively engages in collaborative efforts with its supply chain partners to establish and maintain an eco-friendly data center infrastructure, thereby significantly reducing environmental impact and effectively minimizing operating costs.

4. Scalability And AI Adaptability

The connection between ecological goals and the rise of AI technology is evident in the Dell PowerEdge series, which is leading the way with its AI capabilities. Powered by fourth-generation Intel® Xeon® scalable processors and equipped with multiple sockets and GPUs, PowerEdge servers provide the AI horsepower and smart cooling capabilities that businesses need for improved energy efficiency.

The seamless integration of AI into PowerEdge servers empowers enterprises to maximize their full potential, one that caters to diverse workloads and facilitates data-driven decision-making. With up to 10X faster model generation and streamlined AI architecture management, these latest servers efficiently support AI workloads, all thanks to discrete GPUs and CPU-bound AI task support on both Intel and AMD processors. This adaptability gives customers the scalability to deploy AI capabilities, whether at the core or the edge.

Final Thoughts

Dell has achieved an impressive expansion in the capabilities of their new generation of PowerEdge servers to cater to enterprises in all industries, requirements, and environments. Dell’s solutions possess remarkable scalability and adaptability, empowering enterprises to achieve astounding accomplishments. This technological solution effectively addresses customers’ unique needs and challenges while still being environmentally friendly.

At WEI, we understand the diverse and intricate requirements of each customer’s path to digital transformation. No journey is the same. Our team of experts takes great pride in offering invaluable insights and expert guidance to help you create sustainable strategies that align seamlessly with your organization’s goals. Contact us today to explore how WEI can assist you in harnessing the full potential of Dell’s PowerEdge servers for your business.

Next Steps: Discover more about refreshing your servers and enhancing digital transformation by downloading our Dell tech brief, .

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IT professionals understand the significance of a secure IT infrastructure, and one of WEI’s longtime partners continues doing their part to help clients with cybersecurity. Dell’s implement a seven-pillar approach to cyber resiliency, meeting the U.S. Department of Defense standards for Zero Trust. This ensures thorough verification of every aspect of your IT environment, providing cyber resiliency and safeguarding data against malicious attacks, offering peace of mind for not only your IT team, but the entire organization it supports.

What Is A Zero Trust Approach?

The Zero Trust model enables, well, a zero trust strategy to boost cyber resiliency. It is a more effective approach that presumes all network activity both inside and outside the company to be suspect, thus requiring verification. This represents a significant shift away from traditional security models that focused on the perimeter of the network and access within its walls.

A Seven-Pillar Approach To Cyber Resiliency

To ensure enterprises are cyber-secure with Zero Trust, Dell and Intel have integrated a seven-pillar cyber resiliency approach to their PowerEdge servers.

1. Device Security

This step requires securing all network access devices, including laptops, smartphones, and servers. The PowerEdge server lineup is equipped with silicon-based hardware secured component verification (SCV) Fndthat has cryptographically signed inventory and certificates to ensure secure self-verification. This guarantees hardware integrity during transit to your business’s data center.

2. User Trust

The second pillar provides IT administrators with a secure way to deploy, update, and monitor servers using the (iDRAC). iDRAC also offers multiple security enhancements, such as multi-factor authentication using , integration with Active Directory and LDAP for single sign-on (SSO), and role-based access control and auditing.

3. Transport And Session Trust

The PowerEdge (iDRAC) comes with a dedicated network module and options for SSH/TLS encryption and authentication of data between servers and iDRAC web user interface. iDRAC then facilitates remote management and monitors critical events using onboard sensors; when parameters go beyond their limits, the system sends alerts and log events in the dashboard.

4. Software Trust

Each server prioritizes software trust through proactive validation and security testing across the software lifecycle to minimize malware and coding vulnerabilities. The end-to-end verified boot ensures only authorized code runs on PowerEdge servers, while other features such as drift detection, secure UEFI boot capabilities and recovery for BIOS and operating systems.

5. Data Trust

Dell PowerEdge servers utilize self-encrypting drives for hardware-based encryption, central key management and protection against unauthorized access to lost or stolen systems. Each server can be combined with various technologies such as VMware vSANTM encryption on VxRail which can be added to provide adequate data protection. Heightened protection is also achieved through the integration of data-at-rest encryption, Intel’s and , and scalable key management.

6. Visibility And Analytics

Dell and Intel recognize the importance of data-based decision making and a system health assessment for your organization. This is why PowerEdge servers are ideal for IT professionals who desire real-time insights on firmware health through firmware drift detection, including unauthorized changes. Any detected changes allow the system to revert to a known secure state, while automated logging and alerts track change events for auditing and analysis.

7. Automation And Orchestration

Offering a comprehensive solution to businesses, Dell PowerEdge servers are equipped with , an application for managing and monitoring servers. This platform offers a holistic view of servers, storage, and other parts to fix misconfigurations for consistent security.

Final Thoughts

Automated security checks and continuous server monitoring offer additional protection against advanced threats to organizations. Dell’s PowerEdge servers are an ideal choice for businesses due to their scalability, which allows them to adapt to changing demands.

If your organization’s goal is cyber resiliency, WEI provides assistance and advice through the implementation of Dell PowerEdge servers. By working together with Dell, WEI provides businesses peace of mind knowing they have the most powerful and scalable security tools available to secure their IT infrastructure. Get in touch if you are ready to prioritize cyber resiliency.

Next Steps: Discover more about refreshing your servers and enhancing digital transformation by downloading our Dell tech brief, .

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Thanks to increasingly effective servers, meteorologists are predicting weather more accurately, scientists are crafting new vaccines using genetic sequencing, and doctors are diagnosing patients faster with the best resources available. As technology advances, however, the demands placed on servers also increases. indicate that by the end of 2023, the internet will be comprised of 114 zettabytes of information, and that number will only increase with time. This equation leads to increased energy consumption which means more heat production. Increased heat production often results in a decrease in system performance.

To combat this issue, Dell has incorporated AI-driven cooling into its . This exciting technology uses thermal and mechanical simulation tools to optimize cooling and ensure sustained system performance. In this article, we discuss the benefits of smart cooling technology and how it is helping Dell EMC continue to push the boundaries of technological innovation.

How Does Smart Cooling Technology Work?

There are three primary methods servers employ to ensure that the system is not overwhelmed by heat production. This includes air cooling (or multi-vector cooling), direct liquid cooling (DLC), immersion cooling, or a combination of these technologies.

Each of these options come with their own benefits and methods, which I have outlined in detail below:

Air Cooling: Multi-vector cooling (MVC) maximizes the potential of air cooling. This cutting-edge technology employs a complex system of cost-effective and high-performing fans and heatsinks that streamline airflow and air temperature distribution across the chassis.

If the fans and heatsinks were not enough, the design of the system itself is engineered to prevent systems from overheating. In PowerEdge servers, the motherboard is T-shaped, and the power supply units are located at each corner of the chassis. This allows for improved airflow and system cooling.

Direct Liquid Cooling: This smart cooling technology uses liquid to absorb and remove heat created by high-power processors. For those concerned about potential leaks, Dell solutions also include Leak Sense technology. This intelligent system alerts customers of minor and major leaks and offers increased configuration.

Immersion Cooling: This cooling method is designed for power-dense systems operating in spaces with little or no conditioned air. In immersion cooling, the systems are submerged in a tank of liquid which captures 100% of the heat.

Making Smart Cooling Technology Smarter

When combined, air cooling, direct liquid cooling, and immersion cooling provide increased assurance that your system will not overheat or suffer any performance issues. But what really sets PowerEdge servers apart is the integration of artificial intelligence and system tools.

Dell’s servers now offer OpenManage Enterprise Power Manager, a tool which gives customers full insight and control of how their system prioritizes cooling. Here are a few ways this system serves customers:

• Allows users to monitor and manage power and thermal consumption for individual and groups of servers.
• Provides reports to help meet sustainability goals.
• Utilizes policies to set power caps at the rack or group level.
• Supports enhanced visualization of data center racks with power and thermal readings.
• Informs users of the power of virtual machine usage for a physical device.
• Shares information on server performance metrics.

This smart cooling system includes an integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC). This tool allows users to maximize resource use and adjust power when there is a decreased demand for performance. The Power Manager also provides pre-defined power policies, ensuring that users’ key workloads continue to operate.

Smart Cooling Technology And Sustainability

While performance is a primary concern for most IT-centric companies, preserving the environment is also of growing importance. Fortunately, customers who implement PowerEdge servers into their system will have a clean conscious.

Here are a few ways these servers have integrated environmentalism into their strategies:

• Decreased Drain On Energy º£½ÇÖ±²¥: Using the tools Power Manager provides, users will reduce expenses, maintain availability, and decrease power usage.
• Fewer Replacements: By using tools like MVC and DLC to keep your systems cool, users will replace tools less frequently. This will not only save you money but also decrease your carbon footprint.
• Power Caps: OpenManage allows administrators to place power caps on racks/rows/rooms of servers. When used effectively (especially when performance demand is lower) this has a significant impact on the energy drain of a data center.

Final Thoughts

Whether you are looking for ways to decrease your expenses, reduce your carbon footprint, or improve your system performance, smart cooling technology is the right choice for you. If you would like to begin integrating Dell’s PowerEdge servers into your system, we can get you started. We help businesses of all sizes every step of the way, from purchase through implementation. Contact us today to discover which tools are the right fit for you!

Next Steps: Discover more about refreshing your servers and enhancing digital transformation by downloading our tech brief,

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