Edge AI demands speed, local data processing and agility. But how do you deliver this when your infrastructure is scattered far beyond the secure confines of your data center? Dell NativeEdge rises to this challenge, offering a secure, scalable and surprisingly versatile solution. It empowers you to run virtualized workloads, VMs and containers on everything from compact gateways to powerful, GPU-driven enterprise clusters.
NativeEdge isn’t just tackling the far edge; it’s providing an enterprise-wide, end-to-end curated stack that redefines edge operations with improved total cost of ownership (TCO), enhanced flexibility and robust security. Now extending its reach to manage even non-Dell devices and supercharged with attach storage options like Dell PowerStore and PowerVault, NativeEdge delivers independent scaling for compute and storage, ensuring the flexibility and ROI essential in today’s data-intensive AI landscape.
With this new release, NativeEdge – now integrated with Dell Automation Platform – pushes the boundaries of technology beyond traditional data centers and into environments where innovation meets real-world impact. Here’s how it’s redefining edge operations.
Simplifying Edge Complexity for Real-World Impact
Managing operations at the edge comes with unique challenges. From increasingly complex workloads to sustainability goals, businesses need solutions that break down barriers and make operations more effortless. NativeEdge delivers precisely that, simplifying edge-computing operations so you can focus on driving outcomes.
The latest enhancements to NativeEdge provide significant updates for virtualized workloads in edge and remote branch offices (ROBO). High availability (HA) features like clustering and policy-based load balancing ensure consistent performance without interruptions. You can now import VMware VMs into NativeEdge with just a few clicks, minimizing manual effort and operational strain. Not only does this protect critical data with VM snapshots and backup APIs, but it also integrates seamlessly with Dell’s data protection and third-party tools.
The outcome? Infrastructure deployment and management are now remarkably simpler, reducing dependence on costly on-site IT expertise.
Seamless Integration Across Hardware
For the first time, NativeEdge supports existing customer hardware, including legacy and non-Dell systems, alongside new Dell infrastructure. This enables zero-touch onboarding and unified control across all devices. Whether it’s NativeEdge Endpoints designed for centralized control, or third-party hardware, you get consistent and seamless deployments across distributed edge environments.
This flexibility means businesses can retire piecemeal solutions and replacement strategies, instead managing end-to-end edge operations with a single, trusted system. It’s a key differentiator that ensures businesses of all sizes can unlock the potential of edge computing without overhauling their infrastructure.
Delivering Unmatched Security
Security remains a critical priority at the edge, and NativeEdge addresses this with advanced protections built for industries like healthcare, finance and government. The platform now includes centralized user authentication with Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and OpenID Connect (OIDC) support. These enhancements are paired with proactive security controls and certifications, ensuring compliance across even the most stringent regulatory frameworks.
This unified security approach is designed to foster trust and reliability in environments where distributed operations can increase exposure. Whether securing sensitive workflows or meeting specific governance requirements, NativeEdge keeps edge environments safe and operational under the most demanding conditions.
Driving a Smarter, Greener Future with AI
AI is transforming industries, and edge computing is critical to maximizing its potential. NativeEdge takes edge AI to the next level by enabling cost-effective on-device inferencing that reduces energy consumption and operational expenses. By integrating low-power AI accelerators in Dell Edge Gateways and leveraging NVIDIA GPUs in high-performance edge servers, businesses can deploy powerful AI solutions without excessive energy demands.
Take, for example, real-time decision-making in retail. Edge AI can transform video streams into actionable insights to improve customer experiences, combat theft, or optimize inventory. Similarly, manufacturing operations can leverage AI-based vision systems to detect defects or predict maintenance needs with unprecedented accuracy. All of this is powered by the seamless hardware-software integration that makes NativeEdge a leader in its category.
Blueprinting for Scalable AI Applications
To simplify AI deployment further, NativeEdge now features pre-configured Blueprints to streamline applications for NVIDIA frameworks such as Metropolis for Vision and Riva for Speech. These turnkey solutions deliver faster, more scalable deployments, eliminating the complexity that often bogs down AI projects.
NativeEdge also introduces targeted use cases developed with industry-leading ecosystem partners, such as:
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- Accelerated remote data access for manufacturing powered by Vcinity.
- AI-driven loss prevention for retail enabled by Edgify.
- Enhanced industrial security utilizing Zero Trust OT Security and AI threat detection from Palo Alto Networks.
From optimized object detection with Hailo accelerator cards to discounted NVIDIA AI Enterprise licenses, NativeEdge supports a vast array of cutting-edge solutions tailored to diverse applications. The complete list of NativeEdge Blueprints are available here.
Proven Results You Can Trust¹
The claims tied to these innovations are not just promises; they’re backed by measurable success. NativeEdge continues to set the standard as the industry’s only edge operations software platform that offers secure device onboarding at scale, multicloud application orchestration and remote management.
A recent hands-on analysis of NativeEdge by TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group concluded that automation features can save up to 79% of the time typically spent on deploying and managing edge infrastructure. That’s not all. Automated AI application orchestration delivers up to 68% time savings, allowing organizations to focus on driving outcomes rather than time-consuming manual processes.
NativeEdge also makes deployment remarkably fast and simple. You can deploy infrastructure and applications in less than one minute or set up a high-availability compute cluster in just three clicks. Expanding or scaling? Adding or removing nodes takes only one click. All of this contributes to potential savings of up to $3.3 million in costs related to edge deployment and management.
These statistics demonstrate our unrelenting focus on delivering tangible results for our customers. Whether you’re a small business or a global enterprise, NativeEdge provides the world’s most adaptable and open edge operations ecosystem.² It’s why Dell is the industry leader in edge servers and storage.³
Your Future Starts at the Edge
Technology fuels human progress, and at Dell, we believe the edge is where today’s innovations shape tomorrow’s successes. NativeEdge reflects that vision, offering adaptable, efficient and sustainable solutions designed to meet modern challenges.
From expansive AI initiatives to the optimization of multicloud operations, NativeEdge provides the foundation for a secure, scalable edge that meets both technical demands and long-term sustainability goals. With its vast capabilities now extended to non-Dell devices, along with independent scaling of compute and storage, NativeEdge solidifies its position as the catalyst for what’s next in edge computing.
The edge isn’t just where networks end. It’s a launchpad for transformation. Are you ready to unlock the next era of innovation with NativeEdge? Your future starts here.
For more information, visit dell.com/NativeEdge.
1 Enterprise Strategy Group by TechTarget Technical Validation commissioned by Dell Technologies, “Dell NativeEdge – Edge Operations Software Platform,” February 2025. Full report
2 Based on Dell Technologies internal analysis, February 2025
3 IDC Worldwide Quarterly Enterprise Infrastructure Tracker: Buyer and Cloud Deployment, Q4 2024, March 2025. Based on revenue. Edge storage and edge servers refer to the heavy edge category, which IDC defines as the physical equipment that serves as the foundational infrastructure for edge.
