Five Reasons Why Storage Modernisation Is a Smart Business Priority by Habib Mahakian

Hi Guys, 

The conventional case for storage modernisation often focuses on the benefits of upgrading to a new environment. A stronger case starts with understanding the cost of staying in the current one. That cost is growing fast and is less visible in day-to-day operations. Making it visible is what turns a modernisation conversation into a compelling business case.

What is the real cost of enterprise storage inaction?

As data volumes grow and AI workloads scale, the role of storage becomes more central to business performance. Without ongoing modernisation, technical debt can begin to accumulate at the storage layer, creating a gradual gap between evolving business needs and infrastructure capability. This challenge typically shows up across five areas:

1: Operational complexity that grows as workloads evolve

Every quarter that organisations run AI workloads on infrastructure not originally designed for them, the gap between capability and business requirement can widen. This can slow the pace of adoption while increasing pressure on security and compliance. Industry research shows that many businesses are already shifting a significant share of application spend towards modernisation. At the same time, layering new workloads onto existing environments can increase complexity over time, making a more structured approach increasingly important. Acting earlier helps manage this transition more efficiently and avoid unnecessary overhead costs.

2: Deferred modernisation creates complexity that does not need to exist

The longer storage modernisation is deferred, the more inter-connected the environment becomes. Legacy storage often sits alongside newer systems, creating additional data relationships, integrations and compliance dependencies over time. What could be a structured refresh can evolve into a more complex programme if left too late. Enterprises that act earlier are typically able to move faster, with less disruption and more predictable outcomes.

3: Widening resilience exposure in a higher-stakes regulatory environment

Environments designed for earlier resilience expectations may not fully align with today’s recovery requirements. In South Africa, regulators such as the Prudential Authority and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) are raising the bar for documented recovery capability through frameworks like Joint Standard 2 of 2024 on Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience, and the Operational Risk and Resilience Standards. These requirements mirror global developments such as NIS2 and DORA in Europe.

Businesses running legacy infrastructure are increasingly being asked to close gaps they did not plan for and cannot close quickly. Addressing these through modernisation can help strengthen resilience while supporting evolving regulatory needs, ensuring compliance with both local standards and international expectations.

4: Climbing energy costs on infrastructure built for a different era

Ageing storage consumes more energy per unit of useful work than modern alternatives. Global data centre electricity demand rose 17% in 2025 and total data centre power is projected to double by 2030 according to the IEA – corresponding with South Africa’s explosive rise in data centre electricity demand. For businesses with sustainability priorities, improving storage efficiency is becoming an important benefit that can help reduce energy intensity while supporting performance and scale.

5: Engineering talent locked into maintaining existing environments

Specialist teams often spend a lot of time maintaining and optimising existing environments. While this work is critical, it can limit the time available for innovation and new ideas. As demand for skills grows, freeing up engineering capacity becomes increasingly valuable. Modernisation can help shift focus from maintenance to supporting business priorities.

Why the ROI case for storage modernisation starts before the migration

Storage modernisation is no longer a capital expenditure decision. It is a competitive strategy decision that supports performance, resilience and efficiency across the business. For many South African organisations, the question is shifting. It’s not only about where storage modernisation delivers value, but about how to approach it in a way that aligns with broader transformation goals. Acting earlier can help businesses stay ahead of demand, reduce complexity over time and build a stronger foundation for future workloads.

Five Reasons Why Storage Modernisation Is a Smart Business Priority 

By Habib Mahakian, Vice President for Southern & Sub-Saharan Africa, Dell Technologies

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Meet Dell’s First Earbuds: Advanced Audio for Effortless Collaboration

Hi Friends, 

Redefining Workplace Audio for the Hybrid Era

In today’s hybrid work environment, clear, reliable audio is essential. IT leaders and employees alike agree that seamless collaboration starts with the right tools.

Enter the Dell Pro Plus Earbuds (EB525), the latest addition to Dell’s AI-based audio portfolio. These earbuds combine advanced noise filtering, voice optimisation and all-day comfort for employees with easy deployment and manageability for IT teams.

As the world’s first earbuds to earn Microsoft Teams Open Office Certification[i], the Dell Pro Plus Earbuds are designed to empower effortless communication, whether you’re commuting, working remotely or jumping into a quick Teams meeting. For IT, they simplify the challenge of managing audio solutions in a hybrid work environment, ensuring employees have the tools they need to stay productive, connected and focused on what matters most.

Bridging IT Priorities and Employee Needs

Consumer-grade audio gear often falls short in professional settings. Background noise, barking dogs or clinking coffee cups can derail meetings and reduce productivity. In hybrid work environments, where half the meeting happens over a microphone, clear, reliable audio is mission-critical. That’s where the Dell Pro Plus Earbuds come in.

• Seamless Collaboration: Certified for Microsoft Teams and Zoom, ensuring flawless compatibility with the most popular professional platforms.
• Noise-Free Performance: Microsoft Teams Open Office Certification guarantees top-tier audio quality, even in shared or high-noise environments, and ensures the strictest performance standards.
• Simplified IT Management: Centralised dashboard for easy device configuration, firmware updates and fleet oversight.
• Effortless Compatibility: Designed to integrate seamlessly with Dell laptops, docks and software, eliminating device compatibility issues.
• Built to Endure: Built to withstand real-world conditions with an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, making earbuds tough for real-world conditions.
• On-the-Go Convenience: Compact charging case offers portable, flexible connectivity for employees on the move.

What Sets Dell Pro Plus Earbuds Apart

These earbuds redefine productivity in modern workplaces. With superior mic quality, adaptive ANC, multi-host connectivity and premium audio experience, the Dell Pro Plus earbuds strike the perfect balance between IT priorities and employee expectations. Key features include:

• AI-Powered Noise-Cancelling Microphone: Leveraging a deep neural network trained on 500+ million noise samples, the mic isolates your voice with precision. Future-ready updates are easily deployed via Dell Display and Peripheral Manager (DDPM) as the AI model and noise database evolve.
• Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Dynamically minimises background noise in busy environments, while Enhanced Transparency Mode keeps you aware of your surroundings when needed.
• All-Day Comfort with a Custom Fit: Unlike competitors offering just three ear tip sizes, the Dell Pro Plus Earbuds include four (XS, S, M, L) for a perfect fit. Combined with a lightweight design, they’re built for extended wear.
• Effortless Touch Controls: Manage ANC, Transparency Mode, volume, calls, and music with simple touch gestures, keeping you focused and in control.
• Personalised Audio Experience: Customise equalisers, presets, and transparency settings through the Dell Audio Mobile App for sound tailored to your preferences.
• Seamless Multi-Device Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 and multi-host pairing support up to eight devices. The Dell Pair feature ensures quick setup and smooth transitions, while the compact Dell Wireless USB-C Audio Receiver fits neatly into the earbud case for easy portability and effortless switching between Dell Audio devices.

Elevate Your Workplace Audio

The Dell Pro Plus Earbuds exemplify how thoughtful design and customer insights can transform workplace communication. By tackling hybrid work challenges like ensuring seamless collaboration, IT simplicity and user satisfaction, they set a new standard for workplace audio.

The future of workplace audio isn’t just about cutting-edge technology; it’s about empowering teams to connect, collaborate and thrive. With the Dell Pro Plus Earbuds, that future is here. Ready to elevate your workplace experience?

[i] Based on internal analysis of publicly available data, July 2025

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Dell Technologies Forum 2025 Showcases the Future of AI and Innovation

Hi Guys,

This year’s Dell Technologies Forum South Africa will see organisations tackle AI challenges by getting hands-on with the newest cutting-edge products and services.

In addition to discovering tailored use cases designed to help them thrive in today's rapidly evolving technology landscape, organisations will have ample opportunity to engage directly with experts and see how others are tackling the same issues.

This year’s event is set to take place at the Kyalami International Convention Centre on 6 November 2025 and will explore how businesses can reimagine what’s possible using cutting-edge AI, data infrastructure, and AI-powered PCs - all designed to drive progress in an era of transformation.

From AI factories to modern disaggregated data centres and the rise of sustainable IT, attendees will hear directly from global and local experts, engage in live demos, and discover how Dell’s innovation is helping public and private sector organisations lead change.

Habib Mahakian, Dell Technologies’ Vice President for Southern & Sub-Saharan Africa: “The pace of transformation enabled by technology is accelerating across South Africa. Businesses are looking to scale AI responsibly, modernise infrastructure and prepare their workforce for what’s next. The 2025 edition of Dell Technologies Forum in Johannesburg will give business leaders the opportunity to experience how technologies like AI, multicloud and next-gen infrastructure are being applied to solve real business challenges. As a trusted technology vendor to our customers and partners in South Africa, Dell brings the depth, scale and expertise to help organisations take their next step forward.”

The Dell Technologies Forum is run in partnership with Intel and Microsoft. Click here for more information and to register for the event.

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Accelerating Enterprise AI Adoption through the Partner Network By Bennie du Plessis for Dell Technologies

Hi Guys, 

Canalys projects the global addressable technology market will reach over $5 trillion in 2025 and expects more than 70% to be partner-delivered. AI will be a key driver of this growth, and Dell is investing in tools and resources to help our partners accelerate enterprise AI adoption.

We’re doing this by embedding AI in our solutions to make them more intelligent, enabling customers to run AI workloads on our products, supported by our service offerings. We’re giving partners access to AI-enabled architecture like the Dell AI Factory to help them build AI capabilities on our industry-leading portfolio. Plus, we’re co-engineering an open AI ecosystem with strategic partners so deployments are repeatable, scalable and drive time-to-value.

Together with our partner ecosystem, we’ve built one of the largest go-to-market engines in the industry, with partners contributing approximately 50% of our net revenue¹ – an extraordinary achievement.

Creating these exceptional outcomes is only possible through strong partnerships. The 2025 Dell Technologies Partner Programme builds on our success to date with a predictable engagement model designed to drive profitable, sustainable growth for our partners.

The 2025 Programme helps partners capture opportunities in several key areas:

• AI Networking multiplier: We have a joint opportunity with infrastructure that supports AI solutions, including data management, power and cooling and networking. We’re doubling down on our base incentive for AI Networking with a 3X multiplier on our Dell PowerSwitch Z-series.
• Competency: We updated our Data Science & AI training competency to enable partners on our offerings across Dell AI Factory and on positioning Dell products for AI.
• Dell Services: Dell Asset Recovery Services will help partners plan for the PC refresh by securely and responsibly retiring legacy IT assets to drive environmental impact. To help assist partners with increased metal tier services revenue thresholds, we are retaining a 3X services tier revenue accelerator for all storage-attached services. Partners selling Storage+ with services and storage-based Dell APEX subscriptions are best positioned to take advantage of this accelerator for next year’s metal tiering.
• Commitment to powering progress together and driving efficiencies: Our initiative equips partners with essential tools and resources to support their journey and fulfil requirements. We offer an energy efficiency calculator, messaging resources, an RFP portal tool, on-demand training and Product Carbon Footprint reporting. We also refreshed our Sustainability Competency, launched last year, to help partners engage in valuable efficiency conversations with their customers.

Grow and modernise the core business

We are also committed to helping partners expand their business with powerful new incentives, a focus on collaboration and a consistent tier structure.

• Enhanced growth incentives: Titanium partners will receive a new 2% Storage+ growth incentive when they meet quarterly targets. Dell recently introduced one of the largest investments we’ve ever made in our Dell Partner Client PC business with an incremental 1.5% client growth incentive for Titanium partners when they meet their quarterly Client PC unit target. With these incentives, we’ll grow and win together.
• PC refresh: Our newly unveiled AI PC portfolio will enable partners to capitalise on the upcoming PC refresh cycle. The Client growth incentive, increased Client+ base rate eligibility and recognition of consumer products towards base rate eligibility will help partners meet customer demand.
• Compete Select rebate: Dell will reward all metal tier partners with an incremental 4% Compete Select acquisition rebate when they win new business with Dell storage, data protection or Client+. The rebate is eligible for large, underpenetrated accounts, adding previously ineligible end users to acquisition rebate eligibility.

Strengthen and streamline the partner experience

In developing our 2025 Programme, we listened to our partners’ feedback and will continue to enhance our tools, policies and processes to make it easier for partners to do business and engage with us.

• Accelerate growth and collaboration through Partner First Strategy for Storage: The introduction of the Compete Select rebate builds upon Partner First Strategy for Storage’s commitment to collaboration by making 99% of customers and prospective customers ‘partner first’ for storage. With a 5X increase in Partner of Record storage accounts since launch, Partner First is fostering collaboration between Dell sellers and partners, helping to unlock new revenue streams and drive storage outcomes. We’re also driving consistency in Dell seller compensation for our Client business to be agnostic of the route to market and to facilitate collaboration.
• Integrated technology: In-tool intelligence showcases partner capabilities based on past customer account engagements, partner of record status and competency completions, making it easier for sales reps to identify partners to collaborate with.
• Accelerate time to quote: Leverage competitively priced storage, client and server pre-configured bundles for faster quoting and expedited time to market.
• Empowering business decisions: Early this year, we will launch Incentive Simulator, enabling partners to calculate their prospective deal incentives and profit potential in the Incentives Centre.

Winning together

With predictable engagement and tailored rewards, we’re committed to our partners’ success. There has never been a better time to partner with Dell. The future is bright, and when we work together, we win together. Here’s to another year of partnership, growth and shared achievements.

For more details on specific programme investments and enhancements, click here.

Article By Bennie du Plessis, Senior Manager Channel for Dell Technologies, Sub-Saharan Africa

1Calculated from Q4 FY24 to Q3 FY25

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Make a Quantum Leap in Computational Capabilities By John Roese

Hi Friends, 

The future of computing is hybrid

The world of computing is advancing at an extraordinary pace, and businesses everywhere are working to keep up. While quantum computing (QC) is on track to revolutionise technology, it isn’t poised to replace classical computing just yet. Instead, a Hybrid Quantum-Classical Computing (HQCC) approach, where quantum processors complement classical computers to tackle the most complex challenges, seems to be the way forward.

According to IDC, the global quantum computing market is projected to reach $8.9 billion by 2028, highlighting the increasing demand for quantum-enhanced solutions. But what does this mean for businesses today, and how can they begin leveraging this emerging synergy?

Quantum computing: The promise is real, but so are the challenges

Quantum computing isn’t just about scientific theory anymore. It’s already being tested and applied in some of the most demanding industries. Its unparalleled ability to evaluate multiple possibilities simultaneously makes it an ideal choice for specific domains, from accelerating drug discovery to enabling faster financial risk modelling. What makes it powerful is its ability to consider many possibilities at once, making it ideal for problems that involve many variables and outcomes.

But today’s quantum machines are still in their early stages of development, characterised by limited qubit counts and relatively low fidelity rates. Systems will require significant improvement to achieve practical applications. Additionally, the control mechanisms required to implement instructions are prone to errors due to the intricate interplay of quantum phenomena, making it challenging to maintain coherence and accuracy. The complexity of quantum algorithms and the need for extensive error correction tools make it challenging to scale up qubit counts and improve overall computational power.

Moreover, the quantum computers’ limited capabilities in solving optimisation problems and machine learning tasks, which are critical applications in many fields, highlight the pressing need for HQCC approaches that can leverage the strengths of both paradigms. By combining the power of quantum processors with the stability and reliability of classical systems, HQCC offers the best of both worlds.

Preparing for quantum: How businesses can start today

It’s important to understand that HQCC isn’t an alternative to current High Performance Computing (HPC) operations, but an enhancement. Despite its potential, HQCC comes with some critical hurdles that need to be addressed, such as software interoperability, shortage of talent and evolving hardware advancements. Keeping that in mind, businesses that start exploring hybrid solutions now will be better positioned as quantum capabilities advance.

Here's a simple three-step approach to get started:

1. Discover: Begin with learning and experimentation. Quantum computing is an emerging field, so the first stage of preparing your business is to do some foundational research. Once you’re ready to experiment, consider using emulation for developing, porting and optimising code for quantum computing on a classical infrastructure, avoiding major upfront costs.

2. Identify: Not every problem is suited to quantum. You wouldn’t want to use it to do any kind of calculation that has one exact answer. For example, you shouldn’t use it to calculate your tax bill or process your payroll. On the other hand, it can be very good at solving optimisation problems. The key is to look for situations that are difficult to model because of a large number of variables. You also want use cases that are intrinsic to your business, where improving operations would have a large impact on your bottom line.

3. Deploy: Enable frictionless deployment into production and real business benefits. HQCC offers a flexible approach to deploying quantum computing solutions into production. By combining classical processing with the power of quantum computing, Hybrid Quantum-Classical Systems (HQCS) enable developers to create and test quantum algorithms in a familiar classical environment before deploying them on expensive quantum hardware. That means you can achieve frictionless deployment into production, accelerating your entry into the quantum computing era while minimising the risks of adopting a new technology.

John Roese, Global CTO & Chief AI Officer – Dell Technologies

The intersection of HQCC and AI

AI and quantum computing are increasingly converging. As AI models become more complex and classical systems begin to hit performance and energy limits, the potential for hybrid technologies like HQCC, which combines the capabilities of both AI and quantum, is immense.

AI enhances quantum computing by:

• Optimising workloads: AI can intelligently allocate tasks between classical and quantum processors.
• Improving algorithm efficiency: AI can refine quantum algorithms to run more efficiently on quantum hardware.
• Accelerating development: AI enables progress in quantum computing without relying on dedicated quantum hardware.

In turn, HQCC can advance AI by:

• Providing unparalleled compute power: Quantum computers can handle complex computations that classical systems struggle with, enabling AI models to scale in domains such as material science and drug discovery.
• Offering increased energy efficiency: By leveraging both classical and quantum processing, HQCC can deliver improved energy efficiency for AI tasks.

This two-way relationship creates synergy between AI and quantum computing, boosting the performance of each field and opening new possibilities across industries as they continue to mature.

Looking ahead: A smart step towards the future

The hybrid computing era is not just about technology - it’s about transformation. Imagine a world where problems that used to take years to solve are now tackled in days or even hours. With the seamless integration of HQCC, this vision is quickly becoming a reality. For forward-thinking enterprises, implementing hybrid solutions is the path to unlocking long-term growth, efficiency and innovation.

Article By John Roese, Global CTO & Chief AI Officer – Dell Technologies

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From LLMs to RAG: Why South African Enterprises Must Evolve Their GenAI Architecture By Tony Bartlett

Hi Guys, 

There’s no question: Generative AI (GenAI) has captured the imagination - and attention - of business leaders across South Africa. What started as a series of pilots is now becoming core to how companies operate, serve customers, and make decisions. But as many businesses are discovering, the real magic doesn’t just come from having a Large Language Model (LLM) in your tech stack. It comes from making GenAI generate tangible ROI.

And that’s where a new evolution is taking shape: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), a transformative approach that connects AI systems to an organisation’s unique data, which allows these systems to generate responses that are both more accurate and more contextually relevant.

What RAG really does and why it matters

While LLMs have shown remarkable fluency in generating text, they are limited by the static nature of their training data. In fast-changing industries, this leads to outdated or misleading information. For businesses operating under strict regulatory frameworks, these shortcomings present real risks.

This is where RAG comes in. And for those of us leading transformation in complex, fast-moving environments, it’s the upgrade we need.

RAG makes additional data available to LLMs, increasing their efficiency and scalability without having to retrain the model. Businesses can expand their AI deployments more effectively and adjust as their needs evolve. Additionally, RAG’s ability to draw from a diverse set of external data sources means it can adapt to varying needs and applications, scaling the model to reach new use cases.

The result? Answers that aren’t just intelligent - they’re grounded in current, verifiable data that also improves the model’s performance on enterprise-specific queries. It’s no surprise that the RAG market is expected to grow from $1.2 billion in 2024 to more than $67 billion by 2034, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 50% (Precedence Research).

A new frontier: Agentic RAG

Now take that one step further. Imagine if your RAG-powered GenAI assistant could also plan tasks, make decisions, and act on your behalf. Unlike traditional AI systems that rely heavily on human prompts or structured inputs, Agentic AI is a software system that uses artificial intelligence to autonomously make decisions and take actions to achieve a​ set of objectives identified by humans who serve as orchestrators or managers. These systems can autonomously negotiate schedules, manage supply chains, respond to customers in natural language, and even execute operational tasks that meet the directed goal.

Crucially, agentic systems are not just reactive - they are proactive and collaborative, operating in increasingly human-like ways. This evolution opens doors to greater organisational agility, real-time decision-making, and massive efficiency gains. It also brings forth ethical questions and cultural shifts that must be addressed through thoughtful leadership. At Dell, we welcome collaborative efforts to set principles and standards for responsible AI development that build trust, safety and enable global harmonised standards and innovation.

Tony Bartlett, Director of Data Centre Compute

A strategic playbook for South African CXOs

South African enterprises are embracing GenAI at an unprecedented pace. In the South African GenAI Roadmap 2025, a study published by World Wide Worx, Dell Technologies and Intel, 66% of respondents reported adoption of GenAI, up from 45% in 2024. Additionally, according to The Institute of Risk Management South Africa, the local GenAI market is forecast to increase from $27.1 million in 2024 to $173.5 million by 2030.

Despite this momentum, challenges remain. The same study found that 40% of South African respondents identify high implementation costs as the top barrier to adopting AI, followed by data privacy concerns (30%) and lack of skilled talent (29%).

To prepare for this shift and capitalise on RAG/Agentic RAG, here are five steps CXOs can take:

1. Build the right data and infrastructure backbone

RAG systems, specifically Agentic RAG, are only as powerful as the data they’re fed. Many South African enterprises still struggle with fragmented data systems and poor data governance. Investing in cloud-native data architectures, real-time data pipelines, and standardised governance protocols is foundational. Embedding synthetic data generation and privacy-aware AI training mechanisms will also help accelerate scale while staying compliant with regional regulations.

2. Start building AI governance now

Agentic RAG systems operate with higher levels of autonomy, which raises concerns around accountability. Therefore, building robust AI governance frameworks is critical - these must include ethical guidelines, human oversight, audit trails, and scenario-based testing. Transparency will also be essential for businesses. As regulatory frameworks around AI evolve and the strategic importance of GenAI grows, South African organisations without clear governance ownership – or those relying solely on operational IT leadership – may face increased pressure to formalise their oversight mechanisms.

3. Drive workforce readiness

The future of work isn’t human or machine - it’s a human and machine collaboration. Equip your teams with the training, tools, and trust they need to work alongside AI systems. You’ll need AI translators, prompt engineers, and most of all, people who can see opportunities and act on them. According to statista, the demand for AI and machine learning skills in South Arica is experiencing significant growth, with a projected annual growth rate of 26.22%. Businesses that invest in learning will be the ones that thrive.

4. Run focused pilots

You don’t need to deploy Agentic RAG enterprise-wide on day one. Adopt a “test-and-learn” operating model - run controlled pilots with clear KPIs based on business priorities, rapidly iterate based on insights, and scale what works - like onboarding documents, customer FAQs, or internal policy queries. Build momentum with wins that matter.

5. Connect AI to business value

Always tie your AI strategy back to business outcomes. Whether it’s faster decisions, better customer experiences, or more efficient teams, link GenAI adoption to measurable results. For example, a retailer in Germany uses RAG to power shopping assistants that check inventory in real time and deliver tailored product suggestions. The lesson? These technologies work best when they’re solving real business problems for people.

Final Thoughts: It’s Time to Evolve

For the South African CXO, the mandate is clear: don’t stop at LLMs. Lead your organisation into the next chapter of enterprise AI - one where intelligence is not just generated, but grounded, goal-driven, and trusted. As GenAI matures, the shift isn’t just about better models - it’s about better business outcomes. Smarter automation. Faster decisions. Deeper insights. Use it to build a business that’s not only more efficient but also more intelligent, adaptable, and ready for the future.

Article by Tony Bartlett, Director of Data Centre Compute, Dell Technologies South Africa

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Upgrade Your PCs to Upgrade Security & Future-proof your PC fleet By Musa Masungwini

Hi Guys, 

The latest-gen commercial AI PCs are designed to keep you ahead of cyber adversaries. By Musa Masungwini, Senior System Engineer for Data Protection Solutions at Dell Technologies South Africa

Did you know that a cyberattack occurs every 39 seconds?

It’s no wonder. The payoff for a single successful breach can be enormous for threat actors. So, even as the threat landscape evolves rapidly, one thing is certain: Attackers will continue to aggressively hunt for vulnerabilities to exploit. In addition to the growing concern around social engineering and identity-based threats, recent studies show a growing trend of attacks on the PC. File-less malware that frequently targets memory on the PC now comprises 75% of attacks.

On the home front, South Africa was ranked number one in Africa for ransomware and infostealer attacks in the second half of 2024.

To add to this, according to Microsoft 400 million PCs risk losing updates as Windows 10 support ends in 2025. In the meantime, AI has arrived on device, expanding innovation as well as the attack surface. With hundreds of models and AI features now in the mix, sensitive data is now at risk of exposure to applications like GenAI.

Given the challenges, it begs a question: What does effective endpoint security look like today, and how can you build a hardware-optimised approach to improve overall security strategy?

Reduce risk with PCs developed with the adversary in mind

No organisation can block every cyberattack. Instead, blend a proactive defence strategy with the ability to adapt quickly when a breach occurs. To do this, you must hurdle over one major risk: The unknown. Unknown vulnerabilities, unknown access, unknown intruders. Truly secure technology today must be built to catch and address anomalous activity when it happens, wherever it happens – down to the BIOS and silicon levels.

Enter the world’s most secure commercial AI PCs.* These devices are designed with the adversary in mind, offering advanced security features that assume attacks are inevitable and layering defences accordingly. Here’s how:

Musa Masungwini, Senior System Engineer for Data Protection Solutions at Dell Technologies South Africa

Device-level ‘below-the-OS’ security. Rigorous controls and assurance such as Dell Secured Component Verification protects organisations from the growing risk of supply chain attacks. BIOS tamper detections, collectively termed Dell SafeBIOS, alert on suspicious activities - helping ensure foundational, device-level security while in use. To bolster this at the silicon level, Dell activates additional Intel hardware root of trust, memory encryption, and virtualisation-based security configurations used by Windows 11.

Security software ecosystem integrations. Dell PC telemetry enables integration with leading third-party software. Reimagine endpoint security with ‘hardware-assisted security’ where below-the-OS insights from Dell and Intel enrich threat hunting in platforms like CrowdStrike Falcon – without the complex, resource-intensive integration work falling on IT and SecOps. Above the OS, Intel® Threat Detection Technology (Intel ® TDT) helps security ISVs like CrowdStrike scan for file-less attacks in memory with up to 7-11x performance offload to the Intel Integrated GPU. Intel and Dell are also actively enabling security ISVs to deploy new AI security workloads to run locally on AI PCs which increases user data privacy. CrowdStrike has documented the performance and applicability of AI run on the neural processing unit (NPU) to streamline many detection use cases not possible with cloud-run AI alone. Other ISVs have released AI PC solutions for deepfake detection, anti-phishing, data loss prevention, and secure file transfer.

Manageability. A secure fleet is a well-managed fleet. That’s why Dell builds PCs with both security and manageability in mind. We offer the most manageable commercial AI PCs**, including a full suite of solutions that help IT admins simplify and streamline endpoint management.​ This includes remediation with Intel vPro, e.g., management of out-of-band systems, offline PCs, or devices with an inaccessible operating system. ​

New research from MITRE Centre for Informed Defence proves that your choice of PC hardware plays a critical role in enabling security software and OS features to protect your assets effectively. (Learn more about the industry-validated MITRE ATT&CK Framework mapping of Dell and Intel commercial AI PCs here.)

Secure Your Fleet for the Future

Inevitable security exposures on outdated PCs. A growing attack surface as we explore the AI frontier. Emerging technologies on the dark web. These factors create a perfect environment for adversaries to breach networks at speed and scale.

With Dell and Intel as IT and security partners, customers invest in technologies that:

• Reduce the attack surface
• Improve threat detection and response
• Enable recovery and remediation to get back to business as usual

And because Dell and Intel deeply understand customer pain points around security, organisations not only gain access to advanced endpoint protections, they also benefit from streamlined procurement and intelligent integrations to alleviate operational burdens.

The cost of IT and security is rising rapidly. Work with partners like Dell and Intel to improve long-term cyber resilience and get more value from your technology investments as you refresh.

Upgrade to PCs that are future-proofed for the AI revolution – PCs that are already re-architecting endpoint security as we know it. Learn more about Dell Pro and Dell Pro Max portfolios.

*Based on Dell internal analysis, October 2024. Applicable to PCs on Intel processors. Not all features available with all PCs. Additional purchase required for some features. Validated by Principled Technologies. A comparison of security features, April 2024.

**Based on Dell internal analysis, January 2025. Most-manageable commercial PCs when comparing the systems management capabilities of Dell Update Processes, Dell Manageability Solution capabilities and integrations with Third-Party Management Solutions, with competitor update processes, systems management solution capabilities and integrations with third-party management solutions. Third-Party Management Solution – Microsoft Intune, is a separate purchase.

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Beat the Heat in Your Data Centre with AI-Driven Cooling Innovations By Tony Bartlett

Hi Guys, 

Data centres are the foundation of our digital world, powering everything from cloud computing to AI. But this immense capability comes at a cost - substantial energy consumption, much of it tied to cooling systems. As demand for computing grows, so too does the urgency to find more efficient, sustainable solutions.

AI is shifting the energy narrative, driving smarter, leaner consumption

Data centres account for about 1% of the world’s total energy consumption, according to the International Energy Agency. With the rapid growth of AI, edge computing, and 5G networks, this figure is expected to rise. Cooling systems alone can consume 30% - 40% of a data centre’s energy, making them an essential area for improvement.

AI is changing this narrative by introducing intelligent, adaptable, and automated solutions that optimise conditions while minimising energy use. One major application is in energy efficiency optimisation. As AI workloads increase, data centres face rising energy demands and associated emissions. Data centre power consumption in South Africa is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing demand for cloud services, data consumption, and digital infrastructure expansion.

AI-driven systems also respond to external environmental conditions in real time. They adjust cooling strategies based on current weather, humidity, and temperature, maintaining efficiency while adapting to changing surroundings. This flexibility helps data centres meet sustainability targets without compromising computing performance.

Tony Bartlett, Director of Data Centre Compute

Cooling solutions: From air to liquid and beyond

To meet evolving demands, data centres are embracing a mix of cooling solutions:

1. Air cooling: Air cooling, a traditional method, uses fans, heat sinks, and air circulation to dissipate heat from crucial server components like processors and memory. Data centres have traditionally used air flow to cool servers; approximately 99% of data centres still use this approach in one form or another.1 Advanced techniques like hot/cold aisle configurations and intelligent fan zoning help optimise airflow and reduce energy use. It is cost-effective, easy to maintain, and widely compatible with most standard servers and racks, making it a convenient option. However, it is less energy-efficient, struggles to scale with high-density AI workloads, and heavily relies on HVAC systems, which can increase electricity consumption and carbon emissions. While suitable for many setups, air cooling may fall short as computational demands rise, often prompting a shift to more advanced solutions.

2. Liquid cooling: Direct liquid cooling (DLC) uses small heat exchangers known as cold plates to deliver liquid directly to heat-generating components, leveraging liquid’s superior thermal conductivity to efficiently dissipate heat. It supports higher-density server configurations, reduces noise by minimising fan use, and handles increased thermal loads with lower energy spikes. The South African data centre cooling market is estimated at $60 million in 2025, and is expected to reach $120 million by 2031, growing by a CAGR of 13.43% between 2025 and 2031.

Dell’s DLC enabled servers like the Dell PowerEdge XE9680L employ liquid cooling directly within critical components like CPUs and GPUs. Data centre liquid cooling solutions reduce cooling energy consumption by 40% - 50% and improve power usage effectiveness (PUE).2

A great example of this is Dawn, the UK’s fastest AI supercomputer, co-designed with Dell, Intel and the University of Cambridge with UK Research and Innovation. Equipped with advanced liquid cooling and GPU efficiencies, Dawn achieved a PUE of 1.14 - a testament to how AI-driven cooling can cut energy consumption while boosting computational performance.

Large commercial data centres in South Africa typically consume 12 – 20MW of power. Just like their international counterparts, local facilities are sophisticated in their approach to PUE and using the optimal mix of energy sources.

3. Hybrid cooling solutions with integrated rack scalable systems: Hybrid cooling combines elements of both air and liquid cooling systems. It involves direct-to-chip liquid cooling for high-priority components (like CPUs or GPUs) along with air cooling to manage ambient temperature and cool other components like memory. Even DLC-enabled racks of dense compute can generate intense air heat loads up to 80 kW per rack.

Traditional air-cooling approaches limit rack density and create space and power challenges, even with direct liquid cooling on CPUs and GPUs. Standard industry rear door heat exchangers rely on cold water from a power-hungry refrigerated chiller system to extract heat from the air before blowing chilled air into data centres.

Placing cold plates on additional server components can be done in a 100% DLC system, but that increases costs, dramatically reduces serviceability and configurability, and means that all the cooling system components must be replaced with each generation of new hardware.

The IR7000 is a Dell-engineered, multi-generational rack infrastructure based on the OCP standard Orv3 rack design, with additional enhancements that support a hybrid cooled infrastructure. With the addition of the new, industry-first Dell PowerCool Enclosed Rear Door Heat Exchanger (eRDHx) technology, the system captures 100% of IT heat to liquid by leveraging both direct-to-chip liquid cooling integrated into the IR7000 that is delivered by blind-mate quick disconnects, and heat to liquid for all remaining components.

Instead of sending cooled air out into the environment, the eRDHx uses unique high-performance fans to recirculate now-cooler air back to the front of the rack for continuous cooling. By completely enclosing rack airflow and recycling the air through the side channels of the IR7000, the eRDHx can operate at warmer water temperatures than standard RDHx. This increase in water temperature eliminates reliance on refrigeration systems to cool water, reducing cooling power consumption up to 60% versus other DLC racks with rear door heat exchangers.

AI and cooling: A smarter approach to energy efficiency

The demands on data centres are only growing, and so is the need for innovative cooling solutions. By adopting AI-powered cooling strategies, South African businesses can reduce energy consumption, cut operational costs, and meet their sustainability goals without compromising performance. Now is the time to embrace smarter, AI-enabled technologies that ensure data centres can power our digital world responsibly.

Article by By Tony Bartlett, Director of Data Centre Compute, Dell Technologies South Africa

Sources:

1 Based on Dell analysis in April 2025. Assumes 36°C facility water supply and ASHRAE A3 inlet server air compared to 20°C facility water supply and ASHRAE A3 inlet server air. Actual savings will vary.

2 MarketsandMarkets™ Data centre Liquid Cooling Global Forecast to 2027, May 2022.

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New Year Resolutions - Week 31 Achievements & Failures in 2023 #TheLifesWay

Hi Guys, 

Week 31 started from 30 July to go till 5th August 2023 and since the last few weeks, it's been hectic as there were a lot of launch events during these months. Sometimes all this travel and attending events leave you with very less energy to focus on other things so it's of extreme importance that you do exercise your body and build some strength on a daily basis. 

1. Entertainment - The week started with the Pankaj Udhas show at Emperor's Palace in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has been performing live for the last 43 years and his voice quality is not really up to the mark but it was great to see a legend live in action. 

2. Launch Events - This week all days I have attended one or the other launch events from a lot of diverse brands. I started with the Women's Conference where I could not spend much time as it was really cold out there and kids felt the same so we had to leave early to attend the Pankaj Udhas Show as well. 

I got to play Soccer with the real team players of the South African National team with some people from Huawei South Africa as well. This was for the launch of some new Huawei Wearables. I got a Watch FIT SE along with a Soccer kit. 

The next day it was a Dell Technologies dinner and it was really a great personalized event. The next few days there was the Decorex Expo which I went to twice on the weekends. Thanks to Proud SA for making me a winner of the VIP Passes and all my family and friends also saw the event due to the same. 

Skyworth also launched their 100inch TVs at a big event and I got the invite for the same as well. It was really nice and got to see some of the latest TVs from Skyworth. The only thing was the event was in Boksburg and it took a while to reach there. 

Castle Lite invited us for another dinner party in Houghton and it was really a good one too. It was the launch of some new ambassadors where they got nice jackets and some other products from the brand. I don't think we got anything at the end of the event. 

Lastly, to end the week, I attended the Sony Alpha Festival Kyodoka Event in Randburg but had to leave early as I had a dinner appointment. The lines were long to grab Sony's Cameras so I didn't wait and this time I could not lay my hands on their powerful cameras and they were given 30 minutes for each person at the show. They didn't give them earlier and only after the first speaker then initiated the process and it meant the long queues. 

3. Thank You - I started again from zero to reach the 20000 mark by the end of the week. The counter is giving me some problems I need to find an app on mobile to keep tracking the same permanently and in the best way possible. 

I didn't watch any web series or movies during this week as there were so many things going on. 

4. YouTube - I did a lot of YouTube Shorts during this week and for July 23, I got 141 subscribers that's almost double the previous month in terms of subscribers count added to the channel. I thought that someday my channel would have a snowball effect but that has not happened as yet I will continue to create videos so that it eventually happens and then I will reach that 100k mark Silver play button and thereafter 1M Golden play button from YouTube. If you don't have subscribed to my channel and if you love unboxing, gadgets and stationery items then please do give it a look and then decide to subscribe - www.youtube.com/@thelifesway

Thanks a lot to all the brands for all the launch event invites and other expos happening around me to attend. I am really grateful to the expo as it has expanded my mindset to check out thousands of brands and companies that are there to help their customers in whatever way possible. 

Aum Namah Shivay!

Till next time...Aashish

Thanks! Cheers!!!

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