Logicalis Now Digitizes Health Care With FlexPod

Partners and executives discuss the benefits of Cisco and NetApp’s converged infrastructure solution at NetApp Insight 2019.

Seven years after the unveiling of Cisco and NetApp’s converged infrastructure solution known as FlexPod, the technology is turning heads: Partners like Logicalis told CRN at NetApp Insight 2019 that the solution has become a key component of its go-to-market strategy.

“In the hospital space, we’re creating that synergy of workloads between going on-prem and off-prem and using NetApp’s technology to accommodate that,” said Chuck Farrow, vice president of strategic alliances at Logicalis, based in New York City. “We’re driving their FlexPod solution, utilizing Nvidia as part of that health- care solution that we are bringing forward with data imaging and consulting around that.”

[Related: NetApp, Cisco Unveil New Managed Cloud Services, Vertical Solutions For FlexPod]

Partners are having an easier time customizing their FlexPod solutions for specific verticals following enhancements made to the solution in 2018. NetApp unveiled the first validated vertical solution for FlexPod, the FlexPod Datacenter for Epic EHR, which provides a complete infrastructure for managing electronic health records using Verona, Wis.-based Epic's platform.

It's the kind of enhancement that’s made FlexPod one of the most successful converged architectures in the market, according to Cisco Vice President of Global Strategic Partners Nick Holden.

“We have billions of dollars’ worth of business that we have fulfilled with our channel partners since 2011. The reason it’s been so successful is because the inherent flexibility with FlexPod. It can be configured: The compute, storage and network layer with an application management layer surrounding it, specifically to the unique workflows of every different customer,” said Holden. “That customization is where the partners have most of their margin opportunity.”

[Related: Top Moments From NetApp Insight 2019]

At NetApp Insight 2019, NetApp unveiled a new FlexPod infrastructure midsize solution that is tailored for cloud-connected mid-size workloads.