As enterprises in the UAE accelerate their digital transformation journeys, the role of the data centre has evolved from a backend utility to a strategic business enabler. From hybrid cloud adoption to AI-ready infrastructure, organisations are looking for platforms that offer performance, simplicity, and intelligent management.
To understand how Cisco Data Centre technologies are shaping this transformation, we spoke with Sanjaya Satharasinghe, Architecture Team Lead at Comstor, and Nishad Sukumaran, Chief Operating Officer at NXDT, a key Cisco reseller driving next-generation data centre solutions across the UAE.
How do you see the current data centre transformation unfolding in the UAE?
Sanjaya: The UAE market is highly progressive. Customers are no longer asking if they should modernize, but how fast they can do it. What we see is a strong shift toward unified, software-driven data centre platforms that simplify operations while supporting diverse workloads. Cisco’s Data Centre portfolio aligns perfectly with this demand.
Nishad: From a reseller and solution integrator perspective, customers want infrastructure that is scalable, secure, and future-ready. The focus is on agility—supporting cloud, virtualization, containers, and emerging AI workloads without complexity. Cisco Data Centre solutions consistently meet these expectations.
Cisco Compute is gaining strong traction. What’s driving customer interest?
Sanjaya: Cisco Compute stands out because it’s designed for modern workloads. It’s not just about raw performance; it’s about intelligent integration with networking, security, and management. This allows customers to deploy applications faster and operate more efficiently. For partners, Cisco Compute opens up opportunities to deliver complete solutions rather than isolated components.
Nishad: Customers appreciate the flexibility Cisco Compute offers. Whether it’s traditional enterprise applications or cloud-native workloads, the platform adapts easily. This flexibility is critical for UAE organisations that are scaling rapidly and innovating continuously.
Cisco UCS has been a foundation of many data centres. Why does it continue to be relevant?
Nishad: Cisco UCS remains a cornerstone because of its unified architecture. It simplifies compute by converging servers, networking, and management into a single system. This reduces deployment time, lowers operational costs, and improves reliability. Many of our customers choose UCS because it’s a proven platform that scales seamlessly as business needs grow.
Sanjaya: Exactly. UCS has evolved over the years, but its core value remains the same—simplicity at scale. Combined with Cisco’s ecosystem, UCS continues to deliver strong ROI for customers across industries.
How does Cisco Intersight enhance data centre operations?
Sanjaya: Intersight brings a cloud-based operational model to the data centre. It provides a single, unified view for managing Cisco UCS and integrated platforms, along with advanced analytics and automation. This is especially valuable in hybrid environments, where IT teams need visibility and control across on-prem and cloud resources.
Nishad: For customers, Intersight means proactive operations. Predictive insights, policy-based automation, and simplified lifecycle management help reduce downtime and free IT teams to focus on innovation rather than maintenance.
How do Comstor Gulf and NXDT work together to deliver value to customers?
Sanjaya: Our role at Comstor Gulf is to enable partners like NXDT with the right solutions, technical expertise, and go-to-market support. Cisco Data Centre technologies allow partners to move up the value chain by offering integrated solutions and services.
Nishad: With Comstor’s support and Cisco’s technology leadership, we can design and deliver data centre solutions that are aligned with customer business goals. This partnership helps us build long-term relationships and trusted advisory roles with our customers.
What’s your vision for the future of data centres in the UAE?
Nishad: The future is intelligent and automated. Customers will expect infrastructure that can self-optimise, integrate seamlessly with cloud, and support next-generation applications.
Sanjaya: Cisco is uniquely positioned to lead this evolution. With Cisco Compute, UCS, and Intersight, organisations in the UAE have a clear path to building agile, secure, and future-ready data centres.
Image Credit: Comstor & NXDT
