Nutanix Challenges the Norm with Hybrid Infrastructure

Gartner has published the inaugural Magic Quadrant (MQ) for Distributed Hybrid Infrastructure with Nutanix positioned as a Challenger, recognizing our strong execution¹. We see this particular Magic Quadrant as Gartner’s first stab at comparing approaches to “cloud-inspired infrastructure” where the most restrictive requirement is a common control plane spanning a data center and one public cloud. 

For Nutanix, the challenger role is familiar as we have a history of challenging the status quo of every market we enter, so this classification plays to our strengths. We challenge legacy storage providers with a simpler, more cost-effective architecture featuring built-in data services across files, blocks and objects that can be managed by generalists. We challenge proprietary database companies with our Database-as-a-Service offering that allows companies to cost-effectively automate, provision, patch, and secure open-source databases at scale. Furthermore, we challenge legacy infrastructure companies with our webscale software defined stack for virtual machine and container-based applications. 

As this nascent MQ gets its bearings, we are excited to be challenging companies that are up to 50x our size. That said, we believe Gartner missed the mark on three important vectors that speak to our long-term vision:

1. First, because our customers are using multiple clouds already, we think hybrid multicloud is the natural destination for customers and that hybrid by itself is just a roadside stop. Our vision is to extend a consistent operating model for both apps and data across multiple hyperscaler clouds backed by full license portability – not one of today’s “leaders” supports this.
2. Second, we are at heart a data company and we see the value of a common data plane with consistent data services and a single architecture as a critical element of any distributed architecture. Our core belief is that the ability to move applications between clouds fundamentally hinges on the ability to move their data and access consistent data services in these clouds.
   Data does not seem to be a core consideration in this first-pass MQ. Our view is that whether applications are distributed or not, data, particularly in an Artificial Intelligence (AI) world, assuredly will not be specific to one edge, data center, or cloud.
3. Third, the importance of a viable edge strategy cannot be underestimated. The edge has unique requirements, namely scale-down, flexible hardware, and the ability to operate without an active cloud connection. We are excited about extending our value into the edge in a way that is differentiated for mixed performant workloads including cost-effective generative AI inferencing. 

So, in the spirit of a challenger, we welcome this new perspective and embrace our role – including our desire to help define this market with the customer-centric values that have made Nutanix a clear customer favorite. 

_{¹Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Distributed Hybrid Infrastructure,Julia Palmer, Tony Harvey, Michael Warrilow, David Wright, Jeffrey Hewitt, 27 September 2023} 

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