Dell APEX Infrastructure is a subscription-based way to consume on‑premises infrastructure with a cloud-like experience. Instead of buying hardware outright, you subscribe to the technology and services you need and pay monthly based on actual usage. Key points: - **Cloud-like model for on‑premises**: You get servers, storage, data protection, converged and hyperconverged infrastructure, or cloud platforms delivered and integrated on your schedule, but you pay as you use them. - **Pay-per-use billing**: You simply pay for what you use each month, so your costs can better track your real demand instead of fixed, upfront purchases. - **Usage-based billing cap**: Monthly billing is **capped at 85% of total installed capacity**, which helps protect you from unexpected cost spikes as you grow into your capacity. - **Tailored to your needs**: You choose the technology, the level of deployment and support services, and the terms of your consumption agreement (length of term and committed capacity). In practice, Dell APEX Infrastructure lets you scale infrastructure up and down with your business while keeping more control over cost, risk, and service levels than a traditional purchase model.

With Dell APEX Infrastructure, you avoid paying for large amounts of unused capacity by aligning payments to actual usage. Here’s how it works: 1. **You define committed capacity**: You choose a baseline amount of capacity you know you’ll use. 2. **Dell deploys extra buffer capacity**: Additional capacity is installed on‑premises so you can grow into it without delays. 3. **You pay as you consume the buffer**: You only start paying for buffer capacity when you actually use it, following a **pay‑per‑use model**. 4. **Billing is capped at 85% of installed capacity**: Even if your usage spikes, your monthly bill will not exceed charges based on **85% of your total installed capacity**. Example in practice: - A technology distributor deploying a new CRM system expected **variable storage usage**. - By using APEX Infrastructure, they matched payments to real usage instead of buying excess storage up front. - As their CRM storage needs grew, they drew from the buffer capacity and paid more only when they actually used it, reducing overprovisioning costs. This model helps you: - **Reduce overprovisioning** by not buying years of capacity in advance. - **Smooth out costs** with predictable monthly billing and an 85% billing cap. - **Scale with confidence** knowing capacity is already installed and ready when you need it.

Designing and starting with Dell APEX Infrastructure is structured around three main decisions, so you can align the service to your business needs. **Step 1: Choose your technology** Select the infrastructure building blocks you need: - Servers - Storage - Data Protection - Converged and Hyperconverged Infrastructure - Cloud Platforms All are delivered as part of an APEX subscription, with the **85% monthly billing cap** on total installed capacity available for Storage, Data Protection, and VxRail. **Step 2: Select your services** Decide how much help you want from Dell: - Choose the deployment and support level that fits your internal capabilities. - Add services to support your people, processes, and workloads so you can manage risk and customize service levels on your terms. **Step 3: Define your consumption agreement** Set the commercial framework: - Choose the **length of the term**. - Define your **committed capacity**. - Operate under a **pay‑for‑what‑you‑use** model on top of that commitment. What you gain: - **Simplicity**: Cloud-like experience for on‑premises workloads, with one integrated subscription. - **Agility**: Capacity and payments that can adapt as your business changes. - **Control**: Ability to manage unpredictability, minimize risk, and tailor service levels. To get started, you engage your **Dell Technologies Account Manager**, who will help you scope requirements, design the right mix of technology and services, and set up the appropriate APEX Infrastructure subscription. Note that dark sites, non‑metered deployments, and customers not compliant with contract terms are not eligible for certain APEX capabilities.