Just a decade back, enterprise flexibility was deemed as a bonus feature for most businesses. While the flexibility element gave enterprises a competitive edge over their competitors, it was not a priority for survival. However, fast forward to 2022, and this status quo has most certainly changed. Flexibility today is not a mere bonus but an imperative for survival.
A distributed workforce is a permanent fixture for enterprises today, and flexibility is a core ingredient in making this a reality. But what is the implication of this evolution?
Today’s increasingly remote and hybrid workforces have created new, novel issues for IT teams, who are already under immense pressure to ensure that enterprise networks remain reliable, secure, scalable, and compliant. The importance of a resilient network has never been more paramount.
In fact, according to Deloitte, these new networking demands are one of the key factors driving the need for more flexible consumption models from IT services providers. Their findings conclude that the pandemic has accelerated a shift towards as-a-service offerings. Three out of four of the IT leaders surveyed shared that they were running half of their enterprise IT-as-a-service.
Aruba’s recent research findings further validate this surge toward new service models. The report featuring insights from 580 IT leaders across South East Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong (SEATH) shows how enterprises are adjusting to increased flexibility needs and why Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) may well become the consumption model of choice.
What are the trends in the adoption of Network-as-a-Service?
As we dive head-first into the post-pandemic era, IT leaders driving digital transformation within their enterprises are leaning towards more agile and adaptable network models.
Our research found that when it comes to network management goals, businesses are prioritising the need to scale up quickly, as well as the desire to align network and business needs better. Additionally, 73 per cent of respondents in the SEATH region indicated access to new technology as one of the top four drivers for network investment.
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However, this desire to adopt new technologies and better flex and align the network comes at a certain price. It will require both IT talents that have the capabilities to lead these changes, as well as a network that can support this. The solution to this is NaaS.
Our research revealed that 100 per cent of the respondents are not only familiar with NaaS as a term, but 92 per cent of this group are also discussing implementation in some capacity within their enterprise. Unsurprising, given the benefits NaaS can bring to their operations.
It all comes back to flexibility
As companies continue to transition in and out of lockdowns, one of the main factors driving the spike in conversations around NaaS is having the flexibility to scale the network based on business needs, with 83 per cent of companies stating this has triggered their interest in the model.
The appetite for NaaS adoption is also underpinned by the expectation that NaaS can free up IT team time for innovation and strategic initiatives, as well as reduce operational costs.
Indeed, NaaS enables companies to own, operate, and manage a network and its associated services without actually buying the infrastructure. For companies struggling to keep up with the associated costs around ever-changing technologies, choosing NaaS could be an effective and viable solution.
The ability for enterprises to approach infrastructure as an operational expense provides certain balance sheet advantages as well. With budgets most likely strained after two years of unprecedented turbulence, the outright purchase of networking technology might not be an option.
NaaS is delivered, via subscription, through a cloud model to offer a high level of choice in terms of the services offered, pricing, availability, and features, among other benefits. When companies experience a surge in user base or services, they can easily scale up their network resources to meet these demands. Essentially, the NaaS paradigm addresses the need to pivot quickly, a concrete requirement of the next decade.
You’re only as strong as your weakest link
Our research suggests that security has also been driving the increased appetite for NaaS, with 64 per cent of IT leaders surveyed believing it will help them enhance their abilities in this area. Indeed, NaaS is a good way to guarantee tighter integrations between networking resources and network security.
Also Read: Finding strength in adversity: How COVID-19 can shape a resilient workforce
The outsourcing aspect of the NaaS model allows companies to offload their security responsibilities for more secure NaaS services. NaaS adoption will also mean that IT teams no longer have to use network management tools and outdated hardware, instead challenging their provider to ensure they have the most up-to-date solutions serving their business.
What’s more, NaaS makes it possible for a single provider to offer both networking services and security services like firewalls. For businesses failing to keep pace with ever-evolving cyber threats, switching to NaaS can ensure their threat defence is in safe hands.
Despite the clear benefits, our research also showed that barriers to implementation still remain. While there is widespread recognition of NaaS as a concept, only two out of three technology leaders said that they truly understand it. It is unsurprising then that only 36 per cent of leaders see it as an established and viable option for businesses today.
But NaaS can provide lower entry costs and greater flexibility and offer easier customisation to one’s needs. It can also deliver improved IT staff resilience, agility, line of business support, faster access to the latest technologies and better quality of service.
However, we need to bridge the gap between awareness and knowledge, unlocking the true potential of NaaS. Closing this gap would be an essential step that enterprises need to take in their journey towards network resiliency.
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