Network traffic analysis (NTA) solutions have seen broad adoption across the industry as part of a holistic threat detection and response (TDR) program. There is general agreement regarding some of the core capabilities required in an NTA solution, but some disagreement around others. Analytics and threat intelligence integrations are essential components of any NTA solution. However, there is less clarity around managed services as they relate to NTA solutions.
Bob Laliberte, on Jun 14, 2019
Given the increasing complexity and scale of IT environments, it is becoming clear that technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will be required for operations teams to effectively and efficiently manage these environments. This is especially true for the network in highly distributed environments, since it plays an integral role in connecting data centers, clouds, and edge environments. Cisco wants to make its intent-based networking (IBN) solutions smarter, simpler, and more secure by adding AI/ML and multi-domain integration. At this year’s Cisco Live in San Diego, Cisco announced its latest innovations for IBN, AI Network Analytics, along with tight domain integration and additional AI/ML support in DevNet.
This Master Survey Results presentation focuses on 2019 IT budget expectations, technology initiatives and priorities, year-over-year spending change (overall and by technology), hiring/staffing challenges, and cloud adoption/usage trends.
In order to assess technology spending priorities over the next 12-18 months, ESG recently surveyed 810 IT and business professionals representing midmarket (100 to 999 employees) and enterprise-class (1,000 employees or more) organizations in North America and Western Europe. All respondents were personally responsible for or familiar with their organizations’ 2018 IT spending as well as their 2019 IT budget and spending plans at either an entire organization level or at a business unit/division/branch level.
The IT pendulum is swinging to distributed computing environments, network perimeters are dissolving, and compute is being distributed across various parts of organizations’ infrastructure—including, at times, their extended ecosystem. As a result, organizations need to ensure the appropriate levels of visibility and security at these remote locations, without dramatically increasing staff or tools. They need to invest in solutions that can scale to provide increased coverage and visibility, but that also ensure efficient use of resources. By implementing a common distributed data services layer as part of a comprehensive security operations and analytics platform architecture (SOAPA) and network operations architecture, organizations can reduce costs, mitigate risks, and improve operational efficiency.
IT is constantly trying to improve its agility and responsiveness in an effort to provide a more cloud-like experience for users, but is often held back by infrastructure, specifically network infrastructure. What are the biggest challenges facing networking teams as they look to maintain what’s already in place while simultaneously evolving the network with new technologies? ESG’s research indicates that organizations are still plagued by budgetary constraints and challenges related to implementing effective network security measures, while also struggling to provision network services for new or upgraded applications.
The initial—and typically de facto—party to blame for any IT outage is the network. As a result, the network is perceived to be a problematic burden rather than a strategic resource and is subsequently derided as being a cost center. However, in a time when organizations are increasingly leveraging cloud computing services and pursuing initiatives like digital transformation and IoT, the network is more important than ever.
ESG, on May 21, 2018
The objectives of this channel survey were to identify current trends and needs for effective partner enablement today, and determine how IT vendors should modernize their partner enablement programs and delivery from the ground up. ESG surveyed channel partners that sell into mid-size and enterprise organizations--38% IT value-added reseller, 36% managed services provider, 20% cloud services provider, 4% national or global systems integrator, 2% local or regional systems integrator. Survey respondents represented small, midmarket, and enterprise companies.
Mike Leone, on Apr 6, 2018
Research conducted by ESG reveals that a healthy number of IT organizations are at least testing the waters of blockchain technology, especially in verticals like financial services, telco, and transportation. As organizations look for ways to leverage blockchain to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs by leveraging a secure, decentralized platform that can help eliminate the middle man of transaction-based aspects of their business, continued proof points across verticals will go a long way to simplify the core concepts and clarify the benefits that organizations can achieve through the disruptive technology in their specific businesses.
Bob Laliberte, on Mar 21, 2018
As IoT devices play an increasingly important role in tracking supply chains, enabling smart cities, and delivering a differentiated shopping experience, it will be imperative to ensure your network and operations teams can handle the increased demand. Understand what your peers are reporting as the biggest impact of IoT on the network and operations and begin to ask the appropriate questions to ensure successful IoT initiatives and activities.
Data is just data unless you understand its relevance. Truly understand technology trends and market dynamics, and swiftly take advantage of arising business opportunities with ESG’s actionable data and analysis.
John McKnight, Vice President, Research and Analyst Services
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