Hybrid workforces and the adoption of cloud services may benefit businesses and workers alike, but these capabilities are creating a myriad of new security threats for CIOs, CISOs, and IT leaders.
Aryaka's new report found that Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and SD-WAN are rapidly becoming essential tools for navigating this complex environment.
The Secure Network Transformation Report 2024 surveyed 202 IT, security and network professionals, director-level and above, across North America, EMEA and Asia. The findings illustrated a look at the industry's changing landscape and highlighted vital emerging trends:
Hybrid work drives the need for flexibility: The rise of hybrid work arrangements, coupled with hybrid infrastructure and security deployments, is fueling the need for adaptable and secure network solutions. Eighty-one respondents say hybrid work is driving demand for SASE and zero-trust networking. This highlights these technologies' critical role in connecting a complex, hybrid world.
SASE and SD-WAN interest rises: The survey found that 84% of respondents believe SASE is either "mature" or "somewhat mature," with an even higher number (91%) saying the same about SD-WAN. This maturation positions SASE and SD-WAN as trusted, complementary tools for modern network security strategies. SASE integrates security features with SD-WAN's network optimization capabilities, simplifying management and strengthening security.
Network and Security Convergence: A sizable majority (70%) of respondents indicated that they see value in converging SASE and SD-WAN solutions. The primary benefits of doing so are multi-pronged. 34% want more robust network operations and security, 24% want less operational burden, and 19% want vendor consolidation.
Zero-Trust Networking: As more organizations embrace hybrid work, securing access points becomes paramount. The survey revealed that 64% of respondents consider zero-trust security a crucial component of SASE for hybrid work deployments.
The Secure Network Transformation Report 2024 also considers how the growth of cloud-based applications and services, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), has strained traditional network architectures. Aryaka’s report found that 67% of respondents see managed services and SASE playing a more significant role in managing these complex environments.
Additionally, the report explores the shift in enterprises moving away from expensive legacy Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) services. 76% plan to eliminate MPLS in the immediate future or in the next 2-3 years. Moreover, 10% of respondents have already eliminated MPLS.
"Our report shows that the IT and network security landscape is undergoing a major transformation driven by the rise of hybrid work models and the ever-increasing adoption of AI and cloud-based applications and services," said Pete Harteveld, Chief Revenue Officer at Aryaka.
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