CIOs, CISOs and IT leaders are drowning in complexity as they manage hybrid
workforces, cloud adoption and the ever-evolving threat landscape. A new report
from Aryaka, the leader and first to deliver Unified SASE as a
Service, reveals that Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Software-Defined
Wide Area Networking (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 paint a picture of the industry's changing landscape and highlight
key emerging trends:
- Hybrid Everything Drives Demand 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. A
significant 81% of respondents say hybrid work is driving demand for SASE
and zero-trust networking. This highlights the critical role these
technologies play in connecting a complex, hybrid world.
- SASE and SD-WAN: The Pillars of Modern Network
Security:
SASE and SD-WAN are no longer seen as niche solutions. The survey found
that a staggering 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, ultimately 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 for 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 is a Cornerstone of Hybrid Work
Security:
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 delves deeper into other
industry trends. For example, the exponential growth of cloud-based
applications and services, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), is placing a
notable strain on traditional network architectures. These modern applications
require secure, high-performance connections that can dynamically adapt to
changing traffic patterns. The report found that 67% of respondents see managed
services and SASE playing a greater role in managing these complex
environments.
Additionally, the report explores the shift in enterprises moving away from
expensive legacy Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) services, with 76%
planning to eliminate MPLS, either in the immediate future or in the next 2-3
years. Moreover, 10% of respondents have already eliminated MPLS completely.
"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. "Aryaka is listening to its customers and the IT
industry at large to deliver innovative solutions that address businesses' most
pressing needs. Our Unified SASE as a Service combines a unified single-pass
architecture, global private network backbone, and security, observability and
application performance capabilities into a single platform. That alone is
unprecedented, but we also deliver it as a service, providing the security
as well as the flexibility and affordability today's IT leaders require."
Aryaka's Secure Network Transformation Report 2024 offers a comprehensive
analysis of the findings and explores the implications for IT, network and
security leaders. To download the full report, please visit: https://www.aryaka.com/reports-and-guides/secure-network-transformation-report-2024/