According to ISG, network security is both the top challenge and top investment priority for enterprise IT leaders.
Network security challenges
Sixty percent of respondents to the ISG survey on network modernization ranked network security among their top five challenges, and 21% ranked network security highest. At the same time, 75% listed network security as one of their top five infrastructure investment priorities for 2024, and 26% of them listed network security as their top priority.
Among network security challenges, protecting against cyber-attacks was the top concern for 23% of respondents and one of the top five concerns for 69%, followed by phishing and social engineering (for 12%). top concerns), data privacy and compliance laws (8%), identity and access management (7%), and the security implications of remote work (6%).
Emphasizing the focus on network security, the study also found that CISOs have the most influence in evaluating network services and solutions and determining an organization’s network strategy. The findings of this study indicate that networks are now widely considered as a domain of cybersecurity.
“With CISOs leading network decisions, security is now integrated into core technology and transformation decisions,” he said. alex backer, ISG Distinguished Analyst and co-author of this study. “His involvement of the CISO early in the technology purchasing process can result in faster decision-making and more closely aligning business, technology, and security goals.”
Businesses are less optimistic about legacy infrastructure management
Most companies give high marks to network security and network performance that supports remote workers. Sixty-one percent of respondents said their company’s network security was better than their peers, and 54% said their network’s ability to support remote workers was better than their peers.
Companies are less proactive about managing their legacy infrastructure, with only 32% of companies rating their networks as performing better than their competitors. Similarly, only 35% of respondents feel that their investments in network technology deliver better value for money than their peers, and their ecosystem performance is lower than that of their competitors. Only 31% said he was better than.
“Enterprises are currently achieving meaningful network savings of approximately 9% through network modernization, but to maintain that level, we are requiring network providers to more proactively identify future savings and “We want more transparency about what that will look like,” he said. michael dornanlead analyst and study co-author.
“14% of survey respondents said cost savings and efficiency are the most important key performance indicators in network service contracts, and 62% rated it in their top five KPIs.” Dornan added.