A10 Networks just released worldwide research that reveals the challenges and priorities of
enterprise organisations in today's post-pandemic era as we learn to live with
the COVID-19 pandemic and how this is shaping future technology requirements.
Of the 225 corporate organisations surveyed
in Asia Pacific, as many as 95% showed high levels of concern for all aspects
of enterprise digital resilience. Overall levels of concern were highest around
optimisation of security tools to ensure competitive advantage and delivering
superior user experience with customers accessing their ecosystem both easily
and securely. Further, organisations were also extremely concerned about their
internal capability to service IPv4 and migrate to IPv6 as well as demonstrating
awareness of the importance of balancing security and efficiency.
Private cloud is the preferred environment
Increased network traffic has compounded the
challenges faced by respondents, with 81% of Asia Pacific business
organisations reporting an increase in network traffic volumes over the past 12
months. This increase was 39% on averaged compared to the global average of
47%.
When asked about the expected breakdown of
their future network environment, 75% of Asia Pacific business organisations
said it would be cloud-based, with 33% indicating private cloud as their
preferred environment. However, they are not reassured by their cloud service
providers, with 48% stating that they cannot meet their SLAs.
The Enterprise Perspectives 2022 study was
conducted by independent research organisation Opinion Matters on 2,425 senior
application and networking professionals from ten geographies: UK, Germany,
Southern Europe (Italy and France), Benelux, Eastern Europe, Nordics, US,
India, Middle East and Asia Pacific.
The research was conducted to understand the
challenges, concerns and perspectives of large corporate organisations as they
continue to adapt their IT strategy and infrastructure to the rigours imposed
by digital transformation and a hybrid working environment.
Cyberthreats are Escalating
Undoubtedly, the intensifying threat
landscape is causing many concerns: compared to other areas, Asia Pacific
respondents were more concerned about the loss of data and sensitive assets in
the event of a data breach due to a cyber attack. Other concerns include
ransomware, potential downtime or lockdown in the event of a DDoS attack, and
the impact this would have on brand and reputation.
In response to these concerns, the research
showed a clear shift towards Zero Trust approaches, with 39% of Asia Pacific
business organisations saying they had already adopted a Zero Trust model in
the last 12 months.
The new normal may resemble the old normal
Although there has been an infrastructure shift to support distributed
home and remote working, 63% of Asia Pacific business organisations say that
all or most employees will work in the office in the long term, compared to an
average of 62% across all regions surveyed. Only 14% say that a minority or no
employees will work from the office and the majority will be remote. This runs
contrary to the predictions of a seismic shift to a permanently hybrid
enterprise with application and network professionals expecting the old normal
to reassert itself.
“The world has changed irrevocably,”
commented Anthony Webb, Vice President A10 International, at A10 Networks. “The
pace of digital transformation has accelerated beyond expectations. However, as
we move out of crisis mode, organisations are now focused on digital resilience,
moving to the cloud and strengthening their defences. There is a clear need to
help employees work in the way they feel most comfortable. And we are
seeing a gradual shift to Zero Trust models. The return to the office
environment may be due to the strong anxiety IT professionals have about
security, the cloud and aspects of digital resilience and continuity, as well
as the ability of their IT systems to cope with it.”
Technology investment priorities
In terms of investment priorities, artificial intelligence and machine
learning have undoubtedly come of age, with 52% of Asia Pacific enterprise
organisations saying they have deployed these technologies in the last 12
months. Furthermore, 45% say they have implemented
blockchain technologies, as well 42% say they have deployed IoT devices to help
business functions.
Interestingly, when asked which technology is
the most critical for business resilience in the coming year, metaverse
technologies scored the highest, followed by artificial intelligence, machine
learning and blockchain technologies.
Looking to the future, the adoption of cybersecurity initiatives will
likely become higher, and this includes Zero Trust models. With more widespread
implementation expected, as Asia Pacific enterprise organisations become
educated around the benefits. It is clear from the study that there is unlikely
to be any relief from the pressure on Asia Pacific businesses in the coming
years.
“With escalating threats, post-pandemic
fallout, the current Russia-Ukraine conflict, not to mention rising energy
prices and inflation,” Webb concluded. "Business organisations really need
to consider many issues. To address these issues, companies must continue to
invest in modern technologies, such as Zero Trust, that enable automation and
protection, along with a balance of defence and agility for an increasingly
multi-factor infrastructure."
To download the full study: Enterprise Perspectives 2022: Zero Trust,
Cloud and Remote Work Drive Digital Resiliency [click here].
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