Jul/Aug 19 - ChannelVision Magazine

improved understanding of its potential strength and benefits. If nowhere else, this can be seen in the rapid uptake in adoption. In Masergy’s 2017 survey, for instance, 35 percent of responding end user organizations had adopted SD- WAN into their networks, with a similar amount actively research- ing the technology. By early 2019, adoption jumped to 54 per- cent, with nine in 10 respondents having either adopted or actively researching a solution. Con- versely, a third of respondents in the 2017 survey said SD-WAN was just “on the radar.” That number fell to 10 percent who said the same in 2019. Cloud migration plans and the use of new and bandwidth-inten- sive applications remain the most important drivers for interest in SD-WAN. This falls in line with the ongoing digital transformation tak- ing place in corporate environments as well as the resultant WAN priorities stated by respondents: namely opti- mizing networks to support new tech- nologies and boosting network agility and responsiveness. In terms of expected IT benefits, simplified network management once again stands out in the 2019 survey, particularly among IT directors and managers, followed by the ability to customize the WAN with desired fea- Offer customers a reliable, next-gen UC experience that will optimize business success for all. With KAZOO, you can enhance your offering with flexible automations, innovative new feature sets, and dependable high-quality service. Elevate Your Customer Experience with KAZOO Get your demo today at info.2600Hz.com/demo 415-886-7900 / sales@2600Hz.com KAZOO Business benefits allow YOU to: Build customers trust by delivering reliable service Exceed client expectations with leading-edge features Customize the customer & user experience Innovate and scale in a highly competitive market Quickly create revenue-generating services Critical/Very Important Factors when Selecting SD-WAN Solutions Source: IDG, Masergy Challenges Associated with SD-WAN Adoption Source: IDG, Masergy 9.5% 86.0% 4.4% Search Pages Source: Heavy Reading Security considerations Available features/functionality Level of visibility and control into the network Flexibility of solution Ability to customize with the features you want/need Your current IT staffing capabilities (level of ongoing support needed) Existing relationship with vendor Anticipated complexity of implementation May-19 Jul-17 81% 91% 82% 73% 91% 72% 59% 46% 68% 78% 77% 76% 75% 75% 68% 67% Cost concerns Concerns about the skills needed to implement/manage Concerns about interoperability with existing WANs Resistance from within IT Lack of interest or support from final purchase decision-makers None Other May-19 Jul-17 56% 51% 46% 48% 43% 51% 30% 21% 25% 27% 6% 3% 2% 5% virtual reality 34 Channel Vision | July - August, 2019