Enterprise Interest in SDN Adoption Picks Up Steam
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Enterprise Interest in SDN Adoption Picks Up Steam
Driven by the need to reduce costs and increase IT agility, enterprise adoption of software-defined networking is rising rapidly, a new study finds. -
Rate of SDN Adoption
The study finds that 28% already use some form of SDN, 21% plan to deploy SDN in the next two years and 25% are considering SDN without any specific timeline attached. -
SDN Deployment Scenarios
More than half (53%) have or would deploy SDN with a combination of cloud, virtual switches and bare metal. Almost half (49%) deploying or considering software-defined networking said OpenStack is very or extremely important for their SDN strategy. -
Top SDN Benefits
Top benefits include cost savings (53%), improved network performance (47%), increased productivity (46%) and increased security (45%). -
Top SDN Challenges
Top concerns include realizing cost savings (47%), integration and interoperability (42%), and security (37%). -
Drivers of SDN Adoption
Adoption drivers included the availability of SDN appliances (69%), the ability to partition networks (58%), multi-tenant clouds (56%) and the removal of routing intelligence from devices (also 56%). -
Use of VLANs
Nearly half (49%) already make use of virtual LANs in their environments, and 17% plan to do so within the next two years. -
Adoption of SDN by Organizations Using VLANs
A full 38% of these sites are already using SDN technologies, and 49% are evaluating SDNs. -
Migration to Network-Functions Virtualization
A surprising 16% said that have already deployed some form of NFV software, and 44% said they are evaluating it. -
SDN Vendor Preferences
Although Cisco leads the category, with 66% of respondents either using or thinking about using the dominant network vendor, VMware (46%), Citrix (44%), Dell (40%) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (38%) are also top contenders. While enterprises are more apt to buy SDN offerings from large networking suppliers, midsize companies lean more on the channel (including VARs) and niche solution providers. -
Top SDN Vendor Criteria
Top vendor criteria include system reliability (87%), technical expertise (84%), and customer service and ease of doing business in terms of the sale (both tied at 81%).
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Why Metrics Matter to the Channel Conventional wisdom currently holds that the adoption of software-defined networking (SDN) will be led by carriers that need ways to more simply manage networks that sprawl around the globe. However, traditional enterprise IT organizations might now actually be leading the way in SDN adoption. A new survey of 466 IT professionals finds that more than one-fourth already are using some form of SDN, more than one-fifth plan to deploy it in the next two years and one-fourth are considering it but have not specified a time frame. Key benefits include cost savings, better network performance, increased productivity and improved security, according to the study, conducted by QuinStreet Enterprise, publisher of Channel Insider. From the perspective of solution providers in the channel, the fact that Cisco currently leads in terms of network preference should not be surprising, but VMware, Citrix, Dell and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are also strong contenders. It remains to be seen just how quickly software-defined networking will be implemented, but given the pressure on enterprise IT organizations to reduce costs and become more agile, it's clear that SDN has become a major priority.