Technology Megatrends Are Shortening Network Life Expectancy

A recent study by global IT services provider Dimension Data showed that nearly half of all enterprise networks will be obsolete within five years. This is due to the fact that many corporate networks predate current megatrends such as mobility, bring your own device (BYOD), virtualization and pervasive video, which are rapidly consuming network capacity and capabilities. Representing a 38 percent increase over 2010 data, the state of the enterprise networks assessed during 2011 indicates the growing velocity of these technology trends.

In this slideshow, Dimension Data highlights key data from the study, which resulted in its 2012 Network Barometer Report. The annual report, based on the results of technology lifecycle management (TLM) assessments conducted by Dimension Data across hundreds of organizations worldwide, summarizes enterprise adherence to network best practices, potential security vulnerabilities and the end-of-life status of network devices. This year’s report includes findings from nearly 300 TLM assessments completed throughout 2011.

Click through for findings from a network life expectancy study conducted by Dimension Data.

Only 18 percent of all access switches discovered during the assessments would be able to properly support technologies such as desktop virtualization and pervasive video.

Tip: Organizations considering adoption of these technologies, among others, need to refresh their routing and switching infrastructure.

Two-thirds of all devices assessed in 2011 had at least one known security vulnerability.

Tip: TLM assessments are key to reducing security vulnerabilities. Repeat clients of the TLM Assessments had a 59 percent vulnerability rate, compared to a higher 75 percent vulnerability rate for non-repeat clients.

 

Of the known security vulnerabilities discovered, four of the 10 most prevalent were new. Three of these have a “high severity” rating, and one has a “critical” rating.

Tip: These findings underscore the need for organizations to ensure that their IOS patch management processes are comprehensive, and that they regularly screen for security vulnerabilities.

One-third of all wireless access points that were identified and assessed during 2011 were 802.11n-capable – nearly triple the 12 percent 802n penetration from the previous year.

Tip: As mobility becomes more pervasive, organizations must continue to upgrade the underlying network infrastructure responsible for the distribution and delivery of their communication services.

Of the devices that are now in the obsolescence cycle, 70 percent are at end-of-sale (EoS) (no longer being sold by the vendor). This represents an exponential increase from last year’s findings (up from only 4.2 percent in 2010).

Tip: As organizations deploy new technologies and services, they must continually assess the capabilities and long-term viability of the network devices required to support them.