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According to a recent study by Aruba, both the demand and challenges of Network-as-a-Service are on the rise.

In a recent study, Aruba concludes that companies are busy adapting their IT infrastructure and network environments for the future. Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) is an increasingly popular option.

The premise of NaaS is cost-efficiency. NaaS involves a single, fixed-price service for all network infrastructure and management. Service providers outsource all network activities — from infrastructure to network security, update management, 24/7 monitoring and lifecycle management — to provide companies with access to a single network environment.

According to Aruba, interest in NaaS is growing due to its financial perks. A majority of the respondents of a recent Aruba survey say they expect NaaS to help reduce operational costs. Similarly, more than half indicate that adopting NaaS cuts investments in network equipment. In addition, some respondents expect NaaS to provide them with better network security and more scalability.

Implementation problems

Despite positive responses, Aruba researchers note that implementing NaaS is everything but a breeze. Many companies find that internal processes stand in the way of implementation. Compliance with internal procurement processes is a prominent challenge.

Additionally, there seems to be a lack of clarity regarding the concept of NaaS. Although 100 percent of the respondents claimed to be familiar with the concept, almost half said they were unsure of its advantages. Merely a quarter of the respondents say they fully understand the benefits of NaaS.

The uncertainty extends to management. Just over a third of IT managers surveyed see NaaS as an established, clear and viable solution for their company. The remaining managers indicate that they see NaaS as a concept in its infancy.