Communications and Computing 2009 Benchmark: Optimization

WAN optimization is bordering on ubiquity, with nearly three-quarters of organizations deploying the technology. Moreover, most deployments have achieved what organizations want, although the impact of production-deployment reality tends to erode satisfaction: those evaluating and piloting solutions judge them extremely successful (5 out of 5), while those more fully deployed judge their efforts merely successful (3 out of 5). One key factor in that decline in satisfaction is the complexity and cost of widely deploying and managing appliances. So, organizations’ high preference (66%) for optimization solutions integrated into other network gear (assuming “all other things being equal” with respect to price and performance) makes a lot of sense and is sure to shape the solutions they deploy in coming years. Likewise is the strong interest (42.9%) in carrier-based solutions, now available from a rapidly growing number of providers. The future of WAN optimization in the enterprise is sure to see enterprises with a mix of in-house and managed solutions tailored to specific use cases.