Network Convergence - No longer a promise, now a reality

According to a new global survey conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit
(EIU) for AT&T Inc, 48 percent of businesses have already implemented IP
convergence in all or most of their business, nearly twice the number recorded a
year ago. In addition, the vast majority 84 percent of business leaders now
recognize the centrality of convergence to their strategic IT and business
goals, compared with only 45 percent in 2005.

The survey of 395 global senior executives, called 'Convergence Takes Hold in
the Enterprise', revealed a maturing attitude towards convergence. While
executives continue to expect streamlined network management and cost-savings as
the primary advantages of network convergence, executives are also beginning to
see beyond the bottom line. Around 70 percent of those polled cited 'better
collaboration with customers, suppliers and partners' and 'better customer
service' as recognized benefits of IP convergence, and 65 percent said they
were focusing on using converged networks to launch and manage new applications.

The EIU survey demon­strates that companies are prepared to make a
substantial investment to reap the benefits of convergence. Almost
three-quarters of respondents (72 percent) expected their firms to increase
spending in this area by at least 10 percent over the next two years. But this
is tempered by realistic concerns about security. When it comes to implementing
converged applications, such as voice over IP (VoIP), network-security fears are
uppermost in executives' minds. According to the survey, 58 percent view
network-security issues as the most significant challenge to implementing
convergence.

To overcome these challenges, security plans and measures must be integrated
throughout the convergence process. As Tom Siracusa, Director-VPN Strategy,
AT&T explained, “Security for converged networks and services must be
built in, not bolted on as an afterthought. A distributed model is needed that
places security in multiple locations, from the edge, through the network and
into the applications and databases.”

DQC NEWS BUREAU