NaaS Addresses Network Skills Gaps and Promises Enhanced Efficiency, Says EMA Report

Enterprise Management Associates emphasizes how NaaS may help address the lack of qualified IT workers and promote operational effectiveness.

According to a recent analysis by Enterprise Management Associates (EMA), Network as a Service (NaaS) is emerging as a disruptive option for organizations suffering severe skills shortages in networking and security. By contracting with service providers to handle network management, the cloud-based model relieves internal IT teams' workloads while also providing access to state-of-the-art technologies.

Significant gaps in IT businesses' knowledge in areas including automation, cloud networks, and network security were found in EMA's July 2024 survey. With only 32% of respondents feeling adequately equipped with networking talent, many enterprises struggle to address high-priority projects amidst a backlog of tasks.

Shamus McGillicuddy, VP of Research at EMA, emphasized that NaaS enables organizations to redeploy existing network personnel towards strategic initiatives like optimizing user experiences, supporting AI deployments, and implementing network automation. Key skills gaps identified include network security policy management (44.0%), network monitoring and troubleshooting (37.6%), and cloud networking (35.6%).

Despite its advantages, the adoption of NaaS faces challenges such as operational cost concerns and issues related to service quality visibility and security. However, there is a growing expectation among respondents for NaaS offerings to include integrated managed security services.

EMA's findings underscore NaaS's potential to not only mitigate skills gaps but also enhance operational agility, scalability, and security for enterprises navigating complex IT landscapes.