WLANs Becoming Integral Part of Business Network Infrastructure, Security Remains a Concern
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., December 8, 2004 -
A recent survey by In-Stat/MDR (http://www.instat.com) has led the high-tech market research firm to conclude that Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) are moving beyond simply being an "overlay" to the wired LAN, to becoming a more pervasive and integral part of business customers’ network infrastructure. In-Stat/MDR finds that this is particularly evident when comparing survey respondents whose businesses have currently deployed WLANs with respondents whose businesses are planning to deploy WLANs in the near future: respondents indicate that planned WLANs will be accessible to a larger percentage of the business’ employees and consist of a larger number of APs (infrastructure) than current WLANs. Respondents are also planning larger mean CAPEX budgets for future WLAN deployments, compared to the mean CAPEX budgets for current WLAN deployments.
It is strongly evident that security is the top concern among all of the segments of respondents surveyed, and, consequently, according to Sam Lucero, an In-Stat/MDR analyst, “Should be a top concern for WLAN IC and WLAN equipment vendors when developing, marketing, and selling their products.” Security concerns were cited as the top reason for respondents to NOT deploy WLANs in their networks, narrowly edging out "no need for WLANs." Not surprisingly, these respondents cited enhancing security as the top thing that vendors could do to change the respondents’ minds about not deploying WLANs. Likewise, security was the top concern/problem that respondents who have already deployed WLANs faced with WLAN and was, by far, the top concern that respondents who are considering the deployment of WLAN in the future have with the technology.
In-Stat/MDR also found that:
Vendors, such as Linksys, D-Link, and Netgear, who traditionally focus on consumer and SOHO networking and consumer electronics gear, have been successful in penetrating even Enterprise businesses. Even looking ahead to future WLAN purchases, Linksys, D-Link, and Netgear are among the key vendors that respondents are actively considering as WLAN equipment suppliers.
Basic network access remains, by far, the most popular use for WLAN connectivity. These results suggest that, although WLAN deployment has, so far, been strongest in vertical industry segments, industry-specific applications—such as inventory tracking—are not the primary reason that WLANs are deployed. WLANs are deployed to give more mobile employees the same access to the network as their stationary colleagues.
A majority of respondents who have currently deployed WLAN indicated that they either have already implemented Voice over WLAN or that they intend to do so at some point in the future. Wi-Fi/cellular integration, in particular, will be a tremendous growth opportunity for VoWLAN in business.
Recent In-Stat research, Security Is Paramount: Analysis of Business WLAN Customer Requirements (#IN0401536LN), analyzes the data collected from a survey of 589 IT administrators and IT purchase influencers (i.e. company managers and executives), in August 2004, in order to examine trends in business customer adoption of WLAN. In addition, five-year forecasts are provided for both business WLAN access point and NIC (removable and embedded) shipments and revenue, for the period from 2003 to 2008. Among the issues examined are: WLAN adoption, 802.11 air standards being selected, top WLAN equipment vendors, applications with which WLAN is used in business settings, business environments in which WLAN is used, key concerns respondents have with WLAN, use of Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN), and respondents' budgets for business WLAN deployment. This report is suitable for product managers at WLAN equipment and WLAN IC vendor companies, financial/stock analysts covering WLAN-related markets, and management consultants advising on WLAN-related topics.
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