Introduction

According to IDC’s recent Asia/Pacific Enterprise Connectivity and Telecom Services Survey, only 51% of ANZ companies believe their networks are equipped to handle the complex demands of today’s digital economy.

Some might say that’s an alarming statistic. And yet my experience is that many Aussie enterprises are stuck in an ad-hoc or resistant technology mindset that’s stopping them from becoming future fit.

For example, the reliance on legacy infrastructure holds many Australian organisations back: costing more, being too rigid to scale, causing application performance issues, and creating security concerns.

IDC predicts that by 2027, 65% of the A2000* will use a cloud networking service with orchestration overlays to connect to, within, or across clouds, driving multicloud adoption and reducing the risk of cloud lock-in.

Typically, these solutions offer an integrated, unified plane. Where network and security are optimised through ubiquitous connectivity centered on a wireless first, multi-cloud approach.

However, the transition to multi-cloud isn’t without challenges. And before they ‘hit the cloud running’ businesses need to adopt an agile mindset with the capacity, willingness and dedication to handle the growing complexity of their cloud environments.

So how do multi-cloud network as a service (NaaS) solutions drive future fit? And, what do technology leaders need to solve for?

Optimising Efficiency and Security

According to the 2024 IDC Future of Connectedness – APeJ Implications report, by 2024, 70% of enterprises will benefit from optimised operational efficiency, enhanced security, and reduced network costs by leveraging SD-WAN and security for cloud-managed networking and security. This is partially because it enables businesses to automate network management, reducing manual IT workloads and refocusing resources on strategic initiatives.

In addition to this, NaaS solutions like BT’s recently launched Global Fabric will allow customers’ IT teams to learn how to set up and optimise their multi-cloud network configurations and experiment with application programmable interfaces (APIs) through their digital management portal. APIs will help customers integrate the multi-cloud connectivity into other digital business platforms and apps to boost innovation and growth.

Whilst of course security is another critical concern, with data breaches and cyberattacks rising, technology leaders must secure robust solutions.

Multi–cloud solutions have heightened security and resilience by design. And often utilise AI-driven security architecture as an overlay to provide continuous network monitoring, detecting and responding to cyber threats in real-time. This multi-layered approach bolsters security, and enables potential issues to be detected and dealt with in real-time, minimising disruption to operations.

Multicloud Flexibility and the Role of Trusted Partners

One of the biggest risks for enterprises adopting multi-cloud strategies is the threat of vendor lock-in, which can limit flexibility, scalability and increase costs: all the future fit benefits multi-cloud should come with.

Through the right trusted partners, NaaS solutions should offer seamless connectivity across cloud environments, allowing businesses to retain control and adaptability and enabling organisations to diversify their cloud strategies, enhancing resilience and ensuring business continuity.

IDC also predicts that by 2026, 70% of enterprises will assign all deployment responsibility, operational control, and technology innovation for at least one major network domain to a trusted management partner. This trend highlights the increasing reliance on partnerships to drive cloud innovation and, combined with managed services, offers a powerful solution for businesses looking to enhance their cloud capabilities.

Driving Sustainability with Cloud Innovation

Sustainability is no longer a peripheral; it’s a core business priority. And recent IDC data suggests that enterprises will rely on partnerships with Service Providers to integrate ESG use cases for efficiency and regulatory compliance, with 50% automating the management of sustainability metrics by 2027.

Global Fabric, as one example, is a multicloud networking solution that is 79% more energy efficient than previous BT MPLS networks, helping companies to meet these sustainability goals by reducing energy consumption. Additionally, real-time tracking of environmental impact, such as BT’s carbon dashboard, help companies keep track in real-time of their carbon footprint — aligning with both business goals and sustainability efforts.

The future of cloud in Australia lies in embracing an integrated, unified plane of connectivity, moving away from the current siloed and disconnected legacy systems.

This not only addresses today’s operational challenges but also sets the foundation for a future where cloud environments are secure, scalable, and sustainable.

To be future fit, Aussie businesses need to make technology decisions today that will allow them to continue meeting the complex demands of tomorrow.