International Data Corporation (IDC) has published a new vendor assessment and market analysis study profiling and ranking the leading providers in the network virtualization solutions market in Europe. The IDC MarketScape study found that although no single company had established itself as outright leader in the European network virtualization solutions market, IBM and Cisco can be considered the strongest major players in this nascent market, although Accenture, VMware and HP also feature within this grouping.
This IDC study assesses nine technology and solutions providers that are already present and active in the early stages of the development of the network virtualization solutions market in Europe. Vendor selection focuses on next-generation network virtualization services solutions either directly or via partnerships, as well as a strong geographic presence or ambition within the European services market. This assessment discusses both quantitative and qualitative characteristics that explain success in this strategic market. The network virtualization solutions market is an emerging market, driven by technology development on the one side, and the end-user drive for network efficiency and reliability to underpin their existing efforts towards transformation. While the technology is still maturing, solutions centered around professional services are beginning to emerge for enterprise buyers to help find their way through this maze.
“Network virtualization and SDN enable a new way of looking at networking,” said Lionel Lamy, associate vice president, EMEA Enterprise systems and Network Life Services, IDC. “The potential impact of the technology necessitates additional and in-depth professional services, because SDN enables communications infrastructure to become software programmable and brings the principles of cloud computing to the network.”
“Network virtualization and SDN are not mature yet,” said Chris Barnard, AVP, EMEA telco and networking. “SDN is new, so vendors are still working on standards and interoperability. Any immediate rush to SDN would involve a degree of risk, although leading edge enterprises are keen to explore it. Ultimately, it is about vision, and here external parties such as the nine vendors profiled in this study can play a key role.”
The IDC MarketScape study uses a rigorous scoring methodology that produces a definitive assessment of each vendor-s current market capabilities and strategies for competing in the future.
Additional key findings raise the following questions for potential buyers of network virtualization:
– As a buyer, how comfortable are you being aligned so early with one of the SDN “ideological camps”? In 2013, we-ve seen technology-focused, industry heavyweights lining up with different technological approaches.
– Is your enterprise happy to be aligned with one of the camps? If so, then it could be beneficial to engage with a services company associated with such an approach.
– To what extent can they the solutions partner provide professional services on technology issues to implement next-generation network virtualization solutions, but also provide consulting on the integration between the network and other parts of the ICT spectrum?
The study – IDC MarketScape: European Network Virtualization Solutions, 2013 Vendor Analysis (IDC #PM06V, December 2013) – is a new vendor assessment and market analysis profiling and ranking the leading providers in the emerging network solutions market in Europe using the IDC MarketScape model. The study covers nine vendors already present and active in this market in 2013: Accenture, Cisco, Dimension Data, HP, Huawei, IBM, Logicalis, Juniper, and Vmware.
About IDC MarketScape
The IDC MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of IT, telecommunications, or industry-specific suppliers in a given market. The research methodology uses a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor-s position within a given market. The IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT, telecommunications, or industry-specific vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a transparent foundation to allow companies to independently compare the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. For more than 49 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world-s leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.
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