Dimension Data's latest Network Barometer has found that 45% of network estates assessed during 2011 will be totally obsolete within five years.
The barometer aggregated data from 294 technology lifestyle management assessments conducted around the world, and reviewed network readiness to support businesses by looking at security vulnerability, configuration variances from best practice and end-of-life status.
Dimension Data found that the amount of network estates that will become obsolete has increased from 38% in last year's findings. In addition, of the devices that are now in the obsolescence cycle, the percentage that is end-of-sale increased from 4.2% in calendar year 2010 to 70% in calendar year 2011.
According to the 2012 Network Barometer Report, a key factor for this massive leap in early stage obsolescence is that equipment providers are moving more products to end-of-sale to allow for newer technology.
Diminishing returns
Michael Abendanon, GM of network integration at Dimension Data SA, says the pace of technology innovation means the usable life of the capital asset is smaller than ever before. “Historically, clients planned and budgeted around a seven-year depreciation of their network.”
The sample size was weighted towards enterprises, which made up 53% of the sample size, while large companies accounted for 39%, medium firms totalled 7% and small entities accounted for 1%.
About 45% of the assessments were conducted in Europe, 24% in Asia, 13% in the Middle East and Africa, and 7% in the Americas. Sectors included automotive and manufacturing, construction, consumer goods, financial services, government and media.
Dimension Data's study also found that 75% of networks are carrying at least one known security vulnerability, a slight increase on the 2011 finding of 73%. Security breach announcements hit 60, up from last year's 45. In 2007, there were 64 reports.
The total number of configuration violations per device increased from 29 to 43, a regression to 2009 levels.
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