Forecast: 92% of Companies Expect to Adopt SD-WAN by 2026

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SD-WAN is gaining traction in the SMB segment, with 92% of companies and 64% of sites expecting to adopt the technology by 2026, according to a new forecast from cloud provider Masergy based on research conducted by Altman Solon. The most common reasons for adoption were efficiency and cost savings, both of which were cited by 38% of respondents.

In selecting an SD-WAN provider, most companies prioritize security (about 60%) and solution reliability (about half), according to the report. Most companies (77%) will seek out an SD-WAN provider to operate the technology for them or to help them operate a co-managed solution.

More than half of all companies (about 58%) expect to use hybrid SD-WAN within the next five years, with 63% of private access users and 55% of public access users considering a shift to a hybrid model. Half of public-only or internet-only SD-WAN users are expecting to incorporate more private access for their critical applications.

Among the survey’s other findings:

  • Performance and security matter most: Solution reliability (~50%) and security (~60%) are top priorities.
  • Just over half of of IT decision makers don’t have a good understanding of SASE’s impact and business implications.
  • Private connectivity is expected continue to play a prominent role in backing up SD-WAN architectures.

“This study affirms that IT leaders understand the value of SD-WAN connectivity and are leaning into hybrid access models that strike the right balance between price and performance for a ROI ‘sweet spot,'” said Terry Traina, CTO at Masergy, in a prepared statement. “This is consistent with our experience at Masergy — the appetite for agnostic SD-WAN service continues to skyrocket as companies address changing environments including flexible remote work options.”