Predictions Series 2022: AiThority Interview with CXOs at Aryaka, a Leader in SASE Solutions

Hi, Matt Carter. What are your predictions for the hybrid work environments and the factors that influence business processes?

Matt Carter: The new year will be the most unpredictable yet due to the global economy, politics, increasing threats, etc. So, adopt an attitude and approach that is able to adapt. Maintain the headroom for this.

Initially a stepping stone to a return to the office, hybrid work environments are no longer seen as transitory but rather an expected flexibility to the benefits of both employees and organizations. Organizations are now aware that employees can remain productive working from home, though access to office space is still valuable. Of course, the nature of each company varies greatly. That said, we expect to see hybrid work environments endure. Organizations will need to retain the ability to offer a scalable hybrid offering, rather than a temporary one, with continual investment in technologies that improve the capability, connectivity, and security for those working away from the office.

How should businesses prepare for the uncertain times in 2023?

Matt: In tumultuous times, the ability for organizations to predict the future of the market decreases, while the need for adapting and reacting increases. The uncertainty of what 2023 may bring is disconcerting but recognizable at this point. The future will show that those organizations that remain nimble, grant room for pivoting, and adopt an attitude and approach that emphasizes adaptability, will be positioned to succeed through these uncertain times.

Hi, Dennis. You are an expert in cybersecurity. What are your predictions for the IT industry in 2023?

Dennis Monner:  The continued growth in cyberattacks is apparent and shows no signs of slowing down. Compounded with unsteady economic headwinds, each successful and costly cyberattack will prove increasingly devastating as margins tighten. Enterprises will put additional focus, and subsequent investment, in protecting their global infrastructure from asymmetric threats in hopes of reducing harm when attacks occur and shoring up business resilience.

What about the vulnerabilities that impact physical assets?

Dennis: There is an unmistakable vulnerability inherent in the physical assets that make up an organization’s network infrastructure. While not unique to the present moment, recent events have exposed these vulnerabilities to both natural and man-made disasters by way of extreme weather, viral outbreaks, supply chain fragility and escalating state warfare.

Enterprises will make major investments in the dynamic relocation of physical assets to areas of relative security in the face of this growing risk.

What is the future of Zero-trust security?

Dennis: Zero trust security is going from a period of conceptualization to implementation, from the abstract to the specific. As zero trust grows in importance and delivers tangible value in keeping enterprise networks secure, it will lead to a better understanding of zero trust as a model among decision makers. This shared understanding will lead to further, more meaningful implementation through multiple layers of enterprise networks. 

Hi Renuka. Your take on the political realities and the future of data sovereignty?

Renuka Nadkarni: There will be a renewed focus on addressing potential WAN fragmentation due to political realities, and how to handle end-to-end applications and data, given current and upcoming regulations. Organizations will prioritize working with providers who understand this, as well as growing data sovereignty requirements.

How should businesses align their digital transformation goals with remote workforce requirements?

Renuka: The dust has far from settled in the sprint for digital transformation among enterprises worldwide. Enterprises have made great strides to transform to meet the fundamental changes in the day-to-day operations of their workforces, as well as the world around them. While the pandemic put the need for digital transformation front and center for decision makers, it is apparent that digital transformation is a never-ending process. Enterprises will continue to closely evaluate different models of operation for their organizations and will ultimately adopt the technologies that facilitate this transformation most seamlessly.

Can AI  and machine learning be expected to close talent gap in your industry?

Renuka: With AI and ML proving to be increasingly reliable and even surpassing expectations in real world deployments across industries, AI/ML will make another major leap next year in the form of mainstream trust and heavier investments from organizations. With the talent gap remaining a major obstacle to overcome throughout IT departments, organizations will need to make the most of the information they have access to. Aggregate WAN data gives incredible insights into the traffic patterns and bandwidth of enterprise networks and presents a key source for overcoming the IT talent gap. Enterprises will leverage this aggregate WAN data in AIOps deployments to automate intensive tasks where possible, optimizing network performance and alleviating IT teams to focus on more meaningful tasks. 

Hi DeAndra Jean-Louis. Please tell us your relationship with SASE and how it benefits the CIOs.

DeAndra: There are a multitude of service providers competing for a piece of the SASE pie, however they all differ in what they’re offering to the market. While enterprises hope to benefit from the true promise of SASE, CIOs will be faced with the difficult task of assessing SASE providers to determine which ones will meet their expectations. Considering these challenges, organizations that are most diligent in their search, will see the greatest benefits. Those who are quicker to pull the trigger will often find that they don’t get what they thought they were paying for.

DeAndra: While there is an emphasis on investment in IT training and education to meet the growing needs throughout the industry, the talent gap that exists is now undeniable. As such, DIY in-house approaches are becoming increasingly expensive, if not completely unfeasible, in meeting the growing needs of complex networks which require cutting-edge solutions. Given this reality, enterprises will continue to see managed offers more favorably and to make up for the lack of in-house talent. It will also enable them to gain the benefits of complicated solutions within their enterprises without the timing, budget, and skills risks that come with implementing them on their own.

What do you think about moving ahead with the vendor-centric SASE adoption and deployment in 2023?

DeAndra: Customers will begin tearing down their internal silos that inhibit full single-vendor SASE adoption. While networking and security teams have traditionally operated separately, more organizations will move towards convergence. Bringing these functions together will enable organizations to maximize the impact of their existing technology assets and will allow their SASE solutions to perform at their best.

Thank you, everyone! That was fun and we hope to see you back on AiThority.com soon.