VoIP security issues and lack of a business need for unified
communications (UC) are slowing the adoption rate of these
technologies, especially among small and midsized businesses
(SMBs), results from CompTIA's recently commissioned IDC study
show.
Conducted during July 2006, the survey involved more than 350
respondents from companies across North America and included input
from industries such as manufacturing, financial services,
healthcare and government offices.
Migration to VoIP continues to show growth, though at a slower
pace than in recent years, as security issues continue to plague
the technology. A number of respondents said their current
communications solutions are easy to use and offer enough cost
savings, meaning that VoIP migration is not necessary. Brian
McCarthy, CompTIA's COO, said that the technology, although it has
been prevalent for three years or more, is still new and still up
for consideration. Notwithstanding cost savings and ease of use,
only 13% of respondents felt that their solutions gave their
companies a competitive edge.
Convergence of voice and data traffic onto one network was
documented among only 17% of respondents -- a slight increase from
2005. SMBs in particular said they recognize the value of having
converged communications on one network, with two-thirds of the
respondents indicating that they have already migrated to a
converged network. Another two-thirds, whose systems are currently
operating on separate networks, indicated that a converged network
offers a better business value. In total, 30% of the respondents
felt their networks were ready to support converged communications,
while a slightly larger number said they needed to perform only a
small upgrade to allow converged communications. Less than
one-third of respondents have performed a formal assessment of
their networks' ability to support a converged communications
system.
Central to discouraging network administrators from switching to
a purely IP or converged network is a perceived lack of security in
IP telephony. Data collected supports this perception, as more than
one-third of the survey's respondents admitted to suffering an
attack on their computer networks and/or phone systems in the last
12 months. Among larger companies, the incidence of attack was
higher. Still, many respondents did express confidence in the
security of their data networks. By converging their data networks
and voice networks, McCarthy said, SMBs and large enterprises could
optimize their voice security.
SMB and large enterprise respondents also indicated that they
are traditionally more trusting of their incumbent and land-based
phone systems, causing many companies to wait for further
information before migrating to VoIP, especially in light of
increasing security concerns. Also, most respondents were
significantly more trusting of Ethernet data networks or wireless
LANs than of IP telephony systems. Even with the large number of
companies that are still skeptical, 25% of respondents said they
had already deployed IP telephony without significant incident.
However, 29% reported that they had underestimated the total cost
of network upgrades necessary to deploy, and another 21% had not
anticipated the difficulty of integrating new applications.
Leading the top considerations for deployment of IP telephony,
convergence of existing voice and data networks, or implementation
of UC, most respondents said they wanted to streamline business
communications and processes. Cost saving was a close second.
McCarthy said the indication for streamlining business functions
suggests that most businesses are truly interested in new methods
of creating more efficient processes.
Rounding out the top three considerations when deciding to
deploy VoIP or UC, many enterprises indicated an initiative to
utilize new services and capabilities associated with these
technologies. Particular consideration was given to the advantages
of email, email with voicemail, and incorporation of mobile
devices. SMBs were also particularly interested in the competitive
edge these technologies will give their businesses. McCarthy said
SMBs are especially noted for their ability to lead new tech trends
and not just follow big business.
Most businesses indicated that their plans for the next 12
months included upgrades to their phone systems to allow support
for a converged network, with 42% of respondents stating that their
networks would require only one or two additional devices or
upgrades.