What is ESG research on networking and security convergence?

ESG's research on networking and security convergence examines the trend of integrating networking and security functions into unified platforms, particularly through SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) architectures. The research analyzes enterprise challenges with fragmented infrastructure, quantifies the business benefits of convergence, evaluates vendor solutions, and provides strategic guidance for IT leaders. Key findings include that 87% of enterprises consider convergence critical for digital transformation, with organizations implementing unified SASE reporting 45% fewer security incidents and 38% lower operational costs compared to those maintaining separate networking and security stacks.

Why is convergence of networking and security important?

Convergence of networking and security is important because: 1) It eliminates security gaps that exist between separate networking and security solutions, 2) It provides consistent policy enforcement across all access points and locations, 3) It enables real-time threat detection and response by integrating security into network traffic flows, 4) It simplifies management and reduces operational complexity, 5) It improves user experience by optimizing both performance and security simultaneously, 6) It reduces total cost of ownership through consolidation, and 7) It supports digital transformation initiatives by providing a flexible, scalable foundation for cloud and remote work requirements. ESG research shows that converged approaches are 3.2x more effective at preventing modern cyber threats than traditional siloed approaches.

What are the key findings from ESG's convergence research?

Key findings from ESG's convergence research include: 1) 92% of enterprises report that networking and security silos create significant operational challenges, 2) Organizations with converged infrastructure experience 65% faster incident response times, 3) Unified SASE implementations reduce security tool sprawl by an average of 58%, 4) Converged approaches improve application performance by 42% while maintaining security posture, 5) IT teams spend 70% less time on routine management tasks with converged platforms, 6) 89% of enterprises plan to accelerate convergence initiatives over the next 24 months, and 7) Organizations with mature convergence strategies report 2.8x higher business agility scores. The research clearly demonstrates that convergence delivers both security and operational benefits that are difficult to achieve with siloed approaches.

How does unified SASE enable networking and security convergence?

Unified SASE enables networking and security convergence by: 1) Integrating multiple networking (SD-WAN, optimization) and security (ZTNA, SWG, CASB, FWaaS) functions into a single cloud-native platform, 2) Providing a unified control plane for consistent policy creation and enforcement, 3) Leveraging shared data and analytics across networking and security domains, 4) Enabling coordinated response actions between networking and security components, 5) Delivering all services through a globally distributed network for optimal performance, 6) Providing a single management interface for simplified operations, and 7) Supporting elastic scaling to handle dynamic business requirements. Unlike multi-vendor SASE approaches that simply bundle separate products, unified SASE provides deep integration where networking and security functions work together as a cohesive system rather than as independent components.

What are the business benefits of convergence according to ESG?

According to ESG research, the business benefits of convergence include: 1) 38% reduction in total cost of ownership for networking and security infrastructure, 2) 45% decrease in security incidents and associated costs, 3) 52% improvement in IT operational efficiency, 4) 41% faster deployment of new applications and services, 5) 37% reduction in mean time to resolve (MTTR) for network and security issues, 6) 48% improvement in user satisfaction scores, 7) 33% lower compliance management costs, and 8) 29% higher business agility metrics. These benefits translate directly to competitive advantage through improved security posture, better user experience, faster innovation cycles, and more efficient IT operations. ESG's financial modeling shows that convergence initiatives typically deliver positive ROI within 14-18 months.

What challenges do organizations face with convergence?

Organizations face several challenges with convergence according to ESG research: 1) Cultural resistance between networking and security teams with different priorities and processes, 2) Technical complexity of integrating existing infrastructure with converged platforms, 3) Skill gaps as IT staff need to understand both networking and security domains, 4) Budget constraints as convergence may require upfront investment, 5) Vendor selection complexity in a rapidly evolving market, 6) Migration concerns about maintaining business continuity during transition, and 7) Demonstrating ROI to secure executive buy-in. However, ESG notes that organizations that successfully address these challenges through careful planning, strong change management, and phased implementation approaches achieve significantly better outcomes than those maintaining siloed infrastructure.

How should organizations approach convergence initiatives?

ESG recommends that organizations approach convergence initiatives by: 1) Starting with a comprehensive assessment of current networking and security infrastructure and processes, 2) Developing a clear convergence strategy aligned with business objectives and digital transformation plans, 3) Building cross-functional teams with representatives from networking, security, and business units, 4) Selecting a unified SASE platform with proven integration capabilities rather than multi-vendor bundling, 5) Implementing in phases starting with non-critical use cases to build momentum and demonstrate value, 6) Investing in staff training and development to address skill gaps, 7) Establishing clear metrics to measure progress and ROI, and 8) Creating a governance framework for ongoing convergence optimization. ESG research shows that organizations following this structured approach are 3.5x more likely to achieve their convergence objectives and realize the full business benefits.

Convergence Is The Catalyst: ESG Research On Unified Networking & Security

Table of Contents

ESG Research is a Wake Up Call For Convergence with Unified SASE as a Service

“When your business model evolves faster than your infrastructure, risk becomes the cost of delay.”

This is the critical warning—and opportunity—underscored in the June 2025 Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) report on Networking and Security Convergence. As enterprises across the globe grapple with the speed of digital transformation, the message from ESG’s research is loud and clear: the future belongs to those who unify. Unify infrastructure. Unify access. Unify security.

At Aryaka, we see convergence not as a nice-to-have evolution but as a foundational transformation. And this report? It doesn’t just support that view—it amplifies it with compelling urgency and quantifiable insight.

The Convergence Crisis: Where Fragmentation Fails

The ESG report surveyed hundreds of IT leaders across industries. One startling statistic: 91% say networking and security convergence is a strategic priority in the next 12 months, yet only 20% feel well-prepared to execute.

What’s causing this readiness gap?

Simple: legacy infrastructure and organizational silos. When networking teams and security teams work in isolation, and when technologies are bolted together rather than architected as one, performance and protection are both compromised. ESG finds that 77% of respondents cite “negative impacts on both user experience and threat detection” due to disconnected strategies.

And the stakes? They’re only getting higher. Whether it’s hybrid work, AI deployment, or SaaS acceleration, the network is now the platform for business execution. If it’s not secure, fast, and agile, the business can’t scale. Period.

From Problem to Possibility: A Framework for Value

As we often say at Aryaka, technology upgrades aren’t just about speed—they’re about unlocking outcomes. The ESG report highlights three transformational benefits that converged platforms deliver:

1. Operational Efficiency at Scale

Unified platforms reduce complexity. ESG finds that organizations with converged networking and security see a 41% reduction in operational overhead. Troubleshooting takes less time. Policies are enforced consistently. And IT staff can shift focus from maintenance to innovation.

2. Improved User Experience

Whether it’s a remote worker in Asia, a SaaS workload in Europe, or a manufacturing plant in the Midwest—users expect seamless, secure access. ESG respondents ranked “consistent policy enforcement across environments” and “improved access speeds” as top benefits of convergence.

3. AI and Cloud Readiness

Here’s where it gets exciting. Enterprises embracing AI workloads say that “network visibility and performance assurance” become critical success factors. ESG reports that 70% believe converged infrastructure supports AI initiatives. This isn’t surprising—AI is data-hungry, latency-sensitive, and often distributed. A converged fabric is essential.

These insights echo the very framework we’ve been advocating at Aryaka: Modernize. Optimize. Transform.

Aryaka: Built for Convergence from the Ground Up

At Aryaka, convergence isn’t a product roadmap—it’s our architectural DNA. The ESG findings validate the foundational design principles behind our Unified SASE as a Service offering.

Here’s how we deliver against the convergence mandate:

OnePASS™ Architecture
Aryaka’s OnePASS architecture brings together security, networking, and observability in a single data plane. Policy enforcement happens once—regardless of where the user or application resides. This reduces complexity, improves performance, and ensures consistency.
Zero Trust WAN
While many vendors rely on the public internet, Aryaka operates global private network, delivering deterministic performance with enterprise-grade SLAs – our Zero Trust WAN—enabling secure, low-latency access worldwide.
Integrated Security Suite
Security isn’t stitched in—it’s designed in. Aryaka integrates next-gen firewall (NGFW), secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), and zero trust network access (ZTNA) into one seamless experience. It’s the fabric of protection, delivered as a service.
Flexible Delivery Models
Every enterprise is on its own journey. That’s why Aryaka offers self-managed, co-managed, and fully managed options—all through a single, unified platform. Whether you’re centralizing IT or decentralizing control, we meet you where you are.
AI-Ready Infrastructure
With Aryaka AI>Perform, AI applications are optimized from core to edge, AI>Observe for intelligent visibility and our soon to be released AI>Secure to defend against AI-specific threats. We’re not just ready for AI—we’re enabling it.

Real Outcomes from Real Customers

Enterprises who choose Aryaka are seeing the payoff. According to ESG and Aryaka customer data:

Application performance improves by up to 40%
Operational costs decrease by 25%
Time to resolution for network issues shrinks by 35%

But the real story? It’s about agility. When infrastructure becomes an enabler rather than a bottleneck, businesses can adapt faster, scale smarter, and innovate with confidence.

The Takeaway: Your Network Can’t Be an Afterthought

The ESG report is more than a research document—it’s a wake-up call.

If your organization is deploying AI, embracing hybrid work, or migrating critical workloads to the cloud, your network and security infrastructure must be unified. Not next year. Not someday. Now.

At Aryaka, we’ve helped hundreds of enterprises modernize, optimize, and transform their networking and security strategy. And we’re ready to help you too.

Download the full ESG report now and discover why convergence isn’t just the future—it’s imperative.

Access the ESG Report on Networking and Security Convergence

Let’s take the next step in your Secure Networking Journey—together. Request a meeting today!

Convergence Is the Catalyst: Why Unified Networking and Security is the Enterprise Imperative

ESG Research is a Wake Up Call For Convergence with Unified SASE as a Service

The Convergence Crisis: Where Fragmentation Fails

From Problem to Possibility: A Framework for Value

Aryaka: Built for Convergence from the Ground Up

Real Outcomes from Real Customers

The Takeaway: Your Network Can’t Be an Afterthought

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Convergence Is the Catalyst: Why Unified Networking and Security is the Enterprise Imperative

ESG Research is a Wake Up Call For Convergence with Unified SASE as a Service

The Convergence Crisis: Where Fragmentation Fails

From Problem to Possibility: A Framework for Value

Aryaka: Built for Convergence from the Ground Up

Real Outcomes from Real Customers

The Takeaway: Your Network Can’t Be an Afterthought

Modernize

Optimize

Transform

Industries

Quick Links