ENRun NaaS and MNS together. Skip the friction.
The debate is over. Seventy-eight percent of enterprises are already combining Network as a Service (NaaS) with managed network services (MNS), and 89% are set to follow soon. The focus now is on how to make this hybrid model work effectively.
Hybrid Networking is today’s standard
For years, NaaS and MNS were seen as competing solutions—NaaS for speed and scalability, MNS for reliability and assurance. Now, 57% of enterprises recognize their convergence, using NaaS for fast provisioning and scaling, while leaning on MNS for consistent performance and compliance. Together, they create a portfolio approach where each excels in its strengths.
Drawing insights from 300 senior leaders, GTT’s white paper explores what separates enterprises that master this combination from those still navigating its challenges.
Four key friction points in Hybrid Networking
Adopting hybrid systems is strategic. Running them well requires operational precision. The research highlights four recurrent challenges:
1. Observability gaps
Seventy-five percent of enterprises report observability issues as a barrier. Disconnected tools monitoring NaaS and MNS layers create blind spots, turning outages into compliance and troubleshooting challenges.
2. Security and compliance pressures
With 44% of enterprises fully implementing zero trust, 90% demand detailed, audit-proof records from providers. The ability to prove security, not merely enforce it, is now a critical benchmark.
3. Cost volatility
Enterprises can tolerate budget swings up to 15% but exceeding that threshold slows approvals and shifts discussions from growth to budget management.
4. Talent shortages
NetOps and SecOps expertise gaps are shaping decisions more than any other trend—37% of enterprises cite this as their top concern. Automation and managed services are bridging the gap.
The long-term value case
Sixty-one percent of enterprises justify NaaS adoption on a five-year total cost of ownership (TCO) basis, reflecting strategic investment over short-term gains. Furthermore, 92% would accept quarterly bill variances for a 30% reduction in five-year TCO, provided robust financial controls, like automated FinOps, are in place.
Industry-specific hybrid challenges
Hybrid adoption varies by sector, with unique challenges driving implementation:
- Manufacturing: Ensures transitions don’t disrupt production, prioritizing MNS for downtime-critical environments.
- Retail: Combines NaaS scalability for distributed sites with MNS reliability to maintain seamless store operations.
- Financial Services: Fast-tracks legacy infrastructure sunsets to handle compliance demands like DORA and PCI.
- Healthcare: Adapts infrastructure to meet growing demands for telehealth and secure, distributed care under stringent mandates like HIPAA.
Delivering what’s needed
To overcome these friction points, your network provider must offer:
- Unified observability for NaaS and MNS in a single environment.
- Audit-ready, immutable logs; flexible encryption key management.
- Automated FinOps tools to control cost volatility.
- Managed services to complement your internal capacity.
Benchmark your network performance
This white paper delivers a detailed breakdown of country-specific insights, sector analyses, and financial strategies to build resilient, future-ready networks.
Download the white paper.
