This IDC study presents select enterprise network equipment data collected in IDC's 2006 Enterprise Network Equipment Vertical Views Survey. The survey was conducted in April 2005 and included 1,060 respondents stratified by company size and industry segment. This document provides an analysis of preferred network equipment vendors and factors that would cause users to consider changing vendors by vertical industry and company. It also explores ways vendors can best align themselves to capitalize on the opportunities revealed within the document.

"Cisco's dominant position across almost every vertical industry represents a significant challenge for those vendors looking to drive growth and gain share in the network equipment market. There are, however, some notable opportunities by vertical industry that challengers should attempt to exploit to drive innovation and gain share. Likewise, it would behoove incumbents to guard against these vulnerabilities in specific vertical market segments." says Daniel Corsetti, senior research analyst in IDC's Verticals Research group.