This IDC study (which is a translation of the Japanese report) analyzes the network equipment trends based on the results of an enterprise network equipment user survey conducted among 542 companies in Japan. In this study, we look at network equipment utilization, network-related investment trends, corporate network issues, and the brand visibility/image of network equipment vendors. Enterprise users recognize the need for security reinforcement as the most important network infrastructure issue. Security reinforcement is also perceived as a top-priority area for network-related investment. IDC believes that security enhancement is also an important area that network equipment vendors should focus on.

"Network equipment vendors should continue to enhance their products' security functions. Besides function integration, it is also important for them to integrate the functions of existing network equipments and provide customers with low cost security solutions that can be implemented easily. Such efforts are important in expanding the domains where security-related network equipments are deployed," observes Kenichi Kusano, research analyst, Communications, IDC Japan.