Tackling tech skills shortage with Managed Services & NaaS

Tackling tech skills shortage with Managed Services & NaaS

This article discusses the hot topic of the tech industry's skills shortage, and introduces network-as-a-service (NaaS) as part of a solution which realises its full potential with the right managed services provider.

4 Mins

8th January 2024

Article

Connectivity

The IT skills shortage in APAC is impacting every industry, particularly IT departments.  The lack of talent weighs heavily on teams as they work not only to resolve various complexities and ongoing maintenance but also to advance operations and improve infrastructure for the benefit of the business. Evolving as-a-service offerings and managed partnerships are providing a much-needed solution.

 

Breaking down the talent shortage problem in numbers

According to a recent IDC report, around 60-80% of APAC organisations are finding it difficult or extremely difficult to fill vacancies in IT roles.1

 

On top of this, the report finds:

 

53% of organisations are taking 3-4 months longer on average to fill technology roles
55% of organisations experienced a greater number of employees quitting jobs in 2022
37% of organisations have had to delay tech initiatives, and 36% have had to change the direction of tech initiatives1

 

Mounting job vacancies are leaving understaffed teams to bear the demands of IT operations.

 

However, the rise of innovative managed services opportunities, expert partners, and as-a-service offerings may not only bring respite to the tech skills shortage but also provide the means to boost business operations and enable digital transformation.

 

Introducing NaaS, a game-changer for short-staffed IT teams

Network-as-a-service (NaaS), a game-changer for short-staffed IT teams.

 

Dubbed by some as the ‘next big thing’ for managed services is network-as-a-service (NaaS). The solution delivers network and security functions as-a-service and can be delivered in an on-demand, consumption-based model. As a virtual offering, it enables users to manage and track networks remotely. It’s a primary example of how as-a-service offerings can support IT teams.

 

At its core, NaaS helps reduce complexity and easily manage the configuration and operation of routers and protocols, WAN optimisers, security components, SD-WAN endpoints, and more - depending on the business needs. Users can subscribe to each service or cover all NaaS requirements with usage-based charging.

 

Top providers such as Singtel offer centralised control with a single portal instead of managing various networking components through different tools and hardware stacks. A single portal enables IT teams to maximise the use of hardware and software and rapidly respond to changes or issues.

 

Keeping functionality high and costs low and reducing the time and skill required to maintain network connectivity, NaaS offers the potential to:

 

Enhance uptime, especially with the functionality of SD-WAN
Enable scalability and accommodation of unexpected spikes in activity
Improve time-to-value of investment
Enhance security and threat detection
Open doorways for global deployments and operations

 

To realise the benefits of NaaS and empower short-staffed IT teams instead of burdening them further, it’s crucial for organisations to partner with the right managed services provider.

 

Choosing the right managed services provider to support teams

According to the Asia Pacific ISG Index, in Q2 of this year, demand for managed services rose 30% from the prior year.2 However, the researchers also highlighted that businesses are looking to prioritise spending and are being more careful to yield results amidst economic uncertainty.

 

To maximise spend and reap rewards from IT investments, there are various factors to consider. To use NaaS as an example, the right managed services provider will focus on delivering network and security functions as-a-service in an on-demand, consumption-based model that streamlines management for the internal IT team, rolling out patches and updates on solutions to ensure maximum uptime and functionality.

 

In addition, the right provider will enable advanced features such as proactive user experience monitoring, incident automation, and AI-driven predictive analytics to ensure rapid response to incidents. These core features can be tailored to suit a business’s specific needs while delivering expertise built up over years of research, development and on-the-ground experience.

 

Delivering as-a-service to a digitally-driven world

Digitally-driven world


Singtel’s recently announced CUBΣ offering is an excellent example of NaaS and managed services to support IT departments. The unified suite of network solutions and services is designed to modernise the digital network infrastructure of enterprises so they can work smarter, more efficiently and cost-effectively.

 

With a NaaS approach, Singtel CUBΣ makes it easier for enterprises to subscribe and manage desired services and multiple vendors, and gain insights on network utilisation, workload performance and sustainability metrics via a single sign-on digital portal, while also leveraging advanced features and functionality.

 

"This NaaS approach to enterprise networking will set the right foundation for future innovation opportunities as enterprises seek more flexibility, visibility, and consolidation for a more robust and effective digital infrastructure."

- Lim Seng Kong, Managing Director, Enterprise, Singtel Singapore

Discover how you can unlock connectivity possibilities with Singtel CUBΣ.

 

References:

  1. IDC, Enterprise Automation to Mitigate the Digital Skills Shortage, 2023
  2. Business Wire, Asia Pacific ISG Index, Asia Pacific Sees Rising Demand for Managed Services as Cloud Spending Continues to Fall, Q2 ISG Index Shows, 2023

 

facebooktwitterlinkedin

Discover more insights

How 5G fuels a smarter and greener future
Video
How 5G fuels a smarter and gre...

5G, Sustainability, Connectivity

If you thought 5G was about speed, you only see half the picture. Beyond...
Getting your whole business AI-ready
Infographic
Getting your whole business AI-ready

Artificial intelligence and machine learning, Connectivity, CUBΣ

AI's true power remains locked behind fragmented implementation. While...
6G network: the next leap in enterprise connectivity
Article
6G network: the next leap in...

5G, Connectivity

4G puts the world in our pockets, powering video streaming, mobile apps,...
Securing organisations with managed connectivity and SSE
Report and whitepaper
Securing organisations with...

Cyber security, Global Connectivity

This infobrief explores how managed connectivity and cloud-delivered Secure...
Case study: Improve Internet latency with next-gen networks
Article
Case study: Improve Internet latency ...

Artificial intelligence and machine learning, Connectivity, CUBΣ

A global leader in fresh and processed fruits transformed its remote...
IDC MarketScape: APAC Managed SD-WAN/SASE Services 2024–2025
Report and whitepaper
IDC MarketScape: APAC Managed...

SD-WAN, Connectivity, CUBΣ

Singtel is honoured to be named a leader in the IDC MarketScape: APAC...

Stay ahead

Get the latest digest on business and technology trends straight to your inbox.