18th-year research shows that strategic measures to promote network resilience and security include adopting NetSecOps, conducting pre-deployment testing, and balancing security with performance.
Chandler, Arizona, October 21, 2026 / PRNewswire / -- A study on "Network Conditions" for 2027 ( State of the Network ) released by VIAVI Solutions Inc (Nasdaq ticker: VIAV ) shows that in the past year, the number of organizations that have fully integrated network and security operations has increased by 37%.
This annual study has now reached its 18th edition, focusing on the current driving factors and best practices in network performance and security, with the aim of understanding the relevant priorities and outcomes. The study was conducted by Omdia and is based on a survey of 750 professionals in the fields of networking and security, covering seven countries: Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Respondents came from various levels within the IT departments, ranging from leadership to management, and represented a wide range of organization sizes and industries.
The survey shows that the proportion of deployments that have been completed has increased by 10 percentage points, rising from 27% in 2025 to 37% in 2026. Another 45% of respondents indicated that they are advancing the integration of network and security operations, which means that more than four-fifths of enterprises (82%) have already completed or are in the process of transitioning to NetSecOps.
Among the respondents who have completed the transformation, 44% stated that enhanced security is a key benefit of the integration; 30% indicated that since deploying the NetSecOps method, the time required to identify issues has been reduced. 22% reported a decrease in the number of incidents, and another 22% mentioned that the time needed for investigations has also been shortened. In addition, organizations that have implemented the NetSecOps strategy are 2.7 times more likely (35% vs. 13%) to report a significant improvement in average detection time ( MTTD ).
VIAVI, Vice President and General Manager of Network Performance and Threat Solutions, stated: "The increase in the transformation ratio completed in the 'Network Conditions' study, as well as the benefits mentioned therein, are consistent with the actual experiences of our customers. Combining the integrated NetSecOps organizational model with an integrated network monitoring and security platform is a key factor for the success of businesses today."
Informa Tech Target's Enterprise Strategy Group network chief analyst, Jim Frey, stated: "As the attack surface of organizations continues to expand, driven by increasingly complex threats empowered by AI, NetOps and SecOps teams need to share visibility in order to strengthen their security posture. Since about one-fifth of enterprises still do not have a clear strategy, the challenge lies in reaching these organizations and demonstrating the benefits of integrated NetSecOps methods."
Another strategic approach that enterprises use to enhance network performance and security is structured testing. More than half of the respondents mentioned that the most common practice is to conduct verification before deploying new technologies, such as post-quantum cryptography ( PQC ), AI security, SASE, and cloud networks. Among those who conducted testing, 52% reported a reduction in downtime and service interruptions, 44% indicated a decrease in the number and/or severity of security incidents, and 42% noted improvements in application performance or latency.
The survey also emphasizes that most organizations are adopting various strategies to mitigate the impact of security measures on network performance. 65% of respondents stated that they use AI and machine learning tools to optimize both security and performance simultaneously, 65% conduct capacity planning to prevent security measures from putting pressure on the network; 58% have already adopted pre-deployment testing for network and security controls, and another 58% indicated that they will continuously test and tune security controls to minimize the impact on performance.
About VIAVI
VIAVI (Nasdaq ticker: VIAV) is a global leader in the fields of testing and measurement, as well as optical technology. Its solutions for testing and measurement, as well as high-resilience positioning, navigation, and timing, provide support and security for critical infrastructure ranging from data center ecosystems and communication networks to military, aerospace, railway, and emergency response communications. In addition, the company develops and advances technologies for mass optical applications, covering areas such as anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, aerospace, industrial, and automotive markets.
For more information, please visit: www.viavisolutions.com.
Message source: VIAVI Solutions
