As businesses increasingly turn to cloud architecture for its efficiency, security, and reliability, managing these systems in-house remains a significant challenge. With cloud computing becoming ever more complex, IT teams are struggling to keep up with the demands of modern cloud environments - largely due to the skills gap hindering many organisations’ ability to rapidly train or upskill their staff.
In the US, the digital skills gap is projected to cost the economy up to US$ 975 billion in GDP by 2028. Meanwhile, nearly 60 percent of organisations in Asia are grappling with similar shortages. According to a Deloitte survey, cloud computing remains the most sought-after skill, with over 90% of IT leaders looking to expand their cloud infrastructure. Yet, 80% of them cite a lack of cloud skills as one of their biggest obstacles.
Despite efforts to cross-train IT teams such as having network engineers learn coding and software engineers study networking - the complexity of cloud technologies like Python scripting, WAN engineering, and data centre security demands specialised knowledge that can't easily be acquired on the fly.
The challenge of multi-cloud and direct connectivity
With over 90% of companies worldwide using cloud services from giants like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, many organisations are adopting multi-cloud strategies and direct cloud connectivity to ensure more secure, reliable, and high-bandwidth connections.
Direct connectivity, which bypasses the public internet, is especially useful for tasks like large data transfers and real-time analytics. However, managing these direct connections requires deep knowledge of each cloud provider’s specific terminology and tools. AWS Direct Connect, Google Cloud Interconnect, and Azure ExpressRoute all have unique configurations that demand specialised expertise to optimise.
Moreover, mastering cloud monitoring tools such as Amazon CloudWatch, Google’s Network Intelligence Center, and Azure Monitor is crucial for maintaining performance. The fast pace of cloud innovation means IT teams must continuously learn and adapt, further exacerbating the shortage of skilled professionals.
How NaaS Can Help?
Fortunately, there is a solution to these challenges: Network as a Service (NaaS). NaaS solutions are typically integrated with cloud platforms, providing organisations with flexible and scalable networking options that can be adjusted as needed. Businesses can configure and manage their networks through a simple user interface, often without the need for specialised knowledge in network architecture.
- Simplified Network Management
One of the primary ways NaaS helps address the cloud skills gap is by simplifying network management. Traditional network setups often require expertise in configuring hardware, managing firewalls, balancing traffic, and troubleshooting performance issues. With NaaS, much of this complexity is abstracted away. Cloud providers handle the majority of the heavy lifting, and businesses can focus on using the network rather than managing it.
The intuitive interfaces provided by NaaS platforms allow teams with limited technical expertise to perform tasks that would otherwise require a network engineer. Simple drag-and-drop configurations, automated updates, and built-in security features enable companies to stay agile without the need for deep networking knowledge.
- Scalability and Flexibility
As businesses grow, so do their network requirements. Traditionally, scaling networks meant investing in additional physical infrastructure, which could be both costly and complex to manage. NaaS, on the other hand, offers a scalable, pay-as-you-go model. Businesses can quickly adjust their network capabilities without needing specialised knowledge of how to physically deploy new hardware.
This scalability enables organisations to stay competitive and agile, adjusting their network needs in real-time based on shifting business demands. NaaS providers often offer automated scaling based on traffic load, which means businesses no longer need to manually provision additional resources, reducing the risk of errors and inefficiencies.
- Reduced Reliance on In-House Expertise
Traditionally, building and maintaining a robust network infrastructure required hiring highly skilled network engineers. In today's environment, where cloud services are the norm, it can be challenging for companies, especially smaller ones to find and retain such specialised talent. NaaS eliminates the need for organisations to have an in-depth understanding of network design and management.
With NaaS, network functions such as load balancing, routing, and VPNs are handled by the service provider. The provider’s team of experts ensures that the network remains secure, reliable, and optimised for performance. As a result, internal IT teams can focus on other critical areas of business development, further reducing the strain on their skills.
- Enhanced Security with Built-In Features
Network security is one of the most critical concerns for businesses today, especially as cyber threats continue to grow. NaaS platforms typically come with integrated security features such as firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and secure connections (VPNs). This eliminates the need for businesses to configure and monitor these complex security layers themselves.
By relying on a NaaS provider, companies can ensure that their networks are always protected with the latest security protocols. This reduces the burden on in-house security teams, especially those who might not have the deep expertise necessary to keep up with the rapidly evolving threat landscape.
- Focus on Core Competencies
By outsourcing network management to NaaS providers, businesses can allow their IT teams to focus on more strategic, business-critical tasks. For example, rather than dealing with the intricacies of network maintenance and troubleshooting, in-house teams can concentrate on developing applications, improving customer experiences, and driving business growth. This shift allows businesses to utilise their existing workforce more effectively and maximise their value.
Providers like Console Connect integrate the latest application programming interfaces (APIs) into their platforms, simplifying operations and enabling businesses to seamlessly connect and manage their cloud environments.
This capability is especially valuable for managing cloud connectivity costs, as it gives you the flexibility to spin up Layer 2 and Layer 3 connections to and from the cloud on a pay-as-you-go basis.
With user-friendly dashboards, businesses gain complete visibility into cloud connections and can adjust performance on-demand, reducing cloud-related costs like egress fees.
By leveraging NaaS, IT teams are empowered to focus on more strategic business objectives, knowing that cloud operations are running efficiently and securely. NaaS is not about replacing jobs; it’s about enhancing IT capabilities and enabling companies to scale and grow without being hindered by the skills gap.
As the cloud landscape continues to evolve, simplified solutions like NaaS will help businesses bridge the cloud skills gap and unlock new growth opportunities in the digital economy.
Neil Templeton is the SVP for marketing at PCCW Global.
