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IT Decision Makers in Need of IPv6 101, Study Finds, By John Persinos, Larstan Business Reports
WASHINGTON --(Business Wire)-- June 1, 2005 -- A new study of information technology decision makers in both public and private sectors found a surprisingly wide lack of awareness of the benefits of Internet Protocol version 6, IPv6. This next-generation protocol incorporates the Internet needs of today, as well as prepares for the ever expanding uses of tomorrow.
Sponsored by Juniper Networks, Sunnyvale, Calif., the survey of 349 federal and industry IT leaders found that fewer than seven percent of respondents consider IPv6 important to achieving their goals. However, the results also show that 80 percent require improved Internet quality of service, security and network management, key attributes of IPv6.
THE AWARENESS GAP
"While awareness of IPv6 remains low, the goals of our customers match IPv6's capabilities," says Rod Murchison, senior director, product management, Juniper. "We're addressing the disconnect revealed in this study, by emphasizing IPv6's role in real-world solutions. Juniper offers a migration strategy, with products that accommodate v4 and v6."
Few organizations are in the process of migrating from the current standard of IPv4 to the improved IPv6, according to the study. The study found that 43 percent of respondents report IPv6 is not being discussed within their organizations. A notable exception, Department of Defense (DoD) now requires all new networking equipment purchases be IPv6 compatible, and DoD-wide IPv6 usage is scheduled by 2008.
EDUCATION IS KEY
"More education about the benefits of v6 is needed," comments Ben Schultz, director of Moon v6, a public-private collaboration, and managing engineer at the University of New Hampshire's InterOperability Lab. "Most strikingly, the benefit that came in third in importance in the study, 'improving network management,' is in my view the biggest benefit of v6. We must emphasize that v6 is an application tool for business needs and it's ready today, not far off into the future."
Schultz says low knowledge of IPv6 underscores the importance of educational initiatives, such as the "Coalition Summit for IPv6," held May 23-26, in Reston, Virginia. At the summit, industry leaders and government executives discussed the study and other vital issues related to IPv6.
"The U.S. government invented the Internet, but a series of international governments are now in the passing lane on new Internet infrastructure," said Alex Lightman, chairman of the IPv6 Summit, Inc. "The study clearly demonstrates that IPv6 migration meets today's most pressing IT issues and paves the road to empower America to realize the full potential of the new Internet - we need to put our IPv6 migration plans into gear."
To download a copy of the IPv6 IQ study, please visit: www.juniper.net/federal/IPv6.
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