By 2029, global cybercrime costs are projected to reach $15.63 trillion. Yikes. This staggering figure reflects how much the digital threat landscape has evolved and how urgent it has become for organizations to rethink how they protect their operations. The heart of this urgency is the network itself: the invisible backbone of modern business that now stands as both a lifeline and a liability.

The Evolving Network Landscape

You’ve heard this idea for a few years now, that the traditional idea of a secure perimeter, a firewall guarding the main gates, no longer holds up in a world shaped by cloud computing, hybrid work and remote access. But today’s enterprise network extends beyond the data center to endpoints, mobile devices, IoT sensors and SaaS platforms scattered worldwide. Workloads are in the cloud, you subscribe to Software-as-a-Service applications, and you probably still have some (or even all!) applications on-prem as well. So now there’s even more complexity, and every connection point becomes a new attack surface; managing them is a full-time job.

At the same time, many organizations are being asked to do more with less. IT teams are stretched thin, struggling to balance the innovation needs of the business with the security policies/tools/processes necessary to secure the business. This is especially true in mid-sized enterprises and distributed organizations, where the cost and skill requirements of maintaining a sophisticated network security posture can feel unachievable.

On The Frontline

The network layer has become one of the most actively targeted surfaces for cybercriminals. From distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks to advanced persistent threats (APTs), bad actors exploit every gap in visibility and control. With the rapid rise in Internet of Things (IoT) devices that often lack basic security features, the attack surface continues to expand. The expanding attack surface is why 60% of businesses will rely on managed security services by 2025. In the same survey, Gartner explains why managing network security has become a critical business continuity issue. One breach can cripple operations, erode customer trust and carry legal and financial consequences that ripple for years.

The Role of Managed Networking

The emergence of managed secure networking as a service, rather than just products you buy off the shelf, reflects the shift from reactive defense and point solutions to proactive, holistic cyber resilience. It brings together the power of modern network infrastructure with dedicated, expert oversight to deliver security, efficiency, and adaptability. But why else are companies making the transition?

1. Simplifying Complexity

Managing a dynamic network environment is a resource-intensive task. IT leaders must oversee the network infrastructure, inclusive of routers, switches, firewalls, wireless access, load balancers…and all the myriad operational concerns that come with infrastructure. This includes upgrades, patches, refreshes, manufacturer bugs, interoperability issues, network “mean time to innocence”, and a relentless onslaught of endpoint connectivity issues. And often, these challenges extend across multiple network vendors and across multiple geographies. For organizations without the luxury of large internal teams with deep, specialized skillsets in just routing or just switching or just wireless…it can be incredibly challenging to keep up.

Managed networking offloads much of that complexity to experienced professionals with specialized skills in building and maintaining secure, scalable network environments. Simplifying complexity with managed networking enables internal teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than firefighting.

2. Integrated Security at Every Layer

Point solutions may offer protection in silos, but they often fail to provide end-to-end visibility. Managed network providers deploy a unified approach, integrating security directly into the fabric of the network, whether you need cloud, on-premises or hybrid, which includes capabilities such as:

  • Secure SD-WAN for encrypted connectivity across locations
  • Network Access Control (NAC) to govern user and device access
  • Centralized monitoring and response to detect threats early
  • 24/7 coverage to ensure uptime and rapid incident management

With integrated systems, organizations benefit from reduced blind spots, streamlined management and faster response to potential intrusions.

3. Increased Access to Expertise

Cybersecurity is a discipline that evolves daily. The talent required to design, implement and monitor modern networks is in short supply and high demand.

Managed services offer instant access to this expertise, encompassing optimization, compliance and the planning and deployment of architecture. Whether supplementing a small in-house team or acting as a strategic partner, managed service providers ensure organizations are never left navigating network security challenges alone.

4. Scalability Without Sacrifice

As organizations grow, they open new offices, onboard remote teams and deploy new platforms. With each addition comes more devices. Networks must be able to adapt. Managed networking enables this growth without compromising performance or security. Employing a networking service supports:

  • Rapid provisioning of new sites or users
  • Co-managed options that align with internal controls
  • Built-in redundancy and load balancing for resilience
  • Automated policy enforcement across locations

In short, managed networking grows with your business, offering increased protection instead of increased vulnerabilities.

A Case for Change

A recent study by Boyer found organizations can save up to 25% by consolidating security and network management into a managed services model. But the benefits extend far beyond cost. Companies will also see improvements in:

  • Reduced risk through 24/7 threat monitoring and response
  • Improved performance with optimized infrastructure
  • Greater agility to adopt new technologies and expand securely
  • Regulatory alignment through consistent policy enforcement

Perhaps most importantly, a managed approach allows leadership teams to focus on business outcomes, not technical overhead.

A company’s network is the foundation of digital business, and its security is directly tied to an organization’s resilience, reputation and readiness for the future. Adopting managed secure networking positions organizations to operate more confidently in our high-stakes, digital world. With customers having more choices than ever and cybercrime showing no signs of slowing down, the smartest move a leadership team can make today is reevaluating how their networks are managed, monitored and protected.

Read the original Cybersecurity Insider article here.