Organizations in Australia and New Zealand are modernizing enterprise networking with software-defined architectures as they respond to growing network challenges and look to AI for operational advantages, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm.

The 2026 ISG Provider Lens Network — Software-Defined Solutions and Services report for Australia and New Zealand finds that enterprises are reshaping networks to support hybrid work, cloud-first application strategies, AI-enabled business processes and distributed operations while addressing heightened cyber risk and regulatory scrutiny. Organizations are replacing traditional MPLS-centric connectivity with managed SD-WAN, secure access service edge (SASE) and network-as-a-service (NaaS) models that combine automation, service assurance and integrated security.

“ANZ enterprises are no longer treating the network as a standalone connectivity layer,” said Michael Gale, partner and regional leader, ISG Asia Pacific. “They increasingly view it as the operational foundation for AI, security and distributed business. That shift is changing how organizations evaluate network investments, placing greater value on platforms that simplify operations while increasing resilience across diverse environments.”

Enterprises in the region are adopting cloud-native software-defined network architectures that separate connectivity from service orchestration and security enforcement. Managed SD-WAN has become a foundational capability, with organizations placing greater emphasis on integrated SASE, hyperscaler connectivity, digital experience monitoring and AI-enabled operations. Enterprises are also seeking end-to-end visibility to improve user experience and support consistent performance across cloud and SaaS environments.

SASE adoption is advancing from isolated implementations to integrated architectures that combine SD-WAN, Zero Trust Network Access, secure web gateways and cloud firewall services. Enterprises are placing greater emphasis on transparent policy enforcement, data sovereignty and service resilience as they strengthen cyber resilience across hybrid environments. Unified control frameworks incorporating networking, security and observability are reducing complexity and improving consistency.

Across the region, enterprises with geographically dispersed operations are increasing investments in edge networking, including private 5G. These deployments help to support latency-sensitive applications, resilient site operations and integration of operational technology. Organizations are also expanding API-based orchestration, elastic capacity models and rapid site provisioning to improve scalability and respond more effectively to changing business requirements, ISG says.

“The distinctive characteristics of the ANZ market are shaping the next generation of enterprise networks,” said Yash Jethani, ISG principal analyst and lead author of the report. “Software-defined architectures are helping organizations improve performance and address sovereignty and security requirements. Providers that can unify these capabilities into managed platforms will be best positioned to support long-term business outcomes.”

The report also explores other trends affecting software-defined networking in Australia and New Zealand, including the growing use of AI-assisted network operations and the shift toward consumption-based commercial models that offer elastic bandwidth and contractual flexibility

To learn more, visit: www.isg-one.com

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