And when it comes to IT, it seems this has never been truer. The Internet of Things, AI, machine learning, blockchain, cloud computing—new and ever-evolving concepts that are, by their nature, disruptive.

A seismic shift, an evolutionary path, or a Big Bang moment. The origin could be debated but the effect is undeniable: the ways in which people work, the ways in which IT supports those workers, and the ways networks are changing means that things we currently see every day will soon be a memory.

Appliances. Data centres. Networks.

All gone, as if obliterated by a technological tsunami.

The emergence of cloud computing as a viable and practical means of delivering apps, servers, desktops, devices, and other core IT components changes everything for everyone. And for the better! Except maybe for the vendors that weren’t prepared, and the IT teams holding onto the old world for dear life.

Users and applications have left the building, meaning IT executives have rapidly run into problems connecting users to the apps they need whilst applying adequate security controls. Oh, and with a seamless user experience as well, as everyone has been spoilt by the “have it all” smartphone revolution.

The network has become largely irrelevant, seemingly overnight, and companies are scrambling to cobble together access and security controls that work in a mobile and cloud-enabled world.

The manual has been thrown out the window and new thinking is king. Letting go of the notion of a network with users connected to it is a paradigm shift, but is essential to avoid getting caught in the quicksand.

“Don’t fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.”
– Michael Hyatt

CIOs and CISOs are tasked with allowing their organisations to embrace all the new opportunities that the new world offers whilst retaining adequate security controls and reducing costs.

The network is now the internet. It serves applications and delivers services more quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively than ever before. Your users already know this and have moved to this model already, whether you like it or not.

Now is the time to embrace this new world, harness its power and exploit its opportunities—but caution is still required to ensure your brand isn’t in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Whilst the future is unclear, new ways to enable the new world are emerging.

Cloud-delivered security protection coupled with a zero trust access model alongside seamless user experience is a common wish list for CIOs.

Embracing SaaS technologies improves collaboration, speeds hiring and onboarding, streamlines expenses, and reduces dependencies on expensive office space.

Lawyers working on cases and billing hours from anywhere; doctors talking to patients and providing diagnoses from the other side of the world; and oil companies monitoring thousands of drills using IoT devices.

All of this is now possible, and is easier and quicker to enable than you may think.

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”
– Buckminster Fuller

The Zscaler platform was designed for the new world. Built as a cloud service from day one, it provides internet access so users can get to what they need whilst protecting them and your brand wherever they are.

It also helps deliver the applications people need—without ever placing them on your network—by leveraging software-defined networking. All seamlessly and faster than ever before.

The Zscaler platform allows IT teams to break the shackles of the data centre, tear up the hub-and-spoke architecture, and free their users to work as they wish. The devices in users’ hands become the gateway to anything they need.

Zscaler can’t solve all your problems, but we provide a solid foundation to enable the transformation that is inevitable to remain relevant in this brave new world. And you never know, you might even enjoy it.

“Never put off till tomorrow the fun you can have today.”
– Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

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Nick Hall is Zscaler UK Regional Sales Manager