As we close out 2013, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that we were very pleased to see that IPv6 was included the “Tech Trends 2013” report issued by the giant global consulting organization Deloitte earlier this year.
In their report section “IPv6 (and this time we mean it)“, they talk about how critical it is for businesses to start planning now for the transition to IPv6. Here is Bruce Short, a director at Deloitte Consulting LLP, offering his view on IPv6:
Deloitte has made their report chapter on IPv6 available for download and conclude their IPv6 page with this “bottom line” (my emphasis added):
As connected computing has become a ubiquitous part of business and leisure, part of the Internet foundation is faltering. Internet Protocol has become a universal address scheme for networking, but we’ve run out of new addressable space. With the explosion of mobile devices – especially with asset intelligence and machine-to-machine embedded connectivity in literally everything – unique IP addresses are becoming a scarce resource. The implications are many. Constraints on innovation, unwieldy network management and security concerns, such as the deployment of v6/v4 bridges in Asia that strip identity and allow for true anonymity. The IPv6 standard has existed for decades, but we’re at a point of finally having to take the issue seriously.
IPv6 is a bit like Y2K – with an ironic twist. A looming-but-unknown deadline, but where the repercussions of no action are precise and potentially catastrophic. Each piece of the migration is manageable. It’s the scope that is complex, as every piece of your IT footprint is potentially affected.
Organizations that start now will likely have time to take a measured approach, limiting risk without dominating the entire IT agenda. Those that wait may be forced to scramble – or get left unconnected.
Exactly! The time for waiting is over. It is great to see a large firm like Deloitte out there advising their clients and we hope that many enterprises will take this advice seriously and start making the move now.
How about you? If you haven’t already made the move to IPv6, how about making 2014 the year that you at least start (if not hopefully complete) your transition? Don’t wait. Don’t be left behind.
P.S. And check out our list of IPv6 resources if you need some help getting started!