Momentum is shifting towards integrated networking and security platforms as organizations grapple with increasing infrastructure complexity. This trend is particularly evident in enterprises seeking to dismantle IT siloes and enhance automation capabilities.
The PGA European Tour, which oversees around 40 professional golf tournaments yearly across multiple countries, has experienced this growing vulnerability, prompting a critical need for robust data protection and operational management. CTO Michael Cole highlighted the challenges posed by numerous point solutions, which led to manual integrations and inconsistent policies. In response, the PGA opted for Fortinet as a partner, initiating a three-phase platformization strategy. This journey included implementing FortiGate firewalls and advanced analytics in 2023, advancing to SD-WAN and SASE services the following year, and focusing on automation and AI in 2025.
Cole’s strategy resulted in remarkable efficiencies, reducing setup times for events from days to hours, enforcing consistent policies, and bolstering global management capabilities. The platform not only mitigated risks but also facilitated digital transformation, fostering greater workforce agility and productivity.
The debate between using diverse best-of-breed solutions versus a unified platform continues, with the platform approach gaining favor due to its potential to simplify IT operations amid an increasingly distributed network landscape. This paradigm shift is supported by research: 78% of organizations are pursuing AI-powered platform strategies in networking, according to IDC, and Gartner forecasts that 70% of enterprises will adopt broad platform solutions for cloud networking by 2027.
The advantages of platformization extend beyond IT to improve operations across business units, enhancing efficiency, agility, and technology integration. Platforms can break down silos, vastly improve visibility, and streamline lifecycle management processes.
Organizations are encouraged to approach platformization strategically, prioritizing the challenges they need to address. Key considerations include extensibility, alignment with long-term IT goals, and the ability to unify management across various domains.
In summary, as enterprises increasingly adopt platform-based strategies, the focus is on leveraging integrated systems that foster innovation, security, and business agility. This evolution suggests a more resilient approach to network management and a promising future for organizations navigating complex IT landscapes.
