6. IoT Becomes Top Of Mind For Networking Partners

If you’re a networking channel partner who hasn't been asked about the Internet of Things yet by a customer, that's going to change in 2017. With the IoT market on the verge of explosion, vendors such as Extreme Networks are investing heavily around IoT software, while Aruba Networks, a subsidiary of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, is launching new IoT offerings aimed at enabling channel partners to more easily sell IoT. Cisco, long an evangelist of the IoT opportunity, acquired IoT specialist Jasper Technologies for $1.4 billion, while also forming IoT partnerships with Salesforce and IBM.

Networking solution providers need to a solid, comprehensive IoT go-to-market strategy in 2017 as IoT will begin to hit the mainstream audience due to its cost-saving attributes and ability to make businesses run more efficient through data analytics and advanced visibility.

Networking vendors are expected to continue to invest in IoT in 2017 as the market is projected to reach $1.7 trillion by 2020, according to research firm IDC.