The rapid rise of generative AI has led to a global infrastructure transformation, accelerating demand for high-performance computing and next-generation data centers. As enterprises and governments invest in sovereign compute capabilities, India is emerging as a key player due to its expanding digital economy, progressive policy environment, and growing hyperscaler activity. This report explores how India’s data center ecosystem is evolving, from concentrated tier-1 city hubs to a more distributed, regionally balanced model aligned with AI demands. However, not all regions are equally equipped to support dense, latency-sensitive AI workloads. Power availability, network infrastructure, land access, and environmental resilience vary widely across cities. To evaluate these differences, Everest Group introduces the CALIBER-DC framework, a comprehensive model that assesses regional data center readiness across key dimensions. This Viewpoint offers strategic insights for infrastructure developers, policymakers, and enterprises seeking to scale AI infrastructure in India.

Rapid technology advances, regulatory shifts, and economic volatility are reshaping the BFSI industry. Trends such as AI adoption, rising cybersecurity needs, and sustainability focus are transforming workforce demands, creating new roles, phasing out legacy skills, and intensifying the race for digital and niche talent. Enterprises now face mounting pressure to attract, retain, and upskill a dynamic, diverse workforce amid growing talent shortages. Within the subsectors of banking, capital markets, insurance, and FinTech, digital agendas and regulatory demands are fueling distinct hiring challenges. Organizations are rethinking workforce models, balancing permanent and contingent talent, and adopting agile, skill-based hiring. Strategic outsourcing through Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and contingent workforce management is gaining traction, while employer branding and early talent initiatives are becoming essential in a competitive talent market. This report offers a global and country-level view of evolving BFSI talent trends, talent acquisition maturity, and strategic priorities. It provides actionable insights to help BFSI enterprises optimize talent acquisition through modular RPO, curated managed service providers, and AI-driven recruitment, enabling them to build agile, future-ready workforces aligned with the industry’s rapid transformation.

As enterprise IT ecosystems grow more complex with hybrid environments, expanding threat surfaces, and an urgent need for faster threat response, organizations are partnering with specialist Managed Detection and Response (MDR) providers for highly tuned and expert-led cybersecurity services. These specialists are becoming vital partners in enabling 24×7 monitoring, rapid containment, and advanced threat detection across endpoints, cloud, and operational technology. Specialist MDR providers offer identity-aware threat detection, curated threat intelligence, and fully integrated remediation support, often tailored to lean security teams. The emphasis is on deployment agility, customized detection pipelines, and seamless scalability, coupled with investments in automation, unified telemetry, and co-innovation partnerships. In this report, Everest Group analyzes eight MDR providers featured on the Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Services Specialists PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2025. The report is designed to offer enterprises an informed lens to evaluate MDR specialist partners and equip providers with a benchmarking tool to examine their relative market positioning and investment priorities.

The network services market is steadily growing due to the enterprise demand for secure, adaptable, and high-performance connectivity solutions. The rapid adoption of cloud computing, IoT, data-intensive applications, and AI workloads highlights how robust network infrastructure enables business resilience and scalability. To address these needs, enterprises are increasingly outsourcing specialized expertise and cost-effective solutions, presenting opportunities and challenges for providers. Key enterprise concerns include strengthening cybersecurity, safeguarding data privacy, and ensuring seamless user experiences. Furthermore, stricter regulations and rising cyber threats are intensifying the need for agile, compliant networks that deliver enhanced speed, scalability, and security to meet evolving enterprise requirements. In this report, we examine the current global network services market, including trends across industries, geographies, and service segments. Scope All industries and geographies This assessment is based on Everest Group’s annual RFI process for the calendar year 2023-2024, interactions with leading network providers, client reference checks, and an ongoing analysis of the network services market Contents In this report, we Examine the global network services market Evaluate network services trends and demand drivers Analyze service providers’ offerings Assess how current technologies, innovations, and practices impact enterprise needs Membership(s) Cloud and Infrastructure Services Network Services & 5G Sourcing and Vendor Management

Contingent Workforce Management (CWM) providers are becoming increasingly essential as businesses seek effective strategies to oversee their contingent workers. Companies across diverse sectors and regions, including emerging mid-market segments, are turning to contingent labor to address their operational needs. Consequently, CWM providers are expanding their service offerings to meet their clients' evolving demands to manage their contingent workforce comprehensively. The expanded range of contingent talent solution offerings includes direct sourcing, services procurement management, total talent management, and independent contractor management. Providers are also enhancing their capabilities by investing in gen AI and digitizing workflows to improve efficiency and accuracy. Additionally, they are boosting their consulting expertise to deliver tailored, strategic insights that support enterprises' unique needs. This PEAK Matrix® assessment will help key stakeholders – buyers, service providers, and technology providers – understand the MSPs / CWM and services procurement provider landscapes, evaluate providers’ capabilities, and identify the Leaders, Major Contenders, Aspirants, and Star Performers in the market. Scope All industries and geographies Over 2,000 CWM/MSP and services procurement deals Coverage across 36 MSPs / CWM providers and 19 services procurement providers Contents This report explores the MSPs / CWM and services procurement provider landscapes and analyzes the performance of 36 MSPs / CWM providers and 19 services procurement providers and includes: MSPs / CWM provider PEAK Matrix® and Star Performers for 2024: classification of providers as Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants based on Everest Group’s proprietary PEAK Matrix® framework Services procurement / SOW PEAK Matrix® and Star Performers for 2024: classification of providers as Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants based on Everest Group’s proprietary PEAK Matrix® framework Everest Group’s analysis of providers: overall CWM/MSP and services procurement capability assessed by evaluating the providers along seven dimensions – market adoption, portfolio mix, value delivered, scope of services offered, innovation and investments, delivery footprint, and vision and strategy Membership(s) Contingent Workforce Management Sourcing and Vendor Management

Enterprise objectives have rapidly evolved in the course of their network transformation journey, with an increased emphasis on business value creation and the adoption of next-generation network services such as SDN, NaaS, Wi-Fi 6/6E, and private 5G. Factors such as value realization, AI-led automation, and demand for as-a-service models are propelling growth. However, challenges stemming from macroeconomic conditions, insufficient RoI realization, and enterprises’ legacy mindset are inhibiting the demand for network services. Wireless networks are poised to become a crucial element in enterprises’ business transformation, offering various benefits such as enhanced flexibility, security, cost-efficiency, and compliance. While these benefits are significant and attractive, they also present unique challenges such as network interference, bandwidth limitations, scalability issues, and interoperability concerns. Various market participants, such as hyperscalers, technology providers, system integrators, and communication service providers, play vital roles, focusing on distinct trends and aspects in the wireless enterprise market. In this research, we explore the current state of the market related to network services, encompassing growth outlook, key themes, and geographical and industry-specific insights. We delve into the exploration of wireless enterprise, including its architecture, benefits, and challenges for enterprises, as well as business use cases. Scope All industries and geographies Contents In this report, we: Provide an overview of the global network services market Examine key themes in network services, along with geography and industry-specific insights Explore the evolution, architecture, benefits, and challenges of a wireless enterprise network Membership(s) Cloud and Infrastructure Services Sourcing and Vendor Management

Network transformation is becoming an integral component of successful business and technology transformations for digital enterprises. In the continuously evolving network landscape, enterprises are increasingly utilizing next-generation network services such as private 5G, Wi-Fi 6, SD-WAN, network automation, network-as-a-service, IoT, and multicloud to optimize business performance. More specifically, these technologies can help enterprises to automate operations, increase efficiency, accelerate digital transformation, and enhance user experience. System Integrators (SIs) are investing in building their network portfolios to provide comprehensive end-to-end network transformation solutions, encompassing consulting, managed, and design and build services. SIs are also realigning their network strategy to prioritize use case relevance and value creation. This shift is due to challenging macroeconomic conditions prompting enterprises to focus largely on cost optimization and RoI in network investments. As a result, SIs are developing industry-contextualized applications and frameworks to address the unique requirements of different sectors and maximize value for enterprises. Additionally, SIs are strengthening partnerships with equipment providers, hyperscalers, and providers to build more effective network platforms and solutions. In this report, we assess 19 cloud SIs featured on the Network Transformation and Managed Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2023 and categorize them as Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants based on their capabilities and offerings. Scope All industries and geographies This assessment is based on Everest Group’s annual RFI process for the calendar year 2023, interactions with leading SIs, client reference checks, and an ongoing analysis of the network services market Contents In this report, we examine: Characteristics of Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants Providers’ key strengths and limitations Enterprise sourcing considerations Membership(s) Cloud and Infrastructure Services Sourcing and Vendor Management

In the next normal, due to enterprises’ increased focus on workforce scalability and agility, the contingent workforce is emerging as a key focus area. As a result, enterprises are increasingly leveraging Contingent Workforce Management (CWM) / Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to manage their end-to-end CWM needs. Market developments following the pandemic are causing MSPs / CWM providers to play a strategic role in workforce management. In response, providers are broadening their offerings and investing in the management of all types of contingent workers. They are enhancing their service scope, digitalizing processes, and expanding consulting capabilities. Providers are also exploring innovative talent solutions such as direct sourcing, services procurement management, total talent management, and independent contractor management to meet enterprises’ demands. This PEAK Matrix® assessment will help key stakeholders – buyers, service providers, and technology providers – understand the MSPs / CWM provider and services procurement provider landscape, evaluate providers’ capabilities, and identify the Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants in the market. Scope All industries and geographies Over 1,950 CWM/MSP and services procurement deals Coverage across 30 MSPs / CWM providers and 18 services procurement providers Contents This report analyzes the performance of 30 MSPs / CWM providers and 18 services procurement providers and includes: The MSPs / CWM provider landscape The services procurement provider landscape MSPs / CWM provider PEAK Matrix® and Star Performers for 2023: Classification of providers as Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants based on Everest Group’s proprietary PEAK Matrix® framework Services procurement / SOW PEAK Matrix® and Star Performers for 2023: Classification of providers as Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants based on Everest Group’s proprietary PEAK Matrix® framework Based on the year-on-year movement of different providers on the PEAK Matrix®, eight providers have been named as the 2023 CWM/MSP Market Star Performers and four providers have been named as the 2023 Services Procurement Market Star Performers Everest Group analysis of providers: Overall CWM/MSP and services procurement capability assessed by evaluating the providers along seven dimensions – market adoption, portfolio mix, value delivered, scope of services offered, innovation and investments, delivery footprint, and vision and strategy Membership(s) Contingent Workforce Management Sourcing and Vendor Management

As enterprises embrace their digital transformation journeys, they are becoming cognizant of the critical role that network transformation plays. By employing cutting-edge network technologies, these digital enterprises seek to optimize performance, automate operations, boost efficiency, expedite digital transformation, and enhance user experiences. However, amid the backdrop of declining global macroeconomic conditions, enterprises currently prioritize realizing RoI from their prior investments, especially those made during the pandemic, before allocating resources to newer and less mature technologies such as 5G and edge computing. Network System Integrators (SIs) are proactively investing in a comprehensive suite of solutions to serve the ever-evolving needs of enterprises. Their aim is to deliver end-to-end network transformation, spanning consulting to managed services, while incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as multicloud networking, Network-as-a-Service (NaaS), network automation, IoT, and wireless networks. They strategically realign their network approach, focusing on use case relevance and value creation. Consequently, they are developing industry-specific and AI-driven contextualized solutions tailored to the unique requirements of various sectors. By doing so, these SIs can offer highly customized network solutions that drive tangible and meaningful business outcomes. In this report, we assess 19 network SIs on the Everest Group PEAK® and categorize them as Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants based on their vision and capability and market impact. Scope All industries and geographies The assessment is based on Everest Group’s annual RFI process for the calendar year 2023, interactions with leading network SIs, client reference checks, and an ongoing analysis of the network services market Contents In this report, we: Examine the market impact and vision and capability of 19 SIs focused on network services Study providers’ key strengths and limitations Evaluate enterprise sourcing considerations Membership(s) Cloud and Infrastructure Services Sourcing and Vendor Management

This report is available only to Outsourcing Excellence members. For information on membership, please contact us This ready-to-use category strategy template offers editable frameworks for internal assessment and detailed industry and market category overviews to assist category managers, procurement professionals, and CPOs in creating an informed category strategy for Banking and Financial Services (BFS) Information Technology Services (ITS). BFS IT services include consulting, implementation, and maintenance services that cover IT infrastructure, IT platform, IT applications, and data and analytics. Companies commonly outsource offerings such as application development and maintenance, system integration, quality assurance, data center and cloud services, network and security services, and workplace services within BFS ITS. These services encompass a range of next-generation technology capabilities such as AI, RPA, IoT, and machine-to-machine, along with cyber security services. Category managers can customize this template with internal category information, such as spend, suppliers, and subcategory overview. They can also use the industry and market insights provided in this template to build a strong supply base understanding. A category strategy’s goal is to create an action plan for effective category management, and this template provides the requisite tools, frameworks, and information to create a robust strategy. Best-in-class procurement organizations effectively leverage such tools and techniques to drive continuous improvements in their categories. Scope All industries and geographies Category in focus: BFS ITS Contents In this category strategy report, we offer comprehensive templates based on a four-step process to create a category strategy: Define internal needs: define category maturity and objectives, create a buyer profile to gauge the current supply base state and predict future demand, and conduct total cost modeling Understand the market: build industry and supply base understanding by evaluating aspects such as market trends, key suppliers, major delivery locations, pricing trends, performance benchmarks, and category risks Determine the sourcing strategy: decide between an in-house versus outsourced model for the category and identify best practices and value levers to drive category efficiency Create an action plan: identify and prioritize projects and drive them toward execution