We see WAN optimization as both a strategic and tactical technology, depending on the IT challenge at hand, and how closely that challenge is tied to broader IT strategy, policies and goals.

The #'s cited in the EMA survey actually show strong progress from 2-3 years ago (or more), when WAN optimization was purely tactical -- deployed primarily to save bandwidth, and sometimes to centralize file servers. That half of respondents now rate it as strategic speaks to the fact that IT teams are starting to proactively select these solutions and are taking the time to integrate them into their architectures and plans before deploying.

This trend will take several more years before the large majority of WAN optim deployments are strategic, long term "enabling of the WAN" for applications, but that time will come, as it has for other (at the time) advanced IP technologies like firewalls, QoS, VoIP, etc.