The 451 Group is an independent technology industry analyst company focused on the business of enterprise IT innovation. The company’s analysts provide critical and timely insight into the market and competitive dynamics of innovation in emerging technology segments. Clients of the company – at vendor, investor, service-provider and end-user organizations – rely on 451 insight to support both strategic and tactical decision-making for competitive advantage.

Approach

The 451 Group's approach centers around emerging enterprise information technologies and on those growth segments of the enterprise IT marketplace that are being fueled by innovation. This innovation may occur within existing, well-defined technology areas, but at other times it may represent altogether new technologies – often the result of convergence among traditional technology segments.

451 analysts focus on the fundamental elements of these growth segments – i.e., looking at the key technologies and the vendors developing these technologies – and 451 analysts focus on delivering insight that is granular, targeted and meaningful – i.e., neither too macro-level nor too micro- level. The company's products and services are designed to deliver meaningful insight throughout all stages of the lifecycle of emerging enterprise IT market segments. This insight is always independent, and 451 analysts strive to deliver objective assessments of the competitive environment facing vendors in the enterprise IT marketplace.

The 451 Group's approach differentiates it from other IT industry research and analysis organizations. Too often, other firms aren't able to fully understand the core fundamentals of emerging enterprise IT market segments. As a result, they miss the implications of market developments for core market participants – particularly for vendor companies that are building businesses around enterprise IT innovation. Furthermore, other firms do not deliver analysis in an adequate time frame and with sufficient independence to provide any type of competitive advantage.

Methodology

The 451 Group's methodology looks at three core facets of emerging enterprise IT market segments: 1) technology innovation, 2) vendor strategy and 3) financial/financing impact.

The company's analysis identifies and illuminates the critical issues in emerging market segments, and assesses the product, marketing and business strategies of key market participants, analyzing their obstacles and challenges. These participants are not only the largest IT vendors, but also include midmarket companies and startups with an ability to significantly affect the broader enterprise IT marketplace (or an important emerging segment of it). The 451 Group's analysts have particular expertise in identifying, understanding and assessing private-company participants in emerging market segments.

Coverage by 451 analysts is divided into four sectors – Enterprise Software, Storage & Systems, Networks & Media and Mobile Software. Each of these sectors is further divided into subsectors and market segments. Coverage is focused where 451 analysts believe there is real innovation and subsequent commercialization – i.e., the 'hot spot' segments where analysts perceive there to be growth.

The 451 Group's products and services are positioned in relation to the stage in the lifecycle of emerging enterprise IT market segments into which they provide insight and also by the type of insight being provided. The 451 Market Insight Service delivers daily insight into emerging enterprise IT markets and provides tactical and strategic analysis throughout the lifecycle of emerging market segments. Individual 451 Special Reports cover key emerging enterprise IT market segments in greater depth and initiate coverage of new growth market segments. 451 TechDealmaker provides forward-looking M&A analysis that is critical in the middle and late stages of a new market segment's development – covering liquidity for venture investors and addressing strategic positioning among competitors. Finally, 451 Strategic Counsel provides an additional layer of custom insight into emerging enterprise IT markets at all stages.