We all know that AI has placed a bright spotlight on the IT industry. But is implementing AI really the biggest challenge facing IT leaders?
That’s one of the questions that we set out to answer when we partnered with Dynata to survey over 200 CIOs and senior-level IT decision makers for our new CIO Insights Report, which we released recently. You can download the full report here.
Our findings were compelling and highlight the sea change that is present in the networking industry, and across the broader technology landscape.
According to respondents, the demands placed on IT professionals are so varied and complex that myriad concerns continue to mount. From the continued emergence of new cybersecurity threats to the proliferation of bandwidth-intensive applications and evolving hybrid work policies, CIOs and their teams face an array of challenges to their daily operations.
The results of the survey paint a clear picture: While AI has captured the attention of the technology industry, the majority of CIOs and senior IT buyers are primarily focused on the convergence of networking, AI and security.
In fact, perhaps the most staggering findings was that 88% of respondents said they desire a single integrated platform for networking, AI and security. This demand reflects executive-level desire for a platform that is easy to use, access and manage, delivering a more streamlined and seamless experience for their IT teams, tighter integration across essential workflows, and faster time to value for all critical networking services.
The survey, which was fielded in July and August 2024, also revealed that CIOs stack ranked their top three IT priorities for the second half of 2024 as 1) securing their enterprise network, 2) integrating network and security and evaluating and 3) deploying AI across their organization. Again, convergence of network infrastructure technologies emerged as top of mind, and mission critical.
Clearly, The “era of platformization “is upon us, and we are likely to see continued demand for solutions that unify complementary solutions like AI, networking and security. Ultimately, this integration of network data, workflows and tools can reduce costs, streamline resources, and improve innovation. Exactly the outcomes that CIOs desire in 2025 and beyond.
Here is a closer look at some of the other key findings of the report:
- Platformization and Cloud Networking
- 88% of respondents prefer a single integrated platform for networking, AI, and security. Demand was even stronger in financial services and technology, where 93% and 95% of respondents, respectively, expressed this desire.
- 55% emphasize the need for a unified platform integrating various networking and security solutions.
- The demand for a platform that is “simple to manage in one place” was strongest across the government, financial services and healthcare sectors, where 60% of respondents all expressed this was a critical priority as part of their network strategy.
- Security Continues to Take Center Stage
- 34% of CIOs rank securing the network as their top priority.
- In healthcare, 65% of respondents, and 83% of education industry respondents, went so far to say that deploying network tools with built in security was a priority.
- 57% of respondents list protecting the network against threats as a major challenge.
- 96% agree that the network is crucial for a robust cybersecurity strategy.
- AI Implementation Hurdles
- 84% of survey responses indicated that they have integrated AI into their tech stack, but 40% still worry about data security.
- 49% face network bandwidth challenges during AI implementation.
- 32% have not seen significant ROI from AI investments.
- Expanding IT Responsibilities
- 58% of respondents struggle with managing and securing new devices.
- 50% cite expanding IT responsibilities as a top challenge.
- 52% face difficulties ensuring integration with emerging technologies.
Clearly, the executive-level focus on networking, AI and security requires careful consideration and strategic planning, but the trend lines show a parallel path between the three technologies. CIOs desire scale, and tools that embed security and AI throughout their network, to create a consistent and reliable experience. The goal is to make every interaction, scan, deployment and IT activity cohesive and connected to delivering customer value.
In other words, the “era of platformization” could be the key to unlocking its full potential. By converging networking, security, and AI into a unified platform, we can create a more efficient, secure, and user-friendly IT environment. Something CIOs, and IT professionals across the board, should be able to get behind.
Learn More
Download the full CIO Insights report and discover top priorities for CIOs and IT decision-makers going into 2025 and more.
Originally published on the Extreme Networks Blog, October 28, 2024 by Monica Kumar
