Growing AI Investment for Network Management Sparks Differing Strategies
Opengear's research reveals divergent perspectives on AI implementation in network management between technical teams and leadership. While 58% of organizations have fully implemented AI for network management, 57% of network engineers expect AI investment to increase by over 25% in the next 2-3 years, with 49% of CIOs and CSOs concurring.
Key findings show that 70% of engineers believe the planned investment isn't sufficient for business goals. The main barriers differ: engineers cite high initial costs (29%) as primary, while executives prioritize regulatory compliance (36%) and skilled personnel shortage (30%). Leadership focuses on continuous monitoring (32%), while engineers emphasize IT staff training (31%) and network resilience (26%).
In cybersecurity, 66% of senior leaders allocated 4-10% of their IT budget to AI network management, while 69% of engineers believe AI will enhance cybersecurity incident response.
La ricerca di Opengear rivela prospettive divergenti sull'implementazione dell'IA nella gestione delle reti tra i team tecnici e la leadership. Sebbene il 58% delle organizzazioni abbia completamente implementato l'IA per la gestione delle reti, il 57% degli ingegneri di rete si aspetta che gli investimenti in IA aumentino di oltre il 25% nei prossimi 2-3 anni, con il 49% dei CIO e dei CSO concordi.
Le scoperte chiave mostrano che il 70% degli ingegneri ritiene che l'investimento pianificato non sia sufficiente per raggiungere gli obiettivi aziendali. I principali ostacoli differiscono: gli ingegneri citano i costi iniziali elevati (29%) come primaria, mentre i dirigenti pongono l'accento sulla conformità normativa (36%) e sulla carenza di personale qualificato (30%). La leadership si concentra sul monitoraggio continuo (32%), mentre gli ingegneri sottolineano l'importanza della formazione del personale IT (31%) e della resilienza della rete (26%).
In ambito cybersecurity, il 66% dei leader senior ha destinato dal 4 al 10% del proprio budget IT alla gestione delle reti con IA, mentre il 69% degli ingegneri ritiene che l'IA migliorerà la risposta agli incidenti di cybersecurity.
La investigación de Opengear revela perspectivas divergentes sobre la implementación de la IA en la gestión de redes entre los equipos técnicos y la alta dirección. Mientras que el 58% de las organizaciones ha implementado completamente la IA para la gestión de redes, el 57% de los ingenieros de redes espera que la inversión en IA aumente en más del 25% en los próximos 2-3 años, con el 49% de los CIO y CSO de acuerdo.
Los hallazgos clave muestran que el 70% de los ingenieros creen que la inversión planificada no es suficiente para alcanzar los objetivos comerciales. Las principales barreras son diferentes: los ingenieros mencionan los altos costos iniciales (29%) como primordiales, mientras que los ejecutivos priorizan el cumplimiento normativo (36%) y la escasez de personal calificado (30%). La dirección se centra en la monitorización continua (32%), mientras que los ingenieros enfatizan la capacitación del personal de TI (31%) y la resiliencia de la red (26%).
En ciberseguridad, el 66% de los líderes senior asignó entre el 4 y el 10% de su presupuesto de TI a la gestión de redes con IA, mientras que el 69% de los ingenieros cree que la IA mejorará la respuesta a incidentes de ciberseguridad.
Opengear의 연구는 네트워크 관리에서 AI 구현에 대한 기술 팀과 리더십 간의 상이한 관점을 드러냅니다. 58%의 조직이 네트워크 관리에 AI를 완전히 구현한 반면, 57%의 네트워크 엔지니어는 향후 2-3년 동안 AI 투자 증가가 25% 이상이 될 것으로 기대하고 있습니다. CIO와 CSO의 49%도 이에 동의합니다.
주요 발견에 따르면 70%의 엔지니어는 계획된 투자가 비즈니스 목표에 대해 충분하지 않다고 믿고 있습니다. 주요 장벽은 다르며: 엔지니어는 높은 초기 비용(29%)을 주된 장벽으로 언급하고, 경영진은 규제 준수(36%)와 숙련된 인력 부족(30%)을 우선시합니다. 리더십은 지속적인 모니터링(32%)에 집중하는 반면, 엔지니어는 IT 직원 교육(31%)과 네트워크 회복력(26%)을 강조합니다.
사이버 보안 분야에서 66%의 고위 리더들은 IT 예산의 4-10%를 AI 네트워크 관리에 할당했으며, 69%의 엔지니어는 AI가 사이버 보안 사고 대응을 개선할 것이라고 믿고 있습니다.
La recherche d'Opengear révèle des perspectives divergentes sur l'implémentation de l'IA dans la gestion des réseaux entre les équipes techniques et la direction. Bien que 58% des organisations aient complètement implémenté l'IA pour la gestion des réseaux, 57% des ingénieurs réseau s'attendent à ce que les investissements dans l'IA augmentent de plus de 25% au cours des 2-3 prochaines années, avec 49% des CIO et CSO en accord.
Les principales conclusions montrent que 70% des ingénieurs estiment que l'investissement prévu n'est pas suffisant pour atteindre les objectifs commerciaux. Les principaux obstacles diffèrent : les ingénieurs citent les coûts initiaux élevés (29%) comme principal obstacle, tandis que les dirigeants privilégient la conformité réglementaire (36%) et la pénurie de personnel qualifié (30%). La direction se concentre sur la surveillance continue (32%), tandis que les ingénieurs mettent l'accent sur la formation du personnel informatique (31%) et la résilience du réseau (26%).
En cybersécurité, 66% des dirigeants seniors ont alloué de 4 à 10% de leur budget informatique à la gestion des réseaux par IA, tandis que 69% des ingénieurs croient que l'IA améliorera la réponse aux incidents de cybersécurité.
Die Forschung von Opengear zeigt unterschiedliche Perspektiven zur Implementierung von KI im Netzwerkmanagement zwischen technischen Teams und der Unternehmensführung. Während 58% der Organisationen KI vollständig für das Netzwerkmanagement implementiert haben, erwartet ein Großteil der Netzwerk-Ingenieure (57%), dass die Investitionen in KI in den nächsten 2-3 Jahren um über 25% steigen werden. 49% der CIOs und CSOs stimmen dem zu.
Wesentliche Ergebnisse zeigen, dass 70% der Ingenieure glauben, dass die geplanten Investitionen für die Unternehmensziele nicht ausreichen. Die Haupthindernisse unterscheiden sich: Ingenieure nennen hohe Anfangskosten (29%) als das wichtigste, während Führungskräfte die Einhaltung von Vorschriften (36%) und den Mangel an qualifiziertem Personal (30%) priorisieren. Die Führung konzentriert sich auf kontinuierliche Überwachung (32%), während Ingenieure die Schulung des IT-Personals (31%) und die Netzwer Resilienz (26%) betonen.
Im Bereich der Cybersicherheit haben 66% der Führungskräfte 4-10% ihres IT-Budgets in die KI-Netzwerkverwaltung investiert, während 69% der Ingenieure glauben, dass KI die Reaktion auf Cyber-Sicherheitsvorfälle verbessern wird.
- 58% of organizations have already fully implemented AI for network management
- Expected >25% increase in AI investment over next 2-3 years
- 69% of engineers believe AI will improve cybersecurity incident response
- 70% of engineers believe planned AI investment is insufficient for business goals
- High initial investment costs (29%) cited as major barrier to implementation
- Only 4-10% of IT budget currently allocated to AI network management
Insights
The research provides compelling evidence of accelerating AI adoption in network management, with several key implications for Digi International's market position. The projected 25% increase in AI investments over the next 2-3 years, supported by both engineers (57%) and C-suite executives (49%), signals a robust growth trajectory in this sector.
The divergence between technical teams and leadership perspectives presents both challenges and opportunities. While engineers prioritize training (31%) and network resilience (26%), executives focus on real-time analytics (32%). This gap, combined with the fact that 70% of engineers believe planned investments are insufficient, suggests potential market expansion opportunities for comprehensive solutions that address both technical and strategic needs.
The current allocation of only 4-10% of IT budgets to AI network management, despite 66% of organizations operating in this range, indicates significant room for market penetration and growth. The emphasis on cybersecurity integration, with 69% of engineers seeing AI as important for incident response, aligns well with Digi's subsidiary Opengear's core competencies.
The research reveals a maturing market with evolving needs across different organizational levels. The focus on regulatory compliance (36%) and skilled personnel shortages (30%) as primary concerns for C-suite executives suggests opportunities for solutions that emphasize ease of implementation and regulatory compatibility. This market intelligence positions Digi International favorably to capture increased market share through targeted product development and strategic positioning.
Today,
Growing AI Investment for Network Management Sparks Differing Strategies (Graphic: Business Wire)
The survey, which polled over 1,000 CIOs, CSOs, and network engineers across the
When it comes to adopting AI, network engineers see high initial investment costs (
In addition to the differing concerns about how to manage resources for successful AI integration, there is also a discrepancy in how each group is preparing for AI. Senior leaders are prioritizing continuous monitoring and real-time analytics (
The survey also highlights AI's role in cybersecurity. Two thirds (
“The research pinpoints a difference in focus between the C-suite and network engineers, shaped by their respective roles and where they are in their AI implementation journey,” said Patrick Quirk, SVP and General Manager, Opengear. “Leadership and technical teams naturally see risk differently, which leads to varying priorities within a shared vision. The findings clearly demonstrate a shared recognition of AI’s transformative potential.”
Quirk added, “AI can revolutionize network and risk management. However, ensuring collaboration among senior leadership is crucial to effectively align their investments. By bringing the C-suite and network engineering perspectives together, businesses can create a unified strategy that supports AI-driven innovation and business goals.”
Differences in perspective extend to AI leadership. The CIO is ultimately responsible for the rollout of AI in network management, say
To obtain the full report or discuss how to implement the optimal AI strategy for your organization’s network management needs, contact Opengear.
About Opengear
Opengear, a Digi International company, delivers secure, resilient access and automation to support critical IT infrastructure on the First Day, Worst Day, and Every Day. Through presence and proximity, Opengear solutions enable provisioning, orchestration, and remote management of network devices through innovative software and appliances. Opengear solutions are trusted by global organizations across financial, digital communications, retail, and manufacturing sectors. The company is headquartered in
About Digi International
Digi International (NASDAQ: DGII) is a leading global provider of business and mission-critical Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity products and solutions. We help our customers create next-generation connected products and solutions to deploy, monitor, and manage critical communications infrastructures and compliance standards in demanding environments with high levels of security, relentless reliability, and bulletproof performance. Founded in 1985, the company has helped customers connect more than 100 million things — and counting. For more information, visit www.digi.com, or call 877-912-3444 (
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250130822145/en/
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Source: Opengear
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