Enterprise Network Teams Are Falling Behind as AI Raises the Stakes
Network World, Monday, June 8th, 2026
Network teams face talent shortages, tool sprawl, and AI-workload gaps as operational success rates decline.
Enterprise network operations success has deteriorated, with organizations reporting complete strategic success falling from 42% to 31%. Research identifies four obstacles: insufficient staffing (52% struggle to hire experts), widespread tool sprawl without matching gains, governance gaps in hybrid and multi-cloud environments, and inadequate observability for emerging AI workloads.
Teams are prioritizing AI-driven automation for day-two operations, with 79% rating it a high priority. Successful teams distinguish themselves through strict data accuracy standards, integrated tool ecosystems, and unified visibility across on-premises and cloud infrastructure.