Netskope publishes research on I&O readiness for AI ERA
Netskope published a research report that examined how infrastructure and operations (I&O) leaders viewed their readiness for increased IT demands tied to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Edge Resource Allocator (ERA). The study found 80% of respondents said expectations from senior leaders had risen over the previous 12 months, while 38% believed their current systems were fully equipped to meet those demands.
The report described a widening gap between senior leadership expectations and I&O perceptions: 83% of I&O leaders said expectations on them had intensified personally, 63% felt distant from the strategic conversations that shape IT decisions, and 37% characterized their function as reactive. The research also recorded that 61% observed CEO frustration when infrastructure lacked transparency.
On technical priorities, the research reported that majorities of respondents judged C-suite expectations around performance (55%), resilience (58%), and security (59%) to be unrealistic given current systems, and that I&O teams felt least able to influence security and performance. Respondents ranked improving security and performance of remote access technologies (43%) and improving visibility into network operations and performance (35%) above work to support AI adoption (34%), and 60% described a defensive “if it ain't broke” investment mindset.
The research team interviewed global I&O leaders to assess how IT activities aligned with broader business plans and published the report titled Crucial Conversations: Line of Sight. The study concluded with five recommendations for I&O leaders, including translating infrastructure decisions into business outcomes, engaging earlier in strategic planning, pursuing architectural simplicity, creating transparent reporting for senior leaders, and positioning I&O to enable safe AI adoption.
“AI has increased demand on enterprise infrastructure at a pace that legacy systems were never built to support. Our research shows that this strain has been amplified by a widening communication gap inside organizations. Senior leaders want clearer insight into the resilience and readiness of their IT environments, while I&O teams are under growing pressure to deliver performance, security, and reliability with limited resources.”
“The way forward begins with translating infrastructure decisions into business terms so leadership can see how modernization reduces risk, improves agility, and prepares the organization for safe and effective AI adoption. When IT and the C-suite share this understanding, infrastructure becomes a strategic advantage rather than a constraint,” said Mike Anderson, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Netskope. The research provided five recommendations for I&O leaders to forge stronger connections with the C-suite.