OPENGEAR: 57 PCT ENGINEERS EXPECT AI INVESTMENT GROWTH IN NETWORK MANAGEMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- A recent survey by Opengear, a Digi International company, reveals that 57 per cent of network engineers expect their organisations’ investment in artificial intelligence (AI) for network management to increase by more than 25 per cent over the next two to three years.

The research unveiled that 49 per cent of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and Chief Security Officers (CSOs) agreed, and yet 70 per cent of engineers believe this increase will still fall short of meeting business goals.

“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.

“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,” said Opengear Senior Vice President and General Manager, Patrick Quirk in a statement.

When it comes to adopting AI, network engineers see high initial investment costs (29 per cent) as the biggest barrier holding their organisation back from fully implementing it for network management, while CIOs and CSOs rank it below regulatory and compliance issues (cited by 36 per cent) and lack of skilled personnel to manage AI systems (30 per cent).

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 prioritised continuous monitoring and real-time analytics (32 per cent), while network engineers emphasised training and development for information technology (IT) staff (31 per cent) and enhancing network resilience (26 per cent).

The survey also highlights AI's role in cybersecurity, with two-thirds (66 per cent) of CIOs and CSOs allocating only four to 10 per cent of their IT and cybersecurity budget to AI for network management in the last financial year.

Yet, network engineers are more optimistic about AI’s impact on cybersecurity, with 69 per cent believing it will significantly improve their organisation's ability to respond to cybersecurity incidents.

The survey, which polled over 1,000 CIOs, CSOs, and network engineers across the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany, and Australia, explores the perspectives of leadership and technical teams regarding AI in network management and cybersecurity.

-- BERNAMA