The increasing integration of AI and bandwidth-heavy applications is complicating network environments and making them a greater focus for C-suite leaders, according to a report by Extreme Networks.

The survey of 200 CIOs and senior IT leaders found that 88% of respondents see a critical need for a platform that combines AI capabilities with security management.

Nearly all IT leaders (96%) agreed that a strong network is essential for effective cybersecurity and risk management strategies.

Security threats remain a pressing issue for 45% of respondents, while 40% expressed concerns about AI’s impact on data security.

Legacy Systems, Unpatched Apps

Phil Swain, CISO, Extreme Networks, explained the most critical gaps don’t lie in one area of the IT stack – rather, typical weak spots involve legacy systems and outdated, unpatched infrastructure and applications.

“Organizations using outdated systems and solutions can be an even bigger burden on IT and security teams as they’re not properly equipped with the right tools to manage today’s threat landscape,” he said.

With 57% of CIOs ranking protecting networks against potential threats as one of their top challenges, Swain said IT teams can benefit from AI. Still, those looking to leverage it must ensure they have stringent security strategies in place.

“Like any technology, AI comes with its own set of risks, and shadow AI is becoming a growing pain point for IT teams with the growing use of unmanaged or unauthorized AI tools popping up across organizations,” he cautioned.

The vast majority (84%) of respondents said they have begun integrating AI into their technology stack, but 40% cite data security as their biggest concern.

AI Tools and Visibility

Swain said IT teams must ensure they have visibility into the AI tools they know are on their networks, as well as the additional AI tools that their employees may be interacting with to help minimize the risks that come with AI.

He added one of the most surprising results of the survey was that the vast majority (86%) of IT leaders are planning to invest in their networks over the next 18 months.

“While budget constraints were also identified as a common challenge, it was interesting to learn that the overwhelming majority of respondents are investing in network upgrades,” he said.

Swain said this demonstrates that as organizations look to leverage more technology to become more efficient and IT departments seek to optimize security strategies and user experiences, they are realizing that the network is foundational to reaching those goals.

The survey revealed network bandwidth continues to be a barrier, with 49% of organizations experiencing challenges in this area during AI implementation, while 30% struggle with inadequate employee training and guidance.

AI and ROI

Nearly a third (32%) of respondents reported no significant return on investment (ROI) or efficiency improvements from their AI initiatives.

From Swain’s perspective, AI needs three things to function at its highest potential: Enough bandwidth to operate without latency, a defined and consistently updated data set, and a specific use case it is designed to achieve.

“Investments in robust enterprise networking solutions are critical to supporting AI deployments,” he said. “Without the necessary bandwidth, AI initiatives will struggle to deliver meaningful results.”

He added continuous training for IT staff is essential to keeping up with rapidly evolving AI technologies and security protocols.

“Investing in skill development can significantly improve operational efficiency and security management,” he said.