AI goals outpace IT infrastructure, Netskope warns

Netskope has published research that points to rising pressure on enterprise IT infrastructure from AI initiatives, with many infrastructure and operations leaders questioning whether existing systems and resources match new expectations.

The study found that 38% of infrastructure and operations leaders said their current infrastructure could handle the demands associated with AI. Only 18% said they felt completely confident that their team and budget could meet organisational expectations for performance, resilience and security.

Researchers interviewed global infrastructure and operations leaders and examined how closely IT activities aligned with broader business plans. The findings suggest that many teams see gaps between what senior leaders expect and what IT functions say they can deliver with existing platforms and operating models.

Rising expectations

Four in five respondents said IT infrastructure was central to delivering core business goals. The same proportion said expectations from senior leaders had risen in the last 12 months.

At an individual level, 83% of respondents said expectations on them had personally intensified. The research linked that pressure to discussions around AI, alongside existing requirements around security, remote work, and the reliability of core systems.

Despite that focus at the top of organisations, the survey suggested that AI-related work did not always sit at the top of infrastructure and operations priorities. Respondents said their immediate concerns still focused on long-standing issues.

The top stated priority was improving the security and performance of remote access technologies, cited by 43% of respondents. Improving visibility into network operations and performance followed at 35%. Work to support organisational adoption of AI ranked slightly lower at 34%.

Strategy gaps

The research highlighted a perceived disconnect between infrastructure and operations teams and executive decision-making. Nearly two-thirds of respondents, 63%, said they felt far removed from strategic conversations that shape IT decisions.

One in five respondents said they lacked a clear understanding of their CEO's or CIO's objectives. More than a third, 37%, described their role and function as "reactive".

The research also identified concerns about how leaders and IT teams communicate about infrastructure. It said 61% of respondents reported CEO frustration when IT infrastructure was not as transparent or easy to understand as the CEO would like.

KPI tensions

Respondents said they believed senior leadership paid most attention to security, visibility, and cost. They reported less executive attention on resilience or performance in day-to-day discussions.

At the same time, majorities of respondents said they viewed C-suite expectations as unrealistic in key areas given current systems. The survey recorded 55% for performance, 58% for resilience, and 59% for security.

The research also indicated that respondents felt they had the least ability to influence outcomes in security and performance. That result suggests internal tension between the areas where executives focus and the areas where infrastructure and operations leaders say they have limited direct control under existing structures.

Legacy and spend

The survey results also pointed to a cautious approach to infrastructure investment. Sixty percent of respondents said their organisation had a defensive "if it ain't broke" mindset when investing in IT infrastructure and operations.

That attitude sits alongside growing expectations linked to AI. The research said 65% of respondents believed IT infrastructure was more important to running their organisation today than ever before.

Mike Anderson, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Netskope, linked the findings to the pace of change driven by AI and to internal communication issues between business leaders and technical teams.

"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 organisations. 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 modernisation reduces risk, improves agility, and prepares the organisation 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, Netskope.

Recommendations

The research included five recommendations aimed at infrastructure and operations leaders. It urged teams to translate infrastructure decisions into business outcomes rather than technology terminology.

It also recommended earlier engagement in strategic planning, advocacy for architectural simplicity and consolidation, and ongoing reporting that gives senior leaders clearer visibility into the IT estate.

The final recommendation called for infrastructure and operations leaders to position their function around safe and fast AI adoption, with the aim of reducing executive anxiety and building trust in the organisation's readiness for AI-driven change.