Cisco Report: 89% of IT Pros to Implement AI-ready Data Centers by 2026

Cisco Study Reveals 89% of IT Professionals Plan to Implement AI-ready Data Centers by 2026

Cisco‘s latest research highlights significant global networking trends poised to transform digital business strategies. According to the Cisco 2024 Global Networking Trends Report, network advancements are crucial for improving key business metrics such as customer and employee satisfaction, operational efficiency, and overall business growth.

The report, based on a survey of over 2,000 IT leaders and professionals, underscores the importance of network investments. Participants noted that factors like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, hybrid work, applications, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are driving innovation. However, challenges such as network complexity, outdated approaches, and skill mismatches hinder progress.

Key Themes Shaping the Digital Landscape

1. The Platform:

   – IT leaders recognize the transformative impact of centralized network management platforms.

   – 72% plan to deploy these platforms across multiple networking domains within the next two years.

   – Benefits include accelerated IT and business innovation (43%), improved network performance, and faster deployment of networks, applications, and services (41%). Additionally, 40% anticipate an enhanced security posture.

2. AI with AI:

   – Organizations are increasingly focused on creating self-optimizing networks through AI.

   – 89% plan to implement AI-ready data centers, with 61% integrating AI-native predictive analytics in the next two years.

   – 56% expect to deploy next-generation enhanced Ethernet networks to support AI workloads.

   – 60% aim to have AI-enabled predictive network automation for managing network operations.

   – 54% foresee adopting AI-enabled secure access service edge (SASE) architecture, and 51% plan to implement AI-enabled endpoint recognition and policy management. Additionally, 38% look to incorporate AI-enabled digital experience assurance, while 25% aim to use AI-enabled network solutions for sustainability outcomes.

3. Secure Networking:

   – Security remains a top concern and a key metric for measuring networking success (30%).

   – 42% identified the integration of networking and security as a primary area needing improvement to achieve IT and business goals.

   – Benefits of network and security convergence include faster cybersecurity threat identification and response (44%) and a focus on cloud-enforced security as a top investment priority over the next year (38%).

Cisco’s 2024 Global Networking Trends Report underscores the evolving landscape of digital business, highlighting the critical role of advanced networking solutions in driving innovation, security, and operational efficiency.