Global cybersecurity infrastructure provider Netskope has published new research indicating that the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence adoption is putting enterprise IT infrastructure under mounting pressure, exposing the limits of legacy technologies in areas such as resilience, performance, and security.
Netskope’s research findings point to a growing gap between executive ambition and operational readiness. While AI has become a top strategic priority in boardrooms, many infrastructure and operations teams lack the capability, resources, or modern platforms required to support AI-driven workloads at scale.
Based on interviews with infrastructure and operations leaders worldwide, the study shows that only 38% believe their current infrastructure can meet the demands created by AI applications. Confidence drops sharply when staffing and budgets are taken into account, with just 18% saying they are fully equipped with the skills, resources, and funding needed to deliver the levels of performance, resilience, and security now expected in the AI era.
At the same time, expectations placed on IT infrastructure are rising sharply. Four out of five I&O leaders said infrastructure is now central to delivering their organization’s core business goals, and the same proportion reported that expectations from senior leadership have increased over the past year. More than 80% also said they personally feel greater pressure, reflecting how AI initiatives are reshaping accountability within IT organizations.
Despite this heightened importance, the research points to a persistent disconnect between I&O teams and senior leadership. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they feel removed from the strategic discussions that influence IT investment decisions, while one in five admitted they do not clearly understand the objectives of their CEO or CIO. More than a third described their role as largely reactive, rather than strategic, suggesting that infrastructure decisions are often made in response to immediate problems rather than long-term planning.
This misalignment appears to create frustration on both sides. Sixty-one percent of I&O leaders reported that their CEO becomes frustrated when IT infrastructure is not sufficiently transparent or easy to understand. At the same time, many I&O leaders believe that executive expectations are unrealistic. Majorities said that performance, resilience, and security targets set by the C-suite are difficult to achieve with current systems, particularly as AI workloads place additional stress on networks, remote access platforms, and security architectures.
Risks: Outages, Latency, Security Gaps
The research also highlights a conservative investment mindset that may be limiting progress. Sixty percent of respondents said their organizations still follow a defensive “if it ain’t broke” approach to infrastructure investment, favoring incremental fixes over architectural change. This stance persists even as AI adoption increases the consequences of outages, latency, and security gaps.
Interestingly, while AI dominates boardroom discussions around growth and digital transformation, it is not always the top operational priority for I&O teams. Respondents ranked improving the security and performance of remote access technologies and increasing visibility into network operations higher than direct AI enablement. This suggests that foundational issues around access, monitoring, and control must be addressed before AI initiatives can be safely scaled.
Mike Anderson, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Netskope, said the findings reflect a structural challenge facing many enterprises. According to Anderson, AI is placing unprecedented demands on infrastructure that was never designed for such scale or complexity, and the impact is being magnified by communication gaps within organizations. He argued that progress depends on reframing infrastructure decisions in business terms, helping executives understand how modernization supports risk reduction, agility, and sustainable AI adoption. When IT leaders and the C-suite share this perspective, infrastructure can shift from being a bottleneck to becoming a strategic asset.
To address these challenges, the Netskope research outlines several recommendations for I&O leaders, including engaging earlier in strategic planning, simplifying architectures, improving transparency through ongoing reporting, and positioning infrastructure modernization as a prerequisite for safe and effective AI deployment. Together, these steps point toward a more integrated approach in which infrastructure strategy is aligned more closely with business objectives in an AI-driven economy.
Executive Insights FAQ
Why is AI placing new pressure on enterprise IT infrastructure?
AI workloads increase demands on performance, availability, and security, exposing limitations in legacy architectures.
What is the biggest challenge facing I&O leaders today?
Balancing rising executive expectations with limited resources while operating infrastructure not designed for AI-scale demands.
Why does alignment between IT and the C-suite matter more now?
Without shared understanding, infrastructure investments remain reactive and fail to support long-term AI strategies, according to this Netskope research.
Why isn’t AI enablement the top priority for many I&O teams?
Foundational issues like remote access security and network visibility must be resolved before AI can be deployed safely.
How can infrastructure become a strategic advantage?
By modernizing architectures, improving transparency, and aligning infrastructure decisions with business outcomes.
