The injection of multicloud and hybrid cloud networks, business partners adding their own networking solutions, and the addition of the Zero Trust framework into the enterprise businesswide networking fabric has increased the complexity of enterprise networks by two more magnitudes from 10 years ago. In addition, modern networks are now more than just a means of connectivity; networking infrastructures have evolved into strategic assets that drive revenue, enhance customer experiences, and boost employee productivity. In this context, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into IT operations (ITOps) is becoming indispensable. AIOps (AI for IT operations) provides real-time contextualization and insights across the IT estate, ensuring that network infrastructure operates at peak efficiency in serving business needs. This blog explores how AIOps is revolutionizing network management and transforming networks into valuable business assets.
This blog is part of a four-part series of blogs. The series delves into the intersection of AIOps with:
- The future of AI-driven IT operations (Carlos Casanova).
- DevOps and agile (Devin Dickerson and Andrew Cornwall).
- Autonomous networks and business-optimized networks (Andre Kindness and Octavio Garcia Granados).
- Edge, IoT, and OT computing (Michele Pelino).
Intelligent Network Management
One of the primary benefits of AIOps is its ability to enhance intelligent network management. In today’s complex network environments, optimizing performance and ensuring seamless connectivity in a continuously changing fabric is critical. AIOps provides insights across the various IT domains (e.g., application, security, infrastructure, etc.) that help networking professionals identify areas for improvement, automate routine tasks, and maintain optimal network performance. By leveraging AI-driven analytics, organizations can ensure that their networks are always running smoothly, reducing downtime and improving overall efficiency.
Autonomous Networks
AIOps is paving the way for the creation of autonomous networks that didn’t materialize during the era of software-defined networking or intent-based networking. These initiatives claimed to create self-managing, self-healing networks that could adapt to changing conditions and demands with minimal human intervention, except a crucial element was missing: AIOps. AIOps highlights areas where automation can be implemented, allowing networks to respond dynamically to issues and changes in the environment. This capability not only reduces the burden on IT staff but also ensures that networks remain resilient and reliable, even in the face of unexpected challenges, by applying known corrective actions or intelligently escalating issues to the right subject-matter expert following the AI “human in the loop” approach.
Proactive Issue Resolution
Proactive issue resolution is another significant advantage of AIOps. By analyzing vast amounts of data in real time, AIOps can help enterprises move beyond anomaly detection and pattern-based reactive response to better predict and resolve network issues before they impact users. This proactive approach ensures high availability and reliability of network services, which is crucial for maintaining business continuity. By addressing potential problems before they escalate, organizations can avoid costly downtime and ensure a seamless user experience.
Embedding Zero Trust Into The Network
Zero Trust is a security model that requires strict verification for every user and device attempting to access network resources. AIOps plays a crucial role in embedding Zero Trust principles into the network. By detecting and mitigating threats in real time, AIOps helps protect against cyberattacks and ensures compliance with industry standards. This proactive security approach is essential for safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining the integrity of the network, creating a shim layer between networking operations and security operations/detection/response processes.
Business-Optimized Networks
AIOps also enables the optimization of network components and subsystems to align with business goals and strategies. By providing actionable insights at the business application layer, AIOps helps organizations make informed decisions that enhance network performance and support business objectives. Whether it’s improving customer experiences, increasing revenue, or boosting employee productivity, AIOps ensures that the network infrastructure is a strategic asset that drives business success.
Intelligent Connectivity Requires AI-Infused IT Operations
The integration of AIOps into enterprise networks will transform the way organizations manage and optimize their IT operations. By providing real-time insights, enabling autonomous networks, and embedding Zero Trust principles, AIOps is revolutionizing network management and turning networks into valuable business assets. As digital businesses continue to evolve, the role of AIOps will only become more critical, ensuring that networks remain efficient, reliable, and aligned with business goals. Embracing AIOps is not just a technological upgrade; it’s a strategic imperative for any organization looking to thrive in the digital age.
Starting in January of 2025, for Forrester clients, we’ll offer a series of webinars that align with this series of blogs. Be sure to mark these dates in your calendar for the upcoming webinars. Follow the analysts below for notification when the registration links are available.
Be sure to check out the other blogs in this series:
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