Imagine this: A bank launches a wealth management platform with predictive trading algorithms in five countries at once. A hospital integrates wearables, diagnostic tools and mobile staff systems to provide precise patient care through predictive analytics. A global manufacturer reprograms electric vehicles remotely for proactive maintenance, while tracking their supply chain in real time.
None of this would be possible without secure, AI-enabled network infrastructure and services. In a world where business growth hinges on trusted, high-quality data, secure networking has become the digital backbone that connects everything and everyone.
Infrastructure modernization to support AI implementation is a top AI-deployment investment priority in the near, medium and long term. Organizations are urgently doubling down on innovation and AI applications to digitally transform their operations and prevent being outpaced by early adopters of AI.
The integration of networks with AI systems forms the bedrock of this transformation, as it facilitates the collection and management of data while improving operational capabilities to support more productive and efficient workflows while delivering an improved user experience.
Why secure networking is now a C-suite priority
Many organizations are prioritizing AI, but few can effectively realize its promised potential.
Digital transformation is no longer simply about migrating to the cloud or launching new applications. CIOs now face increasing pressure to upgrade their network technology to meet the growing demand for innovation through AI within their organizations.
The complexity and cost of network and security environments often impede the IT team’s ability to focus on strategic growth, which is unattainable without the right network foundation.
Every digital transformation is now an enterprise network transformation. From enabling AI workloads and the collection and management of data to securing critical information and meeting sustainability goals, networks are essential to executing enterprise strategies.
Consider the following:
- 40% of global organizations are looking at incorporating agentic AI into their network operations, and 82% of those using AI in selected projects rate AI-enabled networking as a critical need.
- 97% of CIOs and CTOs say the network is vital to growth and innovation.
- 76% of organizations cite large-scale organized cybercrime as a top threat for which they are not prepared, requiring network-integrated security.
- 94% of CEOs agree that frictionless employee experiences — enabled by seamless connectivity — directly affect profitability.
- According to Gartner®, “AI agents will be implemented in 60% of all IT operations tools by 2028, which is an increase from fewer than 5% at the end of 2024.”*
This is no longer just an IT agenda. For CEOs, networks determine their organizations’ speed to market and the quality of their customer experiences. For CFOs, they affect cost, compliance and readiness for mergers and acquisitions. Across the boardroom, secure networking is directly linked to revenue, risk and reputation.
How IT leaders can meet these AI challenges
For your network to support your business outcomes, consider these fundamental shifts:
AI at the core
AI is reshaping networks in two significant ways. First, networks must now support AI systems, from training models in the cloud to performing inference at the edge. This requires high throughput, low latency and resilient connectivity across hybrid environments. Without intelligent, scalable networks, organizations cannot fully realize the potential of AI across their business functions.
Second, AI is transforming the networks themselves. Through AIOps, full-stack observability and automated remediation, networks are becoming self-optimizing systems. AI-driven insights help predict failures, enforce security policies and fine-tune performance.
As AI adoption continues to accelerate, so does the need for networks that are both AI-enabled and AI-enabling.
Edge-to-cloud connectivity
As hybrid work, IoT and real-time services continue to expand, organizations need consistent, high-performance connectivity from the edge to the cloud. Campus and branch networks must deliver zero trust security, mobility and scalability while improving user experiences and operational resilience.
Wide area networking
The wide area network (WAN) has evolved into an intelligent engine for dynamic, policy-driven connectivity. WAN edge solutions, such as software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) and secure service edge (SSE), enable organizations to orchestrate traffic, embed security and optimize performance across globally distributed environments.
Cloud networks
AI, analytics and digital platforms demand more from the network. Cloud networks must offer embedded automation, observability and microsegmented security, as well as the ability to scale seamlessly to meet the demands of modern applications and multicloud strategies.
5 network priorities for business and technology leaders
To thrive in this new era, organizations must reframe their network investments not as technology upgrades but as strategic enablers of growth, agility and trust.
1. Reimagine campuses as digital hubs
Transform your physical and digital workplaces into software-defined, zero trust-enabled environments that support AI systems, hybrid work, IoT and real-time collaboration. Next-generation campus networks deliver a better employee experience, help teams work more efficiently and support your environmental, social and governance goals.
2. Redesign the WAN for speed and trust
Adopt an intelligent WAN edge architecture that combines SD-WAN, observability and integrated security. This enables high-performing, secure connectivity across remote users, cloud workloads and global locations while streamlining management and cutting operational costs.
3. Elevate cloud networking as core infrastructure
Support demanding workloads with AI-augmented cloud networks that are designed for agility, high availability and proactive security. These platforms are essential to delivering seamless digital experiences across distributed applications and users.
4. Simplify lifecycle management
Replace fragmented procurement with enterprise agreements that consolidate hardware, software and services into a single, agile framework. This simplifies operations, shortens deployment cycles and aligns investment with usage.
At NTT DATA, we have helped organizations reduce total cost of ownership by up to 40% and achieve faster time to value through platform consolidation. Furthermore, avoiding security breaches can save a significant amount every year, while optimized application performance directly contributes to revenue growth and customer satisfaction. The global average cost of a data breach in 2024 was $4.88 million, according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024.
- ALSO READ → How to modernize your network in 2025
5. Embed outcome-based, experience-led operations
Shift your focus from service level agreements to business-level outcomes. At NTT DATA, our extensive data accessibility allows us to incorporate AI-powered insights and capabilities into our products, sparing our clients the hassle of assembling data from various systems on their own.
Networks must deliver tangible value, such as mitigating risk, speeding up time to market or ensuring compliance. Using AIOps-enabled platforms and integrated telemetry, your IT team can proactively optimize network performance and align it with your organization’s key performance indicators.
Let NTT DATA guide your digital transformation
In a complex and interdependent digital landscape, networks must evolve into software-defined platforms that connect and protect organizations while scaling to support business growth.
At NTT DATA, we partner with organizations around the world to modernize campus environments, secure wide-area infrastructure and optimize cloud networking. We use AI, automation and full lifecycle services to deliver sustainable, measurable outcomes.
The future belongs to those organizations that can confidently harness the immense potential of AI securely and sustainably.