2026 State of Network Operations Executive Overview

As of 2026, 99% of enterprises have adopted AI and cloud strategies, yet fewer than half (50%) are actually ready for AI workloads. The primary barriers to success are network latency, congestion, and a lack of end-to-end visibility, with 87% of teams reporting significant blind spots in cloud and internet environments.

Explore the full Executive Overview below to discover how leading NetOps teams are evolving from reactive troubleshooting to AI-augmented observability to ensure their networks can finally keep pace with the demands of enterprise AI.

As you can see, the report reveals several recurring themes regarding infrastructure readiness. Any enterprise that wants to stand out in 2026 must address these critical metrics to bridge the gap between AI adoption and actual network performance:

Closing this gap isn't just a theoretical exercise for IT leadership—it’s the difference between weeks of troubleshooting and near-instant resolution. Here is how that shift from reactive to proactive observability is playing out for major global enterprises today:

Real-world impact: Using Broadcom visibility, the Ameriprise NetOps team reduced triage time from weeks down to minutes, while Coty identified 80% packet loss in data centers before users reported issues.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest challenge for NetOps in 2026?

The "Visibility Gap." 95% of leaders report poor visibility into key network segments, specifically public cloud and the internet.

How has network performance monitoring changed?

In 2026, the focus has shifted from "Is the network up?" to "Is the network performing?" As the report states, 'Performance is the new Uptime.'

What are the 5 priorities for an AI-ready network?

1. End-to-end visibility

2. AI-augmented automation

3. Predictive analytics

4. Trust through transparency,

5. Aligning performance with business outcomes.