Something fundamental is shifting inside enterprise networking—and it isn’t just cloud adoption, AI tooling, or hybrid work.

It’s the operating model behind NetOps itself.

According to the “State of Network Operations 2026,” traditional NetOps structures are no longer aligned with how networks are built, maintained, or consumed today. This isn’t a trend to monitor. It’s a structural break.

Why is traditional NetOps reaching its operational limits?

For years, NetOps teams have been asked to do more with less, while meeting these objectives:

  • Keep services available.

  • Troubleshoot environments they don’t own.

  • Support applications they don’t control.

  • Respond faster—despite shrinking teams and budgets.

The 2026 data offers a clear picture of the strain these demands are placing on teams:

 

Operational constraint

Percentage of teams affected

Shortage of modern networking expertise

37%

Staffing or budget constraints

41%

Inadequate tooling

29%

Immature automation practices 

70%

 

 

 

Why is NetDevOps emerging—whether teams planned for it or not?

Why do CIOs need to employ NetDevOps approaches in 2026? Modern networks are no longer contained within enterprise boundaries. They span:

  • Public cloud providers

  • Internet transit and ISPs

  • SaaS platforms

  • Remote and hybrid workers

  • Third-party and partner networks

Yet teams in 95% of organizations still lack visibility into at least one critical delivery segment. Without the required visibility, teams contend with these obstacles:

  • Automation can’t be trusted.

  • AI recommendations can’t be validated.

  • Manual troubleshooting becomes the default.

NetDevOps isn’t about rebranding NetOps. It’s about operating in a world in which change is continuous, ownership is shared, and software defines the network.

What is the “visibility cliff” NetOps teams can’t ignore?

The 2026 data highlights a hard boundary traditional NetOps keeps hitting. Here are the limitations and their consequences:

Visibility Challenge

Impact

Cloud and internet blind spots

 87% report major gaps 

Lack of access to usable ISP data

Only 5% get what they need

Visibility blocking AI success

39% already affected

 

Visibility is no longer just about faster troubleshooting.

It’s the foundation for trust, automation, and AI-driven decision-making.

Without it, NetOps teams aren’t just stuck reacting—they’re forced to react blindly.

 

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State of NetOps: Signals you can’t write off

Across enterprises, the same patterns keep repeating:

  • The adoption of more tools hasn’t reduced MTTR—visibility is still fragmented.

  • Network uncertainty is slowing AI initiatives more than bandwidth limits.

  • Teams can’t hold ISPs and other third parties accountable for performance. Instead, service levels are managed by tickets instead of proof.

These aren’t edge cases.

They’re symptoms of an operating model that no longer aligns with modern networks.

 

Why is automation the “missing middle” between visibility and AI?

Everyone talks about observability.

Everyone talks about AI.

But automation is the layer most teams are skipping—and the data shows it.

Despite widespread use of scripts and tools, only 27% of respondents report having mature automation practices.

Why? Because automation requires more than intent. Teams need these capabilities:

  • Consistent, end-to-end telemetry

  • Repeatable workflows

  • Standardized configurations

  • Trusted baselines

These capabilities don’t come from ticket-driven NetOps. They emerge from NetDevOps operating principles.

What are the key differences between traditional NetOps and the NetDevOps model?

NetDevOps isn’t simply a change in nomenclature or tools.

It’s a capability shift. Here are a few key characteristics of the nature of this change:

Traditional NetOps

NetDevOps Model

Reactive troubleshooting

Observability-first operations

Manual change processes

Code-driven changes

Siloed teams

CI/CD integration

Static configurations

Cloud-native workflows

Post-incident analysis

AI-assisted triage and foresight

 

This isn’t about replacing NetOps teams.

It’s about enabling them to evolve so they can operate at the speed and scale modern networks demand.

 

The CIO takeaway

NetDevOps isn’t optional in 2026.

It’s the operating model modern NetOps teams now require to achieve these steps:

  • Visibility creates trust

  • Automation creates scale

  • AI creates foresight—only after the first two exist

NetOps was built for networks you owned.

NetDevOps is built for the modern networks you consume, share, and change constantly.

 

Final thoughts

The State of NetOps 2026 doesn’t predict the future.

It confirms the present.

Skill shortages, visibility gaps, stalled automation, and AI delays aren’t just failures—they’re signals.

The old model has reached its limit.

NetDevOps isn’t what’s coming next.

It’s what’s already here.

Frequently asked questions

Why is NetDevOps mandatory in 2026?

The complexity of cloud, SaaS, and third-party networks has outpaced traditional NetOps approaches. Consequently, NetDevOps isn’t a methodology choice—it’s an operational requirement.

Why can’t traditional NetOps approaches scale effectively?

Because traditional NetOps relies on manual processes, limited visibility, and reactive workflows. Modern networks change too fast for that model to remain viable.

What’s the biggest blocker to NetDevOps adoption?

Incomplete visibility. Without trusted, end-to-end telemetry, automation breaks and AI-powered insights and outcomes can’t be trusted.

How does NetDevOps support AI-ready operations?

NetDevOps helps teams establish clean data, repeatable automation, and shared operational facts. This is integral in enabling AI initiatives to move from offering hindsight to delivering foresight.