Netskope’s new global research exposes a stark reality: only 38% of infrastructure leaders believe their current IT stacks can handle AI workloads, with just 18% confident in having adequate teams and budgets for performance, resilience, and security demands. Among I&O leaders surveyed, 80% report soaring C-suite expectations over the past year, yet 63% feel excluded from strategic IT conversations, operating in reactive mode amid widening leadership disconnects. The Netskope study underscores AI’s infrastructure reckoning, where legacy systems buckle under generative workloads while misaligned KPIs and defensive investment mindsets hinder modernization.
C-Suite Expectations Surge, But Alignment Lags
80% of I&O leaders view infrastructure as central to business goals, matching intensified senior leadership pressures—83% personally feel heightened scrutiny. However, 63% report distance from CEO/CIO strategy sessions, with 20% unclear on executive objectives and 37% describing roles as reactive. 61% cite CEO frustration over opaque IT estates, compounded by misaligned priorities: C-suite emphasizes security, visibility, cost while downplaying resilience/performance, deemed unrealistic by 55-59% given current capabilities.
AI Enablement Trails Core I&O Priorities
Despite 65% believing infrastructure more critical than ever due to AI, long-running challenges dominate:
- 43% prioritize remote access security/performance
- 35% focus network visibility
- 34% address AI adoption (trailing legacy needs)
60% characterize organizations with “if it ain’t broke” mindsets, resisting proactive upgrades despite AI’s unprecedented demands on bandwidth, latency, and compute.
Five Actionable Recommendations for I&O-C Suite Alignment
Netskope outlines strategic bridges transforming infrastructure from constraint to advantage:
Translate Tech to Business Outcomes
Shift from “ZTNA rollout” to “30% agility gains, 40% risk reduction”—quantifying modernization ROI in revenue protection terms.
Engage Early in Strategic Planning
Position I&O as future-ready architects, co-designing AI infrastructure before pilot-stage crises emerge.
Champion Architectural Simplicity
Consolidate martech sprawl, eliminating reactive Band-Aids through unified platforms like Netskope One.
Deliver Transparent C-Level Dashboards
Demystify IT “black boxes” via real-time resilience scoring, capacity forecasting, and threat correlation.
Frame I&O as AI Enabler
Position infrastructure upgrades as safe AI accelerators, alleviating C-level adoption anxieties while quantifying compliance velocity.
Quote: Mike Anderson, Netskope CDIO
“AI has increased demand on enterprise infrastructure at a pace that legacy systems were never built to support. Our research shows strain amplified by communication gaps. Senior leaders want insight into resilience/readiness; I&O teams face pressure to deliver with limited resources. Modernization in business terms—risk reduction, agility, safe AI adoption—turns infrastructure into strategic advantage.”​
