Navigating the silent accelerator: shifting enterprise IT risk

Axians UK has released its Silent Accelerator study, highlighting a notable shift in enterprise risk priorities. The rapid expansion of automation across IT environments has increased the likelihood of internal failures within organisational technology systems.

The research indicates that many organisations lack the real-time insight necessary for effective network management. While 56% of respondents report access to network performance data, fewer than 40% trust it to guide business decisions. This gap can create hidden risks, as AI and machine learning modifications occur without full visibility of their impacts, particularly in complex multi-cloud and hybrid systems.

In the manufacturing sector, where 77% of respondents have adopted AI at a strategic level, unplanned downtime can be costly, reaching millions per minute. Even service agreements guaranteeing 99.99% uptime still allow for 53 minutes of annual outage. Internal system disruptions can result in compounded reputational and financial effects compared with external threats.

Although two-thirds of enterprises have launched digital transformation initiatives over the past five years, only one-third have achieved 75% of expected outcomes. This suggests many initiatives were treated as IT-focused projects rather than comprehensive business transformations, leaving organisations with advanced but disconnected components and limited returns on digital investment.

With 90% of organisations adopting AI technologies and 85% prioritising sustainable IT operations, these complexities are expected to increase. A strategic approach is required, ensuring alignment between business objectives and IT infrastructure rather than pursuing every emerging technology trend.