AI With Everything – The future of artificial intelligence in networking ER COAV TURE FE
By Guy Matthews, Editor of NetReporter
30 | Cyber Risk Leaders Magazine
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I is, say the experts, set to revolutionise every aspect of connectivity. The zero-touch, softwaredefined, self-healing, threat-aware networks of tomorrow will be light years from the clunky, hardwareheavy, manually-driven connections of the recent past. We are currently at a transition point between these worlds. AI-driven change is clearly needed if mounting challenges are to be addressed, argues Mark Leary, Research Director for Network Analytics and Automation with independent consulting firm IDC: “The recent Google Cloud outage is still being investigated, but it was identified as a networking issue,” he notes. “The Facebook problem a month ago, same thing, another networking matter. We've seen a wealth of these problems over the last few years. This is Facebook, Google, AWS, people with a lot of sophisticated expertise available to them. And yet they're having trouble with the complexity that networks present to them.” Pressure on network professionals is building: “The reality for most networking staff these days is that they're faced with new kinds of responsibility,” believes Leary. “They are no longer simply deploying routers and switches, changing configurations and making minor tuning adjustments. They're worried about the digital experience of the user, and getting involved in business outcomes. They’re doing more evangelism for the network with line of business units, talking about what the network can do for
digital transformation.” The drive is on to make networks better, but also simpler: “For that, we really have to turn to smarter systems that are driven by AI and machine learning,” he believes. “We need systems that take care of themselves so they can avoid the kind of problems we've seen in the last month. Da Vinci really did say it best when he said ‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication’.” And yet while AI is riding a wave of popularity and recognition in multiple use cases across the enterprise, its role behind the scenes in the network is, says Leary, somewhat undercelebrated: “It’s not thought of like, say, robotics on the manufacturing floor, or the kinds of automation we're seeing in healthcare and retail. Those draw a lot of attention from the press.” But the reality for most organisations is not just about looking for the next high profile, cutting-edge AI application, it’s more about using AI to do better with the technology they already have: “IT and network automation is a top concern for senior execs,” says Leary. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for AI to bring its smarts, not only in areas like development and governance but also the triggering of automated events and directing of automated activities.” “AI offers a more dynamic network infrastructure,” he explains. “One that's easier to manage, that's more secure and that is better at adapting to requirements as they develop. It’s not focused in on smart speakers and robots
