SolarWinds Unveils 2024 IT Trends Report Highlighting AI Adoption Challenges

SolarWinds has released its much-anticipated 2024 IT Trends Report, titled "AI: Friend or Foe?", providing a comprehensive look at the current landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption within the IT industry. The report, based on a survey of nearly 700 IT professionals, reveals a strong interest in AI but also significant concerns regarding the readiness of organizations to effectively integrate these advanced technologies.

The survey results indicate a clear enthusiasm for AI, with nine out of ten IT professionals either already using or planning to implement AI solutions. However, this optimism is tempered by substantial reservations about organizational preparedness. A critical finding of the report is that despite the high interest, very few respondents believe their companies are adequately equipped to handle AI integration. The primary obstacles identified include limitations in data quality, database infrastructure, and, most notably, security and privacy issues. Krishna Sai, Senior Vice President of Technology and Engineering at SolarWinds, commented on the findings, stating, "While talk of AI has dominated the industry, IT leaders and teams recognize the outsize risks of the still-developing technology, heightened by the rush to build AI quickly rather than smartly. With the proper internal systems in place and by prioritizing security, fairness, and transparency while building AI, these technologies can serve as a valuable advisor and co-worker to overworked teams. However, this survey shows that IT pros need to be consulted as their companies invest in AI."

The report underscores the cautious optimism within the industry regarding AI. Nearly half of the IT professionals surveyed (46%) expressed a desire for their companies to accelerate AI implementation, despite the associated costs, challenges, and concerns. Yet, only 43% felt confident that their company’s databases could meet the demands of AI, and an even smaller percentage (38%) trusted the quality of data or training used in developing AI technologies.

This disparity highlights a critical need for organizations to develop robust policies and frameworks to guide AI adoption. According to the report, more than a third of organizations (35.6%) still lack formal policies on ethics, data privacy, and compliance, which are essential for the responsible deployment of AI. Ethical considerations and concerns about job displacement also emerged as significant barriers to AI adoption.

In response to these findings and to support the IT community in addressing these challenges, SolarWinds has introduced its AI by Design framework. This new industry model emphasizes the ethical and secure development of AI technologies, building on the success of the company’s earlier Secure by Design initiative. The AI by Design framework is founded on four guiding principles: prioritizing privacy and security, focusing on accountability and fairness to eliminate biases, emphasizing transparency and trust, and ensuring simplicity and accessibility for seamless integration into workflows.

"AI by Design is our commitment to guiding the industry toward ethical and secure AI development," said Sai. "We believe this framework will set a standard for how AI technologies should be developed and implemented, ensuring they serve as beneficial tools for IT teams rather than sources of additional risk."

SolarWinds also announced the launch of its new generative AI engine, developed in accordance with the AI by Design framework. This engine aims to provide advanced capabilities while adhering to the highest standards of security and ethical considerations, reflecting SolarWinds' ongoing commitment to innovation and responsible technology development.

The 2024 IT Trends Report offers a detailed analysis of the current state of AI in IT, providing valuable insights for IT professionals, business leaders, and policymakers. It highlights the urgent need for organizations to address data and infrastructure limitations and to develop comprehensive policies that ensure the ethical and secure adoption of AI.

For more information and to read the full 2024 IT Trends Report, visit SolarWinds IT Trends.

About SolarWinds

SolarWinds is a leading provider of powerful and affordable IT management software. Founded in 1999, SolarWinds delivers solutions that serve the needs of IT professionals in organizations of all sizes, from Fortune 500 enterprises to small businesses. With a focus on user-friendly products that solve real-world problems, SolarWinds is dedicated to empowering IT professionals to manage their environments with greater efficiency and confidence.