As AI applications grow, the demands on corporate networks are increasing. According to NTT Data, deterministic data paths, high bandwidths, low latencies and secure, scalable access across hybrid environments are required. Existing infrastructures are often not designed for this and could become a bottleneck.

The company's own Global GenAI Report shows that 45% of the companies surveyed with an unclear or no AI strategy are planning to invest more in AI over the next two years. As a result, the need for high-performance network architectures is also growing.

NTT Data names three central fields of action for modernization:

1. build AI-enabled resilience

This includes the integration of Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) for secure cloud access, high-performance campus networks for many end devices, hybrid cloud-capable architectures and comprehensive observability management for transparency and automation.

2. operationalize security

The use of generative AI increases compliance and cybersecurity requirements. AI-supported telemetry for automated threat detection, the switch to zero-trust models and the alignment of security objectives with business-relevant risk criteria are recommended.

3. use platform-based infrastructure services

Vendor-independent lifecycle services are intended to simplify implementation and operation through automation. In addition to traditional service level agreements (SLAs), usage level agreements (ULAs) and value level agreements (VLAs) are becoming increasingly important. Measurable CO₂ savings and regulatory requirements are also becoming more important.

Bernhard Kretschmer, Managing Director Technology Solutions DACH at NTT Data. © NTT Data

"Companies that are successful in the AI era are integrating AI infrastructure services deeply into their core processes and consistently aligning every investment with measurable business value. The network plays a crucial role in this. Properly modernized, it can become the starting point for an AI-powered transformation that unlocks new revenue potential, reduces operating costs and accelerates digital innovation. As a result, forward-thinking CIOs no longer view network modernization as a routine IT cycle, but as an opportunity to transform the network from a cost center to a growth driver - a platform that supports secure, scalable and intelligent operations," explains Bernhard Kretschmer, Managing Director Technology Solutions DACH at NTT Data.