Survey: 60% of Sysadmins Lack Understanding to Leverage AI, Leading to Critical Disruptions in Every Sixth Organization
25 Julio 2024 - 5:00AM
Action1, a provider of an integrated real-time vulnerability
discovery and automated patch management solution, revealed today
the release of 2024 AI Impact on Sysadmins: Survey Report, which
analyzes insights from system administrators (sysadmins) worldwide
to gain a comprehensive view of their thoughts and experiences on
AI’s potential. The report delves into specific areas where AI adds
value and its limitations and risks.
The report explores sysadmins’ perspectives on integrating AI
into their job roles and evaluates organizations' practical
approaches to AI technologies, assessing their impact on company
success over the past year. It also provides insights into
sysadmins' experiences with AI implementation. Action1 researchers
found that while sysadmins are aware of AI's potential, the
readiness for its adoption is tempered by the need for further
education and training and AI failures.
“This survey marks the second consecutive year we have conducted
an in-depth examination of the impact generative AI can have on
sysadmins’ roles,” said Mike Walters, President and co-founder of
Action1. “Our findings indicate that, despite some trial and error
in AI implementation among sysadmins, organizations generally
approach AI cautiously. Implementation projects are predominantly
focused on a few IT areas, and even among those that have been
implemented, results are mixed. This underscores the fact that AI
technology still needs time to mature and evolve before AI-driven
solutions become more widespread and practical.”
The report’s key findings include:
- Stability in AI Perceptions: Sysadmins’ views
remained steady over the past year, identifying the following top
three areas for AI automation in the next two years: (i) log
analysis, (ii) server CPU and memory monitoring, and (iii) patch
management. As with last year, areas requiring human judgment, such
as user rights administration, are perceived as less likely to be
automated by AI.
- Knowledge Gap and Training Needs: Down from
73% last year, 60% of sysadmins acknowledge a lack of understanding
of leveraging AI practically, indicating a persistent gap in AI
literacy. Additionally, 72% of respondents expressed a need for
training, and 45% were concerned about becoming obsolete in the job
market due to their current level of AI literacy.
- Mixed Outcomes in Current AI Implementations:
While AI is most commonly implemented in log analysis (26%) and
troubleshooting (25%), the highest failure rates occurred in these
areas. Over half of the organizations encountered errors in
troubleshooting, followed by 25% of respondents reporting failures
in implementing AI for log analysis.
- Risk of Disruptions: Action1 researchers found
that AI led to critical disruptions in 16% of organizations. These
disruptions can lead to incorrect remediation steps and devastating
operational consequences, such as prolonged downtime and reduced
productivity.
- Limited Organizational Commitment To AI
Implementation: Eighty percent of organizations do not
require sysadmins to implement AI in their job roles, slightly down
from 82 percent reported last year. While there is interest in AI,
a significant gap remains between recognition of its potential and
its mandated application.
The report’s findings reveal that most organizations do not
require AI implementation, emphasizing a tentative approach to
widespread adoption. Organizations must invest in literacy and
training programs to overcome the challenges, maintain a balanced
approach between AI and human expertise, introduce AI in low-risk
areas, and continuously track its performance.
To download the full report, visit
www.action1.com/2024-ai-impact-on-sysadmins-survey-report/.
Methodology
Action1 collected and analyzed feedback from the company's
customer base in June 2024 from 450 sysadmins worldwide. Industries
include but are not limited to telecommunications, technology,
internet, and electronics; manufacturing; nonprofit; finance and
financial services; healthcare and pharmaceuticals; construction,
machinery, and homes; government; business support and logistics;
and retail and consumer durables.
About Action1
Action1 reinvents patch management with an infinitely scalable,
highly secure, cloud-native platform configurable in 5 minutes—and
it just works, with no VPN needed. Featuring unified OS and
third-party patching with peer-to-peer patch distribution and
integrated real-time vulnerability assessment, it enables
autonomous patch compliance that preempts ransomware and security
risks, all while eliminating costly routine labor. Trusted by
thousands of enterprises managing millions of endpoints globally,
Action1 is certified for SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
The company was founded by cybersecurity veterans Alex Vovk and
Mike Walters, who previously founded Netwrix, which was acquired by
TA Associates.
Learn more at www.action1.com.
press@action1.com