Almost all (97%) of companies in Singapore say a modernized network is critical to rolling out AI, IoT, and cloud, according to a report from Cisco.
Findings show that 92% of IT leaders plan to increase the share of their overall IT budget allocated to networking.
The report is based on a survey of 8,065 senior IT and business leaders across enterprises in 30 markets. In Singapore, there were a total of 151 respondents.
Results reveal that secure networking is mission critical, as 99% of respondents say this is important to their operations and growth. Among respondents, 60% say it’s critical and 94% believe an improved network will enhance their cybersecurity posture.
Also, 95% of IT leaders say a resilient network is critical, at a time when 70% faced major outages – driven largely by cyberattacks, congestion, and misconfigurations. These added up to $160 billion globally from just one severe disruption per business, per year.
In addition, 51% of IT leaders say a modernized network’s greatest impact on revenue will come from deploying AI tools that automate and tailor customer journeys. This enables faster, more personalized experiences that can strengthen loyalty and drive growth.
Further, 74% say their data centers can’t yet meet today’s AI demands, and 87% plan to expand capacity – on-prem, in the cloud, or both.
Finally, 99% say autonomous, AI-powered networks are essential to future growth to make their network adaptive. Yet, only 46% have deployed the intelligent capabilities – like segmentation, visibility, and control.
“As businesses in Singapore and around the world harness the power of AI, the network is the critical backbone that makes it all possible,” said Tay Bee Kheng, President, Cisco ASEAN.
“To meet the needs of tomorrow’s businesses and protect against evolving threats, today’s networks must be faster, smarter, and more resilient,” said Tay. “Businesses must recognize that a modernized network is key to driving future growth and success.”
The study found that IT leaders are already delivering financial value from today’s networks – largely by improving customer experiences (52%), boosting efficiency (50%), and enabling innovation (55%). But much of that value is at risk if it comes from infrastructure that hasn’t been designed for AI or real-time scale.
To unlock the full growth and savings they expect, leaders have identified critical gaps they must close: siloed or partially integrated systems (61%), incomplete deployments (54%), and reliance on manual oversight (49%).
Smarter, more secure, more adaptive networks are the business case for investment. Over 9 in 10 (91%) say improved networks will directly drive revenue, and almost everyone (95%) expects meaningful cost savings – driven by smarter operations, fewer outages, and lower energy use.
