Action1, which provides real-time vulnerability discovery and automated patch management, announced today the release of its 2024 AI Impact on Sysadmins: Survey Report. This report analyzes insight from system administrators, worldwide, to provide a view of their thoughts and experiences regarding AI’s potential.
The report explores sysadmins’ perspectives on integrating AI into their job roles and evaluates practical approaches to AI technology, assessing its impact on company success. It also provides insight 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, training and AI failures.
Findings indicate that – despite some trial and error in AI implementation – organizations are generally, cautiously approaching AI. Implementation projects are predominantly focused on a few IT areas. 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.
Key findings include:
- The top three areas for AI automation in the next two years being log analysis, server CPU and memory monitoring and patch management. As with 2023, the areas requiring human judgment, such as user rights administration, are perceived as less likely to be automated by AI.
- Down from 73 percent last year, 60 percent of sysadmins acknowledge a lack of understanding of leveraging AI practically, indicating a gap in AI literacy. Additionally, 72 percent of respondents expressed a need for training, and 45 percent were concerned about becoming obsolete in the job market due to their current level of AI literacy.
- While AI is most commonly implemented in log analysis (26 percent) and troubleshooting (25 percent), the highest failure rates occurred in these areas.
- AI led to critical disruptions in 16 percent of organizations, leading to incorrect remediation steps and operational consequences such as prolonged downtime and reduced productivity.
- Eighty percent of organizations do not require sysadmins to implement AI in their job roles.
Report findings revealed that most organizations do not require AI implementation. Businesses need to invest in AI literacy and training programs to overcome challenges, maintain a balanced approach between AI and human expertise, introduce AI in low-risk areas and track its performance.
Action1 collected and analyzed feedback from the company’s customer base in June 2024 from 450 sysadmins worldwide. Industries included 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.
To download the full report, visit here.
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