ICT Network Automation for enterprises: how to increase efficiency, security and innovation

Automation in the management of IT networks is transforming ICT infrastructures, reducing service disruptions and accelerating the digital transformation of enterprises. In this context, artificial intelligence is moving beyond the experimental phase to become a structural component in network design and operations, improving efficiency, user experience and supporting the evolution toward increasingly autonomous and resilient architectures.

In Italy, the network automation market is showing significant growth: in 2024 it is estimated at around USD 517 million, rising to approximately USD 569 million in 2025, with a forecast of reaching USD 1,485 million by 2035 and a CAGR of 10% (Source: Network Automation Market Italy).

The growing complexity of digital infrastructures and the increase in cyber threats make an automated network management approach essential, capable of ensuring service continuity and higher levels of security. The adoption of these solutions enables operational efficiency gains ranging from 50% to 80%, with significant cost savings and direct business benefits.

Measurable benefits through KPIs

Automation transforms the network into a secure and high-performance service enabler, fostering innovation and digital transformation. It goes beyond improving IT process efficiency: it has a direct impact on business by enhancing response times, service offerings and innovation capabilities, while also improving the quality of customer interactions.

Companies that adopt network automation solutions can measure their benefits through concrete KPIs that highlight both operational improvements and the strategic impact on business performance.

Automation, increasingly supported by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies, significantly reduces execution times. Automated and intelligent processes enable faster interventions, reduce delays and accelerate the delivery of critical network services, improving activity planning and resource optimization. The reduction of manual intervention, combined with the use of AI algorithms for control and remediation, also helps minimize rework, reduce human error and increase network reliability and resilience.

Network automation also promotes greater internalization of processes: complex activities can be managed in-house, reducing dependence on external providers and strengthening operational and decision-making control. This is complemented by a reduction in service disruptions and network outages, made possible by proactive and predictive AI-based monitoring mechanisms, which improve service continuity and have a positive impact on customer experience and corporate reputation.

Beyond operational benefits, automation solutions deliver measurable business outcomes. An automated and intelligent network increases organizational agility and innovation capacity, enabling faster launch of new digital services and more effective responses to market dynamics. Optimizing operational costs is another key factor: reducing intervention times, rework and service disruptions translates into significant savings, freeing up resources to be reinvested in high-value strategic projects.

Moreover, the standardization and automation of network processes, enabled by AI, form the foundation for scalable digital transformation, facilitating the integration of technologies such as cloud, IoT, 5G and SD-WAN.

Finally, when applied to enterprise security, automation helps prevent and counter cyber threats more effectively, significantly lowering the risk of cyberattacks and strengthening operational continuity and the protection of sensitive data. In this case as well, the benefits are not only technical, but also economic and competitive. A strong focus on security enhances corporate image and strengthens market reputation.

In this scenario, companies that can rely on efficient, secure and autonomous networks increase their competitive advantage by offering customers more reliable, high-performance and innovative services, consolidating their position in the market.

A real Network Automation case: a Public Company brings its network into the Future

A large public company, with the support of Italtel, implemented a network automation project to make its infrastructure more agile, resilient and scalable. Centralized management and process automation made it possible to:

• streamline monitoring and provisioning procedures
• reduce operational times and service disruptions
• prepare for future expansions and the integration of additional innovative services

This case is a concrete example of how automation is more than a technical intervention: it is a process of infrastructure modernization that is essential for companies to keep pace with change.

Network automation transforms infrastructures into strategic business drivers, ensuring secure, efficient services that are ready to support future needs.