Automation will reshape IT operations within three years, say a third of teams

ew data from SolarWinds reveals that automation is set to play a major role in the future of IT operations, but many teams remain cautious about how the shift will play out in practice.

In a survey of 1,040 global IT professionals, more than a third (35%) say their IT operations will be primarily or almost entirely automated within the next two to three years. This highlights how quickly organisations are moving towards more automated environments and AI assisted workflows.

However, the transition is not without its challenges. Nearly half (46%) of IT professionals said they are concerned about the quality or accuracy of AI, while almost a third (29%) worry about disruption to their role. At the same time, AI is already adding pressure, with the majority of IT workers across all roles saying it has made their job more demanding.

Data privacy and security concerns remain the biggest barrier (43%), followed by platform fragmentation (28%) and a lack of clear human guardrails (17%).

To adapt to this shift, IT teams are calling for more structure and support. Over half (56%) say clearer AI policies and guardrails would help, while 50% point to the need for formal training.

The findings suggest that while automation is moving quickly, many organisations are still working out how to implement it in a way that supports their teams rather than stretching them further.

“Across industries, AI adoption has been uneven. There’s a clear push to secure growth with innovation, and AI is being positioned as the accelerator,” said Cullen Childress, Chief Product Officer at SolarWinds.

“But speed alone can create more friction than progress and many IT teams are being stretched between innovation and accountability. Success will come from organisations that treat AI as an operational discipline built on visibility, control, and shared ownership — not just a fast-moving experiment.”