SolarWinds forecasts AI evolution & upskilling by 2025

SolarWinds has released its technology predictions for 2025, emphasising significant shifts in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, the importance of workforce upskilling, and the critical role of observability in IT infrastructure management.

Krishna Sai, Senior Vice President of Engineering, noted that IT organisations will need to take a holistic approach to AI adoption in the coming year. "While there is near universal agreement that a lot can be gained from AI, especially given the challenges IT pros are facing these days, we are also seeing a recognition that you think about AI adoption more holistically," Sai remarked. "Companies must approach AI methodically and build it in a sustainable way, rather than just a flash in the pan."

Echoing these sentiments, Chrystal Taylor, Evangelist at SolarWinds, highlighted the necessity of clear guidance and ongoing education. "AI adoption is happening everywhere—not just in tech roles—and companies need clear guidance to protect both their teams and their security posture," said Taylor. "Another ongoing challenge is supporting employees with the time and resources they need for continuing education. If we're asking people to take on more, we need to equip them to handle it."

The company's 2024 IT Trends Report revealed that 47% of IT professionals reported negative experiences with AI, primarily around privacy and security concerns. To address these challenges, organisations are urged to formulate comprehensive policies involving various teams. The report also found that while 64% of organisations have established internal guidelines for AI implementation, 35.6% have yet to develop these essential frameworks.

SolarWinds predicts that organisational AI adoption will soon transition from a possibility to an inevitability, with generative AI expected to become integral to daily operations. The focus will be on how soon teams can harness these tools to alleviate workloads in areas like marketing and coding.

Moreover, AI skills are anticipated to become a significant advantage in the workforce. SolarWinds predicts that individuals who adapt and evolve their skillsets to include AI will excel, with prompt engineering seen as an increasingly valuable competency. "AI isn't taking over jobs—it's changing them. And for those willing to embrace the change, the opportunities in 2025 are endless," the company stated.

Generative AI is also projected to transform IT roles by enabling small and medium-sized businesses to automate advanced IT service management functions. This automation will allow IT professionals to focus on strategic initiatives, thereby enhancing efficiency and service quality. Furthermore, IT service desks are expected to leverage AI for automating incident triage and prioritisation, improving productivity and employee satisfaction.

Despite the opportunities AI presents, it also brings a dual challenge of responsible deployment and security concerns. Companies will need to develop clear guidelines for AI use while staying informed about evolving cybersecurity threats and regulatory changes. A proactive learning mindset will be essential for organisations to navigate these challenges successfully.

Observability is expected to become increasingly important in managing hybrid IT environments. Enhanced observability solutions, incorporating cloud infrastructure monitoring and AI/ML integration, will be pivotal in driving operational efficiency and enabling proactive issue resolution, thereby closing visibility gaps in diverse IT infrastructures.

Finally, global shifts are likely to reinforce the necessity for resilient and unified IT strategies. Companies are expected to prioritise flexibility and scalability by consolidating tools into unified platforms, maintaining operational efficiency, and safeguarding productivity amidst economic or geopolitical uncertainties.