The findings highlight that scaling AI responsibly requires more than experimentation.
Enterprises that invest in data readiness and modern infrastructure are more likely to achieve tangible business results from artificial intelligence (AI), according to a new global study by IDC commissioned by NetApp.
The second annual Enterprise AI Maturity Study surveyed over 1,200 IT and data leaders worldwide and found that organizations with advanced AI infrastructure, governance, and security — termed “AI Masters” — reported a 24.1% improvement in revenue and 25.4% in cost savings, outperforming less mature peers.
While the number of firms needing major storage overhauls dropped from 63% in 2024 to 37% in 2025, 84% said their infrastructure is still not fully optimized for AI workloads. Security also emerged as a priority, with 62% of AI Masters increasing budgets for AI initiatives compared with 16% of less mature organizations.
“AI is no longer about proof of concept — it’s about proof of value,” said Syam Nair, Chief Product Officer at NetApp. “Companies focusing on data quality and scalable, adaptive architectures are turning AI into measurable business impact.”
The study also highlights a growing divide between companies ready for Agentic AI — capable of enterprise-wide adoption — and those still experimenting with generative AI pilots.
The findings highlight that scaling AI responsibly requires more than experimentation; modern, secure, and intelligent data infrastructure is essential, IDC said.