A recent industry report from F5 has revealed that just 2% of global enterprises are fully prepared to scale artificial intelligence initiatives in a secure and sustainable manner. Despite AI being a top strategic priority for organizations worldwide, the vast majority remain in the early stages of building infrastructure that can support secure deployment at scale.

The findings indicate that while businesses are eager to leverage AI to drive innovation, improve customer experiences, and streamline operations, significant roadblocks remain—particularly around securing AI workloads and managing the complexity of integrations. The report suggests that inconsistent security protocols, lack of unified governance, and fragmented data systems are some of the leading challenges organizations face.

Enterprises are also under increasing pressure to deploy AI tools responsibly, amid heightened scrutiny over data privacy, model transparency, and ethical use. The limited number of companies that have reached full readiness typically exhibit strong foundational architecture, clearly defined security postures, and advanced operational maturity—factors that are proving critical for scalable and safe AI adoption.

The study underscores an urgent need for enterprises to prioritize AI-specific risk frameworks, especially as generative AI models become increasingly prevalent across sectors. Companies that fail to address infrastructure gaps and security vulnerabilities risk operational inefficiencies, reputational damage, and compliance penalties.

The report serves as a wake-up call for digital leaders, signaling that while AI’s promise is vast, only those with secure, scalable systems in place will be able to fully harness its potential in the years ahead.