From good to great with AI-driven networks

Enterprise networks are no longer just technical foundations. They are business-critical platforms for cloud services, distributed workplaces, digital customer experiences, and security. As businesses become more dependent on digital infrastructure, expectations for Network as a Service are rising fast.

A good NaaS solution keeps the business connected. A great one does more: it uses automation, data, and security by design to reduce manual errors, respond faster, and give customers greater visibility and control.

As AI-driven networks and automation reshape enterprise infrastructure, the key question is no longer simply whether a NaaS solution works. It is what separates a good solution from a truly great one.

From connectivity to intelligent infrastructure

Performance and uptime still matter. They always will. But they are no longer enough on their own. Enterprise customers now need to ask how the network is operated, how it is secured, how it is measured, and how quickly it can respond when something changes.

This is where AI and network automation are becoming central to the future of NaaS.

The idea of a self-driving network may sound ambitious, but the principle is not unfamiliar. We already accept automation in complex environments, from autopilot systems in aviation to driverless infrastructure and autonomous vehicles. The same development is now beginning to reshape enterprise networks. The question is not really if networks can become more automated. It is when, and under what conditions.

Hovstad points out that this is not something that happens overnight. A great automated network is the result of years of evolution. It requires computing power, operational experience, and, above all, data. Without data, automation cannot make good decisions. With the right data, systems can begin to identify patterns, detect anomalies, support operations, and act faster than human teams can do manually.

In that sense, AI in networking is not magic. It is the result of collecting the right information, analysing it effectively, and building systems that can act on that insight in a controlled way. This is also why AI-driven networks are becoming increasingly important for organisations that need infrastructure to be more secure, responsive, and scalable.

Why automation is also a security issue

Automation is often discussed in terms of efficiency, but in networking, it is also a question of security and resilience. Many of the biggest risks in networks are still linked to human error. Wrong configurations, delayed patching, and manual mistakes can create vulnerabilities that attackers are quick to exploit.

In complex enterprise environments, the number of devices, users, applications, locations, and security events can be enormous. Expecting people to manually detect and respond to everything is becoming unrealistic.

Attackers are also becoming faster. They use automation and AI to identify weaknesses, find backdoors, and move quickly once they gain access. If defenders rely only on manual processes, they are operating at a disadvantage.

That is why a great NaaS solution must be able to reduce human error, automate routine tasks, and support rapid responses. This does not mean removing people from the process altogether. It means changing their role.

In other words, people will still define policies, set direction, supervise outcomes, and intervene when necessary. But they will not manually interfere with every process or every agent. The system must be able to handle more of the day-to-day operational work itself.

This is where AI-driven network automation becomes especially valuable. By combining network data, automated workflows, and policy-based controls, organisations can reduce repetitive manual work while improving consistency, speed, and security.

The three foundations of a safe automated network

For automation to work safely, three foundations need to be in place.

The first is cloud-native infrastructure. Modern NaaS depends on flexible infrastructure such as containers, microservices, and scalable platforms. These technologies make it possible to operate and update services more efficiently.

The second is AI infrastructure. AI agents and automated systems can help monitor, analyse, and operate parts of the network. They can detect patterns, support decision-making, and trigger actions based on defined policies.

The third, and perhaps most important, is the security and control mechanism around it all. Automation without control is not a great network. It is a risk.

Just as no one would want an autonomous taxi without safety systems, enterprise customers should not want automated network operations without governance, policy, and oversight. A great NaaS solution is therefore not simply automated. It is automated within a secure and controlled framework.

Testing: the overlooked part of NaaS

These same foundations are what make automated testing possible in the first place. One area where automation can create significant value is testing. Network testing is often time-consuming. As a result, it can be under-prioritized. But when testing is not done properly, the consequences can be serious.

A new office is opened, a network is delivered, users log on, and suddenly, applications do not work as expected. Then time is spent troubleshooting and fixing issues that could have been detected earlier.

Automated testing changes that. By using probes that act on behalf of users, a provider can test real scenarios before a solution is fully implemented. Can users access the applications they need? Is the network behaving as expected? Are the right services available from the new site?

Instead of relying only on manual checks, automated testing can continuously verify that the network works in practice. As part of broader AI and network automation, testing becomes a continuous quality control mechanism rather than a one-time project task.

From NAC to Zero Trust and micro-segmentation

Security is one of the clearest areas where NaaS is evolving. Traditional network access control, or NAC, remains important. It acts like a guard at the interface, checking which devices are allowed onto the network. But NAC alone is no longer enough.

Zero Trust takes the model further. It is not only about whether a device can enter the network. It is about what that user or device is allowed to access once inside. Whether an employee connects from the office, from home, or from a coffee shop, the same security logic should apply. Users should only access the applications and resources they are authorised to use.

Micro-segmentation adds another layer. By dividing the network into smaller segments, the potential damage from an intrusion can be limited. If an attacker compromises a camera or another IoT device, that device should not become an open door into the entire enterprise network. The intruder should be contained, with access to as little as possible.

When Zero Trust, micro-segmentation, and AI-driven network automation work together, the network becomes more than a transport layer. It becomes an active security platform that can help detect, limit, and respond to risk.

What you should ask your NaaS vendor

As NaaS becomes more mature, enterprise customers should ask more mature questions:

• How do you automate your network operations?
• How do you reduce human error?
• How do you test new deployments before they go live?
• How do you integrate with our systems?
• How do you support Zero Trust and micro-segmentation?
• Where is our data located?
• How do you give us visibility through dashboards and KPIs?
• How are you using AI-driven networks to improve performance, security, and resilience?

These questions reveal whether a provider is simply delivering connectivity or whether it is delivering a secure, intelligent, and business-adapted network service.

A good NaaS solution keeps the network running. A great one does more. It helps the business operate securely, reduces manual errors, detects threats faster, adapts to different needs, and gives customers the visibility and control they require.

As AI and automation become central to enterprise infrastructure, the future of Network as a Service will not be defined by connectivity alone. It will be defined by how intelligently, securely, and reliably that connectivity is delivered.

How NetNordic helps customers build NaaS around their business

A great NaaS solution cannot be one size fits all. A finance company, retailer, hospital, or government organisation will all have different requirements for uptime, compliance, data location, access control, and risk management. Regulations such as NIS2 also make it increasingly important to know where data is located, how it is protected, and how incidents are handled.

This is where NetNordic helps customers move from a standard network service to a business-adapted NaaS model. Instead of delivering a generic solution, NetNordic designs and operates networks around each customer’s business needs, security demands, and existing IT landscape.

At NetNordic, our approach is built on experience, structure, and automation-first operations. Through infrastructure as code, clear service frameworks, and close cooperation between our 24/7 NOC and SOC, we help customers reduce manual work, improve visibility, respond faster, and build networks that are secure, measurable, and adapted to your business.

By combining Network as a Service with AI-driven networks, AI-driven network automation, and a strong focus on security and control, NetNordic helps customers build infrastructure that is ready for the next generation of enterprise connectivity.

Ready to see where your organisation stands? Book a no-obligation conversation with us about your NaaS maturity.