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The Rise of Agent-Native Technologies
One of the most significant developments highlighted in this year's hype cycle is the emergence of Agent-Native I&O technologies. These innovations represent a fundamental shift toward autonomous decision-making systems that can operate with minimal human intervention. Positioned at the very beginning of the Hype Cycle™, Agent-Native I&O is described as "the biggest disruptor of I&O since the introduction of the cloud and smartphones."
The concept centers on AI agents working collaboratively to understand current and future stakeholder needs, automatically adapting systems and practices accordingly. This approach addresses chronic challenges including complexity, talent shortages, and expensive cost structures that have long plagued I&O teams.
Generative AI: From Augmentation to Transformation
Generative AI-Augmented CloudOps and AI Assistants for Infrastructure as Code (IaC) are gaining significant traction, representing the practical application of AI technologies in day-to-day operations. These tools move beyond simple automation to provide intelligent insights that enhance decision-making and accelerate infrastructure delivery.
Meanwhile, Generative AI Natives – technology suppliers built from the ground up on language models – are emerging as a transformational force. Unlike traditional vendors that bolt AI features onto existing products, these companies design their entire value proposition around natural language processing capabilities. This foundation enables richer consolidation and reduced dependence on specialized tooling.
GitOps: Operational Excellence Through Code
GitOps sits at the "Peak of Inflated Expectations," reflecting both high interest and the reality check that many organizations face as they implement this approach. By managing cloud-native applications through declarative configurations stored in Git repositories, GitOps brings software engineering discipline to infrastructure operations.
The appeal of GitOps lies in version control, immutability, and auditability. Developers can deploy applications with simple Git pull requests while ensuring governance. However, success requires cultural change and a solid foundation in Kubernetes and cloud-native architectures – a barrier for many enterprises.
Infrastructure as Code: The Foundation Matures
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) has reached mature mainstream adoption. It is now considered a foundational capability for modern IT operations rather than a differentiator. Organizations that fail to adopt IaC risk falling behind in efficiency and agility.
By treating infrastructure as versioned, testable code, enterprises achieve consistent deployments, rapid scalability, and stronger security. The technology's widespread maturity underscores its role as a prerequisite for advanced automation strategies.
Hybrid Cloud Computing: Bridging Worlds
Hybrid Cloud Computing continues climbing the “Slope of Enlightenment” as organizations refine strategies for balancing public and private cloud resources. This approach promises the "best of both worlds": cost optimization and scalability from public cloud with compliance and control from private environment.
Achieving seamless hybrid operations remains challenging. Enterprises are still contending with workload placement, data governance, and service integration across multiple environments. The technology’s placement in the Hype Cycle reflects both its promise and its complexity.
Observability and Reliability Engineering Gain Ground
Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) continues its path toward mainstream adoption, as more and more businesses see the benefits of using data-driven methods to strike a balance between innovation and reliability. The companion concept of Error Budgets provides quantifiable metrics for managing the trade-offs between feature velocity and system stability.
Observability platforms, meanwhile, are entering the "Trough of Disillusionment". This shift doesn't indicate failure – it reflects the market’s move beyond initial hype toward practical, disciplined implementation. Organizations are now learning to harness high-cardinality telemetry and advanced analytics for actionable insights into complex system behaviors.
SOAP: The Automation Backbone
Service Orchestration and Automation Platforms (SOAP) represent the mature foundation of enterprise automation, with more than 50% market penetration indicating widespread adoption. These platforms have evolved from simple workload automation to powerful orchestration solutions supporting complex, cross-functional business processes.
The maturation of SOAP reflects the enterprise need for sophisticated automation that extends beyond traditional IT boundaries. Modern SOAP platforms integrate edge workloads, cloud-native services, and event-driven architectures while providing the reliability and governance that enterprises require. Organizations are increasingly evaluating SaaS-first deployments to reduce operational overhead while preserving enterprise-grade automation capabilities that SOAP platforms provide.
Beta Systems and the ANOW! Automate Platform in the Spotlight
Among the innovative vendors driving transformation in the I&O automation space, Beta Systems Software stands out with their ANOW! Automate platform, which exemplifies the next generation of Service Orchestration and Automation Platforms (SOAP). As mentioned in Gartner's report, Beta Systems represents one of the key players in the mature SOAP market segment.
ANOW! Automate extends beyond traditional workload automation to deliver comprehensive enterprise orchestration capabilities. Gartner’s Hype Cycle for I&O Automation 2025 recognizes Beta Systems as a SOAP vendor, and in a major milestone, the company was also named a Leader in the 2025 Magic Quadrant for Service Orchestration and Automation Platforms (SOAP). The solution addresses the growing complexity of hybrid and multi-cloud environments through its cloud-native, microservices architecture that scales effortlessly with business needs.
What sets ANOW! apart is its democratization of automation through intuitive, web-based interfaces that enable both IT and non-technical users to leverage automation capabilities. With over 500 out-of-the-box integrations and the ability to create custom connectors, the platform provides a single point of control across diverse technological ecosystems. With ANOW! Observe recently added, Beta Systems now offers a complete suite combining workload automation, orchestration, and observability. This directly addresses the market trends highlighted in Gartner's analysis – simplifying operations while boosting reliability and governance. As a European software provider, Beta Systems also brings strong data sovereignty and compliance advantages, offering enterprises a trusted alternative to non-European vendors while maintaining enterprise-grade security and reliability standards.
Strategic Implications for I&O Leaders
The 2025 Hype Cycle™ highlights several critical strategic imperatives for I&O leaders:
Invest in AI-Driven Capabilities: Organizations should begin experimenting with generative AI applications in infrastructure management while building the foundational data and operational model improvements necessary for sustainable ROI.
Embrace Platform Approaches: The maturation of platform engineering demonstrates clear value in abstracting complexity and enabling self-service capabilities. Organizations should consider adopting platform-as-a-product methodologies.
Prepare for Autonomous Operations: While agent-native technologies are still emerging, organizations should begin building the data quality, governance frameworks, and cultural readiness necessary to leverage autonomous systems effectively.
Solidify Foundation Technologies: With IaC reaching mature mainstream status and SOAP platforms demonstrating proven value, organizations should ensure these foundational capabilities are properly implemented before pursuing more advanced automation approaches.
Focus on Observability: As systems become more complex and distributed, comprehensive observability becomes critical for effective management and optimization.
Looking Ahead
Gartner's forward-looking assumptions underscore the significant transformation ahead. By 2027, heads of I&O who focus on enterprise-wide automation delivery will double the value delivered by service quality and cost improvement efforts. Additionally, 75% of enterprises will use site reliability engineering practices organization-wide, and IT service desk analysts will spend as much time interacting with AI as with business consumers.
However, the report also warns of potential pitfalls. By 2028, 99% of I&O-led investments in agentic AI without system data and operating model improvements will fail to achieve sustainable ROI, emphasizing the importance of foundational work alongside technology adoption.
The path forward requires careful balance between innovation and operational stability. Organizations must build upon proven automation foundations – like mature IaC practices and robust SOAP platforms – while selectively investing in emerging technologies that align with their strategic objectives. The key is to view automation not just as a cost-reduction tool, but as a force multiplier that drives continuous improvement and innovation across the entire enterprise.
As the I&O landscape continues to evolve, success will depend on organizations' ability to adapt quickly while maintaining reliability and security standards. The technologies highlighted in Gartner's 2025 Hype Cycle™ provide a roadmap for this journey, but the ultimate destination will be determined by how effectively businesses can integrate these capabilities into their broader digital transformation strategies.
Source: Gartner, Hype Cycle for I&O Automation, 2025, Chris Saunderson, Cameron Haight, 27 June 2025.
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