The Single Most Expensive Misconception in Network Automation Today
Techstrong IT, Wednesday, July 1st, 2026
Assuming network automation needs dedicated software teams instead of skilled network engineers is a costly mistake.
The article debunks the assumption that network automation requires dedicated software development teams rather than network engineers with automation skills.
It warns that building custom provisioning platforms in-house wastes millions and years while creating engineer lock-in risk when key developers leave.
Internal builds struggle with brownfield legacy infrastructure, inconsistent naming, and edge cases that divert engineers from strategic work.
A 2025 survey found 92% of organizations report automation is built by network engineers, not software developers. Purpose-built platforms like Nautobot handle foundational complexity, while genuine custom effort should focus on integrations connecting IPAM, CMDB, change management, and vendor APIs.