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Mid-Market Enterprises Adopt AI Widely, but Governance Gaps Persist, Survey Finds
Across the United States, mid‑market firms are sprinting into AI, but many are still on the learning curve.
On June 15, 2026, Netrio, a global managed‑service provider, released a new report that chronicles how U.S. mid‑market enterprises—those with 200 to 5,000 employees—are embracing artificial‑intelligence. The study, carried out by Censuswide, surveyed 401 IT leaders and found that 82 % already run AI in production somewhere in their organization, yet only 26 % say AI is scaled and governed enterprise‑wide. The gap between adoption and operational maturity is the report’s central finding.
The survey focuses on a segment that has historically lagged behind large enterprises. According to the report, the sector has moved from experimentation to operationalization, but the transition is uneven. Netrio’s release, announced in McKinney, Texas, highlights that while AI tools are being deployed, many organizations struggle to integrate them into existing workflows and enforce consistent governance.
Key data from the survey point to the most significant barriers to scaling AI: security, privacy and compliance (19 % of respondents), data readiness (17 %), integration complexity (16 %) and lack of internal expertise (10 %). The report also identifies the areas where AI is expected to deliver the most value—IT operations and service desk (71 %), software development and engineering productivity (50 %) and cybersecurity operations (32 %). Confidence in return on investment is high; 96 % of leaders say they expect measurable ROI within the next 24 months, and 88 % anticipate spending at least $100,000 on AI over the next 12 to 24 months, with 56 % planning to spend at least $250,000.
Governance remains uneven. Only 42 % of respondents report a formal AI policy with actively enforced controls, 53 % claim full visibility into AI tool usage, and 63 % say they have formally assessed whether sensitive company or customer data is being entered into AI tools and have controls in place. Yet 42 % reported a confirmed AI‑related security incident or exposure in the past 12 months, and another 31 % reported a near‑miss. “AI has moved from experimentation to execution in the mid‑market, but execution is where the real challenges begin,” said Al Calabrese, Vice President of AI Services at Netrio. “This research shows that companies are investing in AI but are struggling with how to get real returns from it. And it reveals that security threats are significant, with roughly 73 % of those surveyed either having confirmed an AI‑related security incident or nearly missing one.”
Workforce readiness is also a focus. Nearly half of respondents (49 %) say internal efficiency and cost or time savings are the primary reason for investing in AI. In response, 42 % have already launched proactive reskilling and upskilling programs to improve employee AI skills. The survey suggests that training is becoming a key component of AI strategy, alongside data platform and integration work, cloud infrastructure, and security controls.
The findings point to a broader industry pattern: AI adoption is widespread, but operational maturity lags behind. Security incidents, governance gaps and a shortage of internal expertise are the main obstacles to scaling. Netrio’s report underscores the need for integrated approaches that combine tool deployment with policy, visibility, data readiness and workforce development. The company positions itself as a partner that can help mid‑market firms navigate these challenges.
In summary, the survey shows that mid‑market enterprises are deploying AI at a high rate, but only a minority have achieved enterprise‑wide scaling and governance. Security incidents are common, and many firms lack the expertise and policies needed to manage AI responsibly. The report is available for download on Netrio’s website, offering a snapshot of where the market stands today and where it is headed next.
On June 15, 2026, Netrio, a global managed‑service provider, released a new report that chronicles how U.S. mid‑market enterprises—those with 200 to 5,000 employees—are embracing artificial‑intelligence. The study, carried out by Censuswide, surveyed 401 IT leaders and found that 82 % already run AI in production somewhere in their organization, yet only 26 % say AI is scaled and governed enterprise‑wide. The gap between adoption and operational maturity is the report’s central finding.
The survey focuses on a segment that has historically lagged behind large enterprises. According to the report, the sector has moved from experimentation to operationalization, but the transition is uneven. Netrio’s release, announced in McKinney, Texas, highlights that while AI tools are being deployed, many organizations struggle to integrate them into existing workflows and enforce consistent governance.
Key data from the survey point to the most significant barriers to scaling AI: security, privacy and compliance (19 % of respondents), data readiness (17 %), integration complexity (16 %) and lack of internal expertise (10 %). The report also identifies the areas where AI is expected to deliver the most value—IT operations and service desk (71 %), software development and engineering productivity (50 %) and cybersecurity operations (32 %). Confidence in return on investment is high; 96 % of leaders say they expect measurable ROI within the next 24 months, and 88 % anticipate spending at least $100,000 on AI over the next 12 to 24 months, with 56 % planning to spend at least $250,000.
Governance remains uneven. Only 42 % of respondents report a formal AI policy with actively enforced controls, 53 % claim full visibility into AI tool usage, and 63 % say they have formally assessed whether sensitive company or customer data is being entered into AI tools and have controls in place. Yet 42 % reported a confirmed AI‑related security incident or exposure in the past 12 months, and another 31 % reported a near‑miss. “AI has moved from experimentation to execution in the mid‑market, but execution is where the real challenges begin,” said Al Calabrese, Vice President of AI Services at Netrio. “This research shows that companies are investing in AI but are struggling with how to get real returns from it. And it reveals that security threats are significant, with roughly 73 % of those surveyed either having confirmed an AI‑related security incident or nearly missing one.”
Workforce readiness is also a focus. Nearly half of respondents (49 %) say internal efficiency and cost or time savings are the primary reason for investing in AI. In response, 42 % have already launched proactive reskilling and upskilling programs to improve employee AI skills. The survey suggests that training is becoming a key component of AI strategy, alongside data platform and integration work, cloud infrastructure, and security controls.
The findings point to a broader industry pattern: AI adoption is widespread, but operational maturity lags behind. Security incidents, governance gaps and a shortage of internal expertise are the main obstacles to scaling. Netrio’s report underscores the need for integrated approaches that combine tool deployment with policy, visibility, data readiness and workforce development. The company positions itself as a partner that can help mid‑market firms navigate these challenges.
In summary, the survey shows that mid‑market enterprises are deploying AI at a high rate, but only a minority have achieved enterprise‑wide scaling and governance. Security incidents are common, and many firms lack the expertise and policies needed to manage AI responsibly. The report is available for download on Netrio’s website, offering a snapshot of where the market stands today and where it is headed next.
