Why Engineers Cling to Problematic Solutions
The appeal of custom automation is understandable. Engineers value:
- Flexibility to address niche use cases
- Complete control over their environment
- Avoidance of vendor lock-in
As one network automation director at a large university told EMA: “Vendor platforms aren’t customizable enough for our specific needs.”
However, these benefits come at a steep price. Without proper governance, homegrown tools morph into fragile “Frankenstein’s monster” toolchains that create:
- Security risks from undocumented code
- Knowledge silos when only 1-2 people understand the systems
- Compliance headaches (only 27% of teams consistently document changes)
The Hybrid Solution: Best of Both Worlds
Modern platforms like NetBrain Next Gen bridge this gap by:
- Preserving investments – Import and govern existing Python/Ansible scripts
- Adding enterprise controls – Version control, RBAC, and audit trails
- Expanding capabilities – Low-code interfaces for non-programmers
- Proving value – Dashboards showing time saved and risks reduced
“I need a platform that onboard my scripts rather than make me start from scratch,” reported one senior network engineer in the study.
Is It Time to Evolve Your Automation?
Watch for these warning signs:
- Constant firefighting instead of innovation
- Only 1-2 team members understand your scripts
- Compliance audits require last-minute scrambling
Next Steps for Smarter Automation
EMA’s findings show the future belongs to teams that can:
✔ Maintain scripting flexibility
✔ Add enterprise-grade governance
✔ Scale beyond Python experts
[Download the full EMA report] to see how leading organizations are transforming their approach.
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