This year, data streaming has crossed an important threshold, with 72% of IT leaders surveyed using it to power mission-critical systems and 89% considering it an important IT investment. The widespread adoption demonstrates trust in the technology and growing need for real-time data streams across businesses. Data streaming can break down silos but also contribute to isolation if a common operating model is not put in place, with fragmented projects and uncoordinated teams being a major hurdle for 74% of respondents. To get started with data streaming, establishing a common operating model with data governance top of mind is key, empowering individuals to produce data and supporting infrastructure that ensures data is easy to discover and trustworthy. The technology delivers significant value, with companies seeing 2-5x return on investment and 46% of financial services respondents reporting 5x ROI. As organizations continue to invest in data streaming, the benefits and challenges are likely to evolve over time.