At many of the companies I worked at, you had a huge advantage in the hiring process if someone currently employed knows you or advocates for you.
It’s “safer” because someone who is trusted at the company can vouch for your work without relying just on a couple of interviews. From that perspective, networking is still very important.
Also, many external candidates dont realize they may be competing against an internal candidate who has influential advocates within the company. While it’s not a slam dunk, the internal candidate has such an advantage, it’s sometimes very difficult to overcome.