Enterprises Gear Up Ahead Of 2026's IT Transformation Shift
Dark Reading, Tuesday, December 16th, 2025
Experts predict big changes are coming for IT infrastructure in 2026, driven by AI adoption, hybrid cloud strategies, and evolving security demands.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced enterprises to adopt more hybrid approaches for their workforces. Then came the shift that put artificial intelligence (AI) at the forefront. Both of those factors - which ignited the need for better data, access, and security controls - will influence how organizations think about their infrastructure investments and design for the coming year.
IDC forecasts that organizations will increase their IT spending by 10% in 2026, and Gartner expects worldwide IT spending to reach $6.08 trillion in 2026, representing a 9.8% increase from 2025. IDC notes that 2026 will be one of the strongest years for the industry since the 1990s.