IT Resolutions for 2026: What Forward-Thinking Teams Are Prioritising
As organisations plan for 2026, leaders are strengthening their IT strategy, reducing risk and building on the foundations already in place. Here are the priorities forward-thinking teams are focusing on to support growth, resilience and smarter ways of working.
What You’ll Learn:
As we move into 2026, many organisations have reached a turning point. Systems are more stable, security is stronger, and day-to-day IT stress has eased.
Whether your setup is already in a good place or you’re working towards a more structured approach, this is the moment to shift from firefighting to future-building and to refresh your IT strategy for 2026.
Below are the priorities we’re seeing from forward-thinking business and organisation leaders as they prepare for the year ahead.
You’ve Got the Basics Covered, Now It’s Time to Build Strategically
The last few years many organisations have focused on creating stability. Managed devices, reliable backups and stronger security have laid the foundations for a more intentional IT strategy in 2026.
Now the question is: how do we make technology work harder in 2026?
This year is about smart evolution, not major overhauls.
Consider:
- What do we want IT to help us achieve?
- Where do bottlenecks still slow us down?
- Which systems need improving or replacing?
- Where can we reduce risk as we grow?
This shift in thinking is what turns IT from an overhead into a long-term strategic advantage.
Strengthen Your Cyber Credentials with Cyber Essentials
In regulated sectors such as legal, environmental, accountancy, nonprofit and others, tenders and contracts increasingly expect clear evidence of cyber maturity.
Underlining this, the NCSC’s Cyber Essentials framework remains a widely recognised baseline for good security practice.
That means demonstrating not only Cyber Essentials, but also stronger controls, better governance and readiness for future assessments.
This is where CYAN CyberAssure™ can help.
It’s our structured service that guides you through achieving and maintaining Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus, providing practical help from evidence gathering to assessment preparation.
As you plan your IT strategy for 2026, consider:
- Are we bidding for larger contracts next year?
- Do partners or insurers expect stronger security assurance?
- Do we want the certification process to be clearer and less time-consuming?
Strengthening credentials early means you’re ready when opportunities arrive.
Build a 3-Year IT Roadmap Instead of Planning Year-to-Year
High-performing organisations are shifting away from annual planning and towards a simple 3-year rolling roadmap.
Benefits include:
- Predictable budgeting
- Phased upgrades
- Fewer surprises
- Reduced technical debt
- Better alignment with business goals
A roadmap doesn’t need to be complex. It simply answers:
- What do we need to achieve in 2026?
- What changes or risks do we expect over the next 3 years?
- Where can technology remove friction or cost?
CYAN can help shape these conversations and build a practical plan.
Put an AI Policy in Place (Even a Simple One)
AI is already part of everyday work, often informally.
The priority for 2026 is making sure AI usage is safe, clear and aligned with how your organisation operates.
Your AI policy should outline:
- Approved tools
- What data can and can’t be entered
- When human checks are required
- How sensitive information is handled
- Who oversees usage
It doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to exist.
Improve Device Lifecycle Planning Before Costs Rise
Even with strong management tools, ageing devices still catch teams off guard.
Smart organisations are preparing by:
- Refreshing older laptops before they slow productivity
- Removing legacy or end-of-life systems
- Planning budgets early
- Ensuring staff have the right kit for their role
A proactive approach avoids reactive spending and keeps teams working smoothly.
Review Access and Hybrid Working Practices
The start of a new year is the ideal moment to review user access.
Useful checks include:
- Removing unused accounts
- Ensuring offboarding is consistent
- Closing shared mailboxes or passwords
- Reviewing hybrid access and permissions
- Confirming everything is documented and secure
Small changes significantly reduce risk.
Use the New Year to Strengthen Staff Awareness
January is a great time to refresh knowledge before workloads accelerate.
Simple actions include:
- A phishing simulation
- A quick onboarding checklist review
- MFA refresher training
- Secure file-sharing reminders
- A short internal “2026 IT checklist”
These steps build confidence and reduce everyday issues.
2026 Is About Building on What You’ve Already Achieved
Your foundations might be strong, now it’s about using them wisely.
2026 is an opportunity to prioritise strategic improvement, reduce risk and prepare for bigger opportunities ahead.
CYAN is here to support you with roadmap planning, device lifecycle reviews and strengthening your cyber credentials through CYAN CyberAssure™.
Need help shaping your 2026 IT roadmap?
We’ll help you build a clear, structured plan aligned to your goals without jargon or guesswork.
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