The next phase of IT: 5 trends defining 2026

In 2026, companies are needing to adapt more readily to technological changes and find ways to incorporate advancements both sustainably and profitability into the business.

For IT leaders, technology strategy is shifting away from experimentation towards expectation. AI, edge computing, cybersecurity. These are no longer emerging technologies but operational necessities. 

And with the pace of technology outstripping planning cycles, a survey from Gartner suggests CIOs need to shift away from annual strategy cycles to adapting planning that fosters a “change-ready workforce”. How? Gartner suggests partnering with executive peers to form “fusion business-IT” teams to help drive strategic deliverables. 

We’ve compiled a list of emerging IT trends worthy of looking into for 2026 to help your IT team go from baseline to forward thinking. 

AI Supercomputing platforms

At its simplest, supercomputers handle large datasets at high speeds by dividing workloads across thousands of central processing units (CPUs), which communicate with each other. 

AI supercomputers, otherwise known as AI data centres, combine large volumes of computational power, specialised hardware (such as custom AI chips), and high-speed networking to process datasets to run complex AI workloads. These systems can train, deploy, and scale AI models, especially generative AI.  

Why it matters

According to the National AI Centre (NAIC)’s AI Adoption Tracker, more and more small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are harnessing the power of AI in their day-to-day operations, with larger organisations leading in AI adoption in Australia.

While plenty of organisations are leveraging external partners to accelerate AI implementation, some are looking to in-house capabilities, especially related to AI strategy, data analysis, and AI operations.

However, AI workloads put enormous strains on resources, with IT infrastructure often unable to handle the scale and scope. AI supercomputers give organisations the chance to test and innovate in an emerging environment. Developers can create applications in real time, and can work on breakthroughs in model training and analytics.

For IT leaders

In the EU, there are now rules that grant start-ups and SMEs access to supercomputers for AI testing and development, and we’re seeing similar patterns around AI supercomputer access in Australia.

Earlier this year, ResetData launched a public AI supercomputer called AI-F1 in Australia, in partnership with NVIDIA, with the aim to provide high-performance capabilities to Australian businesses.

The biggest watch-out for IT leaders? Governance and cost control.

Confidential computing

Organisations are shifting to, or already operating within, public cloud environments, but there’s an issue many are facing: data protection. The perception is public clouds mean bigger ‘attack surfaces’.

Confidential computing helps ease those fears. It’s a security approach that protects data housed in cloud computing services while it’s being processed, not just when it’s in transit or being stored. 

When data is processed, it normally needs to be decrypted, which can leave it open to vulnerabilities. With confidential computing, secure hardware-based enclaves or trusted execution environments (TEE) are used within a CPU or other processor so the data and code can run in isolation. 

Why it matters

This approach helps organisations process their sensitive data without having to put trust in cloud providers. It opens up cloud scalability while maintaining data privacy, which is especially important for companies that work with sensitive data, such as regulated industries, finance, health, or critical infrastructure.

These companies can have more control and privacy assurance over the ‘in-use’ state of their data, and the reduced risk of exposure helps raise their cybersecurity posture (more on that below).

Confidential computing can also offer new business models for companies, by enabling data sharing without exposing sensitive, personally identifiable information. This security approach allows for broader access to data for collaborative analytics and is especially useful in an age where data exchange across organisations is becoming more prominent. 

For IT leaders

Not every organisation will need to rely on confidential computing, but if your company processes sensitive data, collaborates with other organisations, or operates in public cloud environments, it’s worth looking into further.

There are a number of cloud offerings that are starting to incorporate confidential computing into their offerings, such as Microsoft Azure. 

If you do decide to go down this route, it’s a good idea to start planning for how you will validate the setup, or partnering with a vendor or service provider that can do it for you.

Preemptive cybersecurity 

Gartner estimates preemptive cybersecurity solutions will account for half of IT security spending by 2030, replacing standalone detection-and-response solutions. 

This shift from reactive to proactive has come about largely due to the rise in AI. Cyber threat actors are leveraging AI to make more targeted, sophisticated attacks, making it imperative for businesses to prevent and deter cyberattacks before they launch. 

Businesses are now looking into how AI and preemptive analytics can help deny, disrupt, and divert attackers away from critical assets.

Why it matters

‘Zero-day vulnerabilities’, where bad actors tap into unknown security flaws giving businesses ‘zero days’ to respond, are on the rise. Microsoft’s SharePoint zero-day vulnerability earlier this year is a recent example where attackers were able to bypass authentication and execute code, undetected. 

This is an example of where predictive analytics can help, using AI to analyse historical data on vulnerabilities and forecast areas most prone to attack. This means businesses can take a proactive approach to harden systems or applications. 

Australian organisations are also facing stronger expectations around their cybersecurity measures, with the government committing to its vision of positioning Australia as a world leader in cyber security. According to its 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy Action Plan, the first action step is to create cyber ‘health checks’ for small to medium businesses, offering them “tailored guidance on how to improve their cyber security”. 

For IT leaders

Gartner says IT leaders need to become ‘fluent’ in preemptive cybersecurity capabilities to stay competitive and protect their customers. Gartner recommends:

• Using AI to help predict vulnerabilities and stay ahead of emerging threats.
• Understanding how the global attack surface grid, which is the network of physical and digital touchpoints of an organisation’s systems, is expanding to multicloud and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
• Securing your AI-powered applications now to prevent unwanted exposures.
  

Intelligent edge computing

Edge computing is already in use, with companies taking advantage of the distributed computing model to process data closer to the source. What’s emerging now, with the flourish of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and smart sensors, is the integration of AI into these models.

Edge computing helps to reduce bandwidth costs, with only relevant data being sent to the cloud for long-term use. Intelligent edge computing takes this a step further, using AI to work within real-time conditions and performing complex analytics where the data is produced, such as smart homes, hospital rooms, or autonomous vehicles.

Why it matters

The introduction of AI into these local devices means faster time to insight and action. Waiting for data to be transferred and processed in the cloud and sent back to the local devices can be a make or break for organisations that operate in time-sensitive environments. 

For example, in retail stores, AI-powered vision technology is producing real-time intelligence at the source, from personalised advertising to heat mapping and stocktake tracking, all without needing to send and process data to the cloud.

Intelligent edge computing was once limited to specific use cases, but with the rise of 5G and private networks (plus the growth of IoT devices) it’ll now be much easier to scale this technology moving into 2026.

For IT leaders

Take the time to understand the infrastructure of intelligent edge computing and find ways to bring in executive peers. This can help to lessen the burden on IT budgets and help get stakeholders invested in IT strategy.

Start small with a pilot site and set strategic objectives to track progress, which can then be used as a platform for expansion.

Strategic partnerships

Gartner is predicting a mostly flat IT budget for IT teams in 2026, with leaders being challenged to do more with less.

Many IT leaders are now looking to technology solutions providers that can be brought on for project-specific work, such as nationwide POS transformations, to reduce internal workloads and tap into targeted expertise.

Why it matters

Strategic partnerships empower IT teams to extend their capabilities without putting pressure on internal resources and help scale specific projects. This is especially true for cybersecurity, compliance, and disaster recovery, where having a third party can help implement, take ownership of, and run security measures and strategies without disrupting day-to-day operations.

Technology solution providers can also help with skills coverage, when someone falls ill or takes an extended holiday, something we’ve seen come up as a concern for organisations. 

Instead of putting too much pressure on your internal resources, opting for the security of a specialist team, bound by a service-level agreement, can make all the difference. 

For IT leaders

The best starting point for engaging with technology partners is to define what you need done and what expectations you have for an external technology solutions partner.

Here at Truis, you get access to a team of highly experienced and accredited specialists who can help you deliver outcome-based solutions that meet and exceed your goals. And, with contract flexibility, you can scale your needs as your business grows and evolves.

Get in touch today to find out how Truis can find solutions to your business challenges and stay competitive.

Sources

Gartner, "2026 CIO Agenda for Global Enterprises: Technology Priorities and IT Strategy Shifts", 2025 
Gartner, "Gartner Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2026", 2025