Organizations today are overwhelmingly concerned with the business value of IT. In 2026, IT is no longer viewed as a cost center but as a critical driver of business strategy, innovation and competitive advantages. With IT spending under intense scrutiny, leaders are under pressure to demonstrate clear, measurable ROI from technology investments.
Organizations aren’t spending enough on cybersecurity. As we explained in our previous post, many business leaders have misconceptions about the risks to their organizations and the level of security needed to protect against the latest attacks. They may view security as a “nice to have,” whereas new technologies such as AI are seen as strategic investments that will drive the business forward.
Cybersecurity budgets increased by about 4 percent in 2025 — half the 8 percent budget growth in 2024. Cyber threats continue to escalate, but organizations aren’t dedicating enough of their IT budgets to addressing that risk.
Meanwhile, AI is taking more and more of the IT budget pie.
Organizations expand geographically for many reasons, whether to tap into new markets, better serve existing customers, gain needed skill sets, or take advantage of lower real estate or labor costs. An organization’s geographic footprint can expand quickly due to mergers and acquisitions, and more and more employees are working remotely in home-based offices that become an extension of the business.
More technology vendors are bundling managed services with their products. The reasons are clear: Technology products are increasingly complex, and many organizations lack the expertise to adopt and use them effectively. The persistent tech shortage exacerbates these challenges.
The days are growing shorter, leaves are changing color and there’s a chill in the air — all sure signs that we’re in the thick of budgeting season. It’s a crucial time of year for IT organizations to evaluate evolving business and technology trends and ensure that the most critical and strategic projects receive adequate funding and attention.
Small to midsized businesses (SMBs) are the bedrock of the global economy, representing 99 percent of all businesses worldwide and generating approximately 70 percent of the global gross domestic product. While they are often the most vulnerable in times of economic uncertainty, most remain committed to making judicious technology investments that build long-term business resilience.
Tick tock. Time is running out on organizations that have not yet upgraded from Office 2013. On April 11, Microsoft is ending support for that version of the popular business productivity suite. Although all applications included in Office 2013 will remain functional after the shutoff date, Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, feature updates or security patches.
As we discussed in our last post, cooperative procurement contacts help government agencies, educational institutions and some nonprofit organizations save time and money on technology acquisitions by aggregating purchasing power. Analysts say state and local governments save more than $300 billion of taxpayer dollars each year through increased purchasing efficiencies.
Government agencies, educational institutions and other public sector organizations face dueling priorities when it comes to their technology requirements — expand digital initiatives and simultaneously reduce spending. Cooperative purchasing arrangements help resolve the dilemma.
