Enterprises to face major security & connectivity shifts by 2026

Enterprise technology leaders are preparing for major changes in 2026 as security, connectivity, and data sovereignty reshape the global business landscape.

Senior executives at Expereo have outlined key trends that will challenge traditional strategies and demand a higher level of attention from the boardroom to the data centre.

Data sovereignty takes centre stage in APAC

Rapidly evolving regulatory frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region are having a notable impact on global IT strategies. New requirements for in-country data storage and processing are fragmenting former global-first approaches, compelling companies to adopt hybrid infrastructure models tailored to individual markets.

"In 2026, regulatory break-up will hinder global-first transformation projects. With India's DPDPA mandating in-country data storage and Vietnam's PDPL taking full effect on January 1, the global-first cloud strategy is no longer practical. Geopatriation will force CIOs to adopt hybrid, in-country architectures, dividing their global IT footprint as a result - digital sovereignty will continue to impact enterprise's infrastructure strategy on a global scale. Enterprises must find partners who can navigate this regulatory maze effectively, because failure to comply with local data laws is no longer just a business risk, it will become a direct barrier to market access and revenue," said Eric Wong, President of APAC, Expereo.

Security pressures

Security is expected to rise sharply on the C-suite agenda. High-profile outages in the previous year have exposed vulnerabilities and increased pressure on chief executives to prioritise resilience.

"CEOs are feeling more pressure than ever when it comes to security and resilience. The threat landscape has become too complex, too targeted and too relentless for reactive strategies. Cybercriminals are increasingly going after executives directly, exploiting devices, accounts and personal data to bypass corporate defences. CEOs can no longer delegate responsibility when it comes to security, they must embed digital security into every decision and across every layer of the business. Companies that fail to protect both their people and their systems will face immediate financial, reputational and operational consequences," said Ben Elms, CEO, Expereo.

NaaS adoption

Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) is gaining ground as enterprises pivot away from traditional IT infrastructures. Growing use of cloud-based applications, hybrid work environments and automation are driving this change. NaaS offers greater flexibility, allowing organisations to scale and adapt connectivity models rapidly.

"In 2026, NaaS will no longer be a niche concept, it will be a cornerstone of enterprise connectivity strategies. As organisations embrace cloud-native architectures, hybrid work and AI-driven automation, NaaS delivers the flexibility and security technology leaders need to remain competitive. Moving from capital expenditure-heavy models to flexible, subscription-based services isn't just a cost decision, but a strategic shift that enables CIOs and CTOs to focus on experience and policy, rather than infrastructure. In a world where the network truly becomes the computer, NaaS is the future," said Julian Skeels, CDO, Expereo.

Connectivity focus

Reliable network connectivity is moving to the centre of business risk discussions. With outages linked to dramatic losses in market value, digital infrastructure is no longer seen as simply an IT issue, but as a critical business asset.

"Connectivity is no longer a background service - it's now a boardroom issue. By 2026, a single outage could wipe out billions in market value and trigger extremely public and disruptive scandals. Networks have often been overlooked, only drawing attention when a failure causes significant disruption. In a cloud-first economy, resilience isn't optional - it's a measure of leadership credibility. Global CIOs will be expected to set direction for businesses to take - particularly when it comes to maintaining resilience and competitiveness through connectivity and AI. CEOs and boards must recognise that digital infrastructure is now a strategic asset, not an IT afterthought," said Jean-Philippe Avelange, CIO, Expereo.