Every year brings a new wave of technology trends, but 2026 feels slightly different for small and medium sized businesses. As we often say, IT infrastructure plays a central role in business productivity, staying organised, delivering a high quality service to customers and, most importantly, protecting businesses from today’s cyber threats and unexpected downtime.
Rather than chasing every new tool or platform, many SMEs should start 2026 with a set of practical IT resolutions. These are less about big ambitions and more about consistency, focusing on doing fewer things well and maintaining them throughout the year.
1. Establish a Strong Security Baseline Across Daily Operations
Security remains one of the most active areas of IT for SMEs, with growing focus not only on prevention but also on how systems behave during incidents and how quickly the business can recover.
This starts with meeting recognised UK standards, such as Cyber Essentials, which set a clear baseline for protecting devices and user access. Core controls such as multi-factor authentication for email and cloud systems, secure device configuration, and regular patching form the foundation of everyday security.
Endpoint protection plays a key role in supporting these controls by protecting laptops and desktops against malware and suspicious activity. When combined with central monitoring, it allows issues to be identified and addressed early, rather than after they begin disrupting the business.
Alongside technical controls, cybersecurity awareness training for staff helps reduce the risk of phishing and social engineering. When people understand what to look out for, security becomes a shared responsibility rather than an IT-only concern.
2. Protect User Identities as a Core Security Priority (ITDR)
Once a strong baseline of security controls is in place, the next challenge is to protect how users access systems on a daily basis. Many modern cyber attacks no longer rely on breaking through technical defences but instead focus on abusing valid user accounts and stolen credentials. Many modern cyber attacks no longer rely on breaking through technical defences, but instead focus on abusing valid user accounts and stolen credentials.
Cyber attacks most often start with stolen access credentials or identity-based threats. Recent surveys show that many UK small and medium-sized businesses have faced cyber incidents in the past year. The UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 found that about 43% of businesses reported a breach or attack in the past 12 months, including many small and medium-sized organisations.
With more cyber threats targeting credentials, identity-first security methods like Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) are quickly becoming essential for strong protection in 2026. These tools help detect, investigate, and respond to attacks involving compromised accounts or misuse of privileges. This means businesses can prevent unauthorised access and catch threats early. By making identity the first line of defence, SMEs can reduce their risk and strengthen protection across all systems that use cloud and hybrid access.
3. Use Independent Third-Party Backups for Cloud Services
A common misconception among SMEs is that using cloud platforms like Microsoft 365 automatically protects data and ensures it is backed up and recoverable. In reality, these platforms are designed for availability and collaboration, not comprehensive data recovery in every scenario. Built-in retention and recovery features are limited and may not support access to older data, complex restore needs, or long-term retention.
Data loss can result from accidental deletion, overwriting files, misconfigured policies, cyber attacks, or system outages. Sometimes, businesses realise data is missing weeks or months later, when native recovery options may no longer be available.
Many businesses separate backups from their primary systems using third-party solutions. Independent platforms like Acronis provides dedicated backups for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and other SaaS applications, ensuring data is stored securely outside the live environment. This reduces reliance on built-in tools and offers greater flexibility when restoring specific files, users, or historical data.
Regularly testing backups is important, but many businesses forget. Testing shows data can be recovered and restored quickly enough to keep the business running smoothly. Without this check, backups might give a false sense of security. Clear recovery steps and tested restores help businesses handle both everyday problems and bigger disruptions.
4. Treat AI Like a Proper Business Tool
AI is now embedded in many of the systems SMEs already use, including email platforms, document tools, CRM systems, and customer support software. When used effectively, it can reduce administrative effort, improve response times, and help teams focus on higher-value work.
A practical resolution for 2026 is to use AI intentionally. This means deciding which tools are approved, which tasks AI should support, and how outputs are reviewed. Without clear guidance, AI use can become inconsistent or introduce risk, particularly when sensitive data is involved.
Training plays an important role here. Staff don’t need to become specialists, but they do need to understand how to work with AI confidently and responsibly. Understanding where sensitive data is stored and how AI tools interact with it helps teams use these tools with greater assurance.
Clear guidance on approved platforms reduces uncertainty and encourages consistent use. When data is structured and accessible, AI outputs tend to be more reliable and genuinely useful to the business.
5. Move Away From Outdated and Unsupported Systems
When you look more closely at your systems, you may notice some applications have been around for years. While these older systems might still work, they can make it harder to integrate, report, or automate tasks.
SMEs should review these applications gradually, starting with those that create the most friction. Some systems are replaced, others are integrated more effectively, and some are retired once alternatives are ready. Even small steps in this area can lead to noticeable improvements in efficiency and reliability.
Older systems also include devices and operating systems nearing the end of their supported life. For many SMEs, this includes hardware running Windows 10, which reached its end of support in 2025. Transitioning to Windows 11 with regular hardware refresh cycles helps avoid rushed upgrades, security gaps, and unnecessary disruption. Reviewing device age, performance, and application compatibility early lets businesses spread costs, test changes gradually, and ensure staff continue working on supported, secure platforms.
Overall
As businesses plan for 2026, the most effective IT decisions are those that prioritise consistency and clarity over constant change.
Strengthening security practices, improving visibility across systems, using AI with clear intent, and addressing ageing platforms through planned updates all contribute to more reliable daily operations. When technology is reviewed and improved as part of an ongoing process, it becomes easier to manage, easier to secure, and better aligned with how the business works.
