Press release. The digital infrastructure firm Colt Technology Services has published what it considers to be the main CIO technology trends to take into account in 2026. Based on direct information from clients, market intelligence and its own studies, Colt identifies the maturity of AI focused on inference, the evolution of NaaS towards a “NaaS 2.0” and quantum security as the vectors that will define the technological landscape next year.
“In 2026, CIOs will continue to face significant challenges: balancing complex transformation programs, often driven by AI, with cost reduction initiatives in a changing regulatory environment”says Buddy Bayer, COO of Colt Technology Services. “But there is also enormous potential: AI projects are maturing, digital infrastructure is more powerful than ever, and solutions like NaaS are evolving and redefining the digital experience. “It is an exciting time and at Colt we are leading this path together with our customers.”.
CIOs Technology Priorities in 2026
– New ways to generate value and ROI with AI. Companies continue to invest massively in AI, but converting that investment into real value is proving to be a challenge. Colt research shows that one in five large groups spends $750,000 a year on AI, while 95% of participants in a recent MIT study say they have seen no return on that investment. This gap will begin to close in 2026, when AI projects reach greater maturity and companies find more effective formulas to generate value. More and more vendors will integrate maturity assessments and structured ROI models to help companies measure and quantify the real impact of their AI tools.
– AI for inference and “Agentic AI”. In 2026, inference-oriented AI will take a decisive leap: it will go from experimentation to full integration in the business environment, generating knowledge, making predictions and allowing more intelligent and contextualized decisions in real time. McKinsey estimates that inference will account for the majority of AI workloads by 2030. And not just in the corporate realm: Agentic AI, powered by these inference capabilities, will automate and digitize everyday tasks for consumers, from privacy or health management to home organization, according to the IEEE.
– AI Wide Area Networking (AI WAN). One of the recurring concerns of Colt customers is how to ensure the performance, latency and security required by AI workloads. The concept of AI WAN redefines the role of wide area networks: networks that are programmable and specifically designed to manage AI traffic, ensuring optimal performance and application-level security for critical data.
– Increased traffic will drive innovations in sustainable networks. The volume of AI workloads traveling over transatlantic cables will grow in 2026 and could rise from 8% of the total in 2025 to 30% in 20351. This will increase pressure on global network routes. Global technology trials and alliances are shaping innovations that increase performance without increasing energy consumption or emissions.
– IA Sovereign. With domestic investment in AI increasing and new AI governance regulations coming into force, sovereign AI is gaining prominence. It will move up the CIOs agenda as countries and organizations develop AI systems with their own data, infrastructure, talent and regulations. Sovereign AI will be key to maintaining technological control, protecting data and strengthening resilience in a world increasingly shaped by AI.
– NaaS 2.0. The NaaS market continues to grow, driven by factors such as AI, edge computing, cloud adoption and the business need for flexibility in changing global environments. A Colt study shows that 58% of 1,500 CIOs surveyed are increasing their use of NaaS functions under pressure from AI demands. In 2026, NaaS will evolve to respond to the new era: it will leave behind its traditional role and give way to a more intelligent, automated and results-oriented version. NaaS 2.0 will deliver real-time performance, resiliency, and autonomy for AI-powered organizations.
– Quantum security. Increased investment as “Q Day” approaches. CIOs remain under pressure to protect their data and infrastructure from emerging risks. As governments and companies delve into the potential of quantum computing, attention is turning to quantum security. According to Forrester2, by 2026 quantum security will exceed 5% of the enterprise IT budget. The Quantum Insider estimates that the market will grow more than 50% annually until 2030, reaching $10 billion. Traditional encryption methods could be vulnerable to quantum computers capable of breaking them. The moment when that happens is known as “Q Day,” and some estimates point to 2030.
– Multicloud, hybrid and edge. By 2026, multicloud models will be the norm, driven by the need for flexibility and resilience and the tendency to avoid dependencies on a single provider. APIs and secure interconnections with hyperscalers will be simpler, more competitive and accessible through aggregators. Edge computing will continue to grow in 2026 and beyond, fueled by the expansion of AI inference, the rise of real-time analytics and demands for data sovereignty. Next-generation cloud providers prioritize deploying infrastructure at the edge to process data close to its source, while hyperscalers will continue to focus on massive computing in centralized locations. Both models complement each other: the edge is distributed and local; The centralized cloud provides the power and large-scale storage.
– Stricter regulatory environments. In 2026, CIOs will see a notable increase in regulatory obligations, especially in AI and cybersecurity, and in regions such as Europe. We will also see the adoption of the ISO/IEC 42001:2023 global standard for AI governance, which will require integrating governance criteria into enterprise architecture and purchasing decisions. The Digital Services Act and the European Digital Markets Act will have operational impact, while in the United Kingdom the focus will be on the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and in Asia, Japan will move forward with its AI Promotion Act and Singapore will begin to roll out its National AI Strategy 2.0 during 2026.
