Happy New Year from everyone at NetResult. As 2026 gets underway, many organisations are finding that the focus is less on new tools and more on making sure the foundations of their IT are solid, secure, and fit for how people actually work.

What is shaping IT priorities this year

Several themes continue to stand out across the organisations we support:

- Higher expectations around security controls such as MFA, managed devices, and access visibility
- Ongoing moves away from legacy systems towards cloud-based services for email, file storage, and collaboration
- Increased scrutiny around backups, restore testing, and business continuity following real incidents
- Wider use of AI-powered features in everyday software, bringing new considerations around data access and permissions

Security is now expected

Basic security measures that were once seen as optional are now assumed to be in place. This includes removing shared accounts, enforcing multi-factor authentication, and having a clear view of who can access what.

These expectations are increasingly coming from insurers, suppliers, and customers, not just IT providers.

AI tools highlight existing issues

As AI features become embedded into common business platforms, they tend to surface long-standing issues such as overshared files, unclear ownership, and inconsistent access controls.

Addressing these basics first helps organisations make better use of new tools without increasing risk.

A sensible way to start the year

January is a good time to pause and review the essentials before projects and deadlines build up:

- Review user access and remove accounts that are no longer required
- Confirm backups are running and carry out at least one restore test
- Check that laptops and desktops are patched, encrypted, and protected
- Review supplier and third-party access to ensure it remains appropriate

Looking ahead

Organisations that keep their IT simple, well-managed, and well-documented are best placed to adapt as expectations continue to rise throughout the year.

If you would like to start the year with a practical IT review or discuss priorities for 2026, get in touch.