Info-Tech's Best of 2026 Mid-Year Report:

IT Builds the Foundation for an AI-Supported Future

IT leaders are strengthening the capabilities needed to scale AI.

Mid-year research consumption reveals IT leaders are strengthening the domains that will help them leverage AI

We've consolidated the most popular new research, products, and services during the first half of 2026.

• AI has moved from experimentation to execution, with growing demand for guidance on implementation, adoption, and value realization.
• Data, cybersecurity, and infrastructure remain top priorities as organizations build the foundations required for scalable innovation.
• CIOs are strengthening governance, risk management, and resilience capabilities to navigate uncertainty and rapid technological change.
• Workforce readiness and organizational adaptability are emerging as key drivers of transformation success.
• Technology buyers are actively evaluating vendors, platforms, and contracts to support evolving business and technology priorities.

Top Research & Products in 2026

"Here is Info-Tech's most popular research so far in 2026."

Gord Harrison
Chief Research Officer
Info-Tech Research Group

1
CIO Priorities 2026

Own the moment; prepare for the frontier.

2
Security Priorities 2026

Secure IT's moment for uncertain times.

3
Leverage AI for Information Management

From complexity to clarity: AI-powered information management.

4
Infrastructure and Operations Priorities 2026

Infrastructure meets IT's moment.

5
Data Priorities 2026

AI and automation amplify whatever data they consume. Feed them noise, and they'll scale confusion.

6
Reimagine Business Processes With an AI-First Approach

AI thrives when it follows intentional, optimized workflows.

Top Research & Products in 2026

"Empower your entire IT team with targeted research on a wide range of IT topics."

Jack Hakimian
Senior Vice President
Info-Tech Research Group

7
Applications Priorities 2026

Confidently take on 2026 with a strong foundation.

8
Build an Integrated Enterprise Risk Management Program

A holistic framework to manage enterprise risk in today's complex and unpredictable environment.

9
Design the IT Infrastructure & Operations Organization of the Future

Review your strategy, structure, skills, and staffing.

10
Defend Against Deepfake Cyberattacks

Use a cyberthreat assessment approach to determine your organization's exposure to deepfake attacks.

11
Develop a Plan to Overcome Your Microsoft Power Apps Challenges

Address key challenges before adopting a wide-scale transformation.

12
Identify and Respond to Credible Threats Arising From Global Uncertainty

Proactively manage the impact of macro uncertainties on your organization.

Top Research & Products in 2026

"Beyond trends, Info-Tech provides deep-dive tools to help get you to action."

Carlene McCubbin
Associate Vice President
Info-Tech Research Group

13
Optimize IT Vendor Contracts in Times of Uncertainty

Rationalize contracts to plan for spend reduction and enable innovation.

14
GRC Software Selection Guide

Outdated GRC tools create risk selecting the right integrated GRC tool is how you stop it.

15
Contract Lifecycle Management Platform Selection Guide

Fast-track your CLM selection journey and build a future-ready contracting function.

16
Master Certificate Lifecycle Management

Enable crypto-agility for the security, scalability, and automation to empower your organization's digital trust.

17
Visualize Your Strategic Roadmap With Power BI

Create visibility to shape the strategy.

18
Leverage Risk to Inform IT Outsourcing Requirements

Set yourself up to create an outcome-oriented RFP.

Top Research & Products in 2026

"Our best-practice research and advisory is designed to make your job easier."

Aaron Shum
Vice President
Info-Tech Research Group

19
Assess Readiness and Value for Policy-as-Code

Chart the right path toward value realization with automated policy management.

20
Harness AI to Reduce the Cost and Effort of KTLO in IT Operations

You wanted this yesterday. The tech is here today. Make way for a better tomorrow.

21
Project & Portfolio Management Software Selection Guide

Streamline the process of selecting the right project & portfolio management platform for your organization.

22
Board Management Software Selection Guide

Transform boardrooms into engines of strategy, trust, and innovation.

23
Empower Your Business With a Proven Cloud Strategy

Make confident cloud decisions with a strategy grounded in patterns, principles, and purpose.

24
Diagnose and Optimize Your Lead Gen Engine

Quickly and easily pinpoint any weakness in your lead gen engine.

Best of Diagnostics

1
CIO Business Vision

The most important thing a CIO can do is understand the business' needs and actively measure that the business is satisfied.

2
IT Management & Governance Diagnostic

Optimize and elevate the performance of your core IT processes for high-impact results.

3
IT Staffing Assessment

Make IT a corporate powerhouse by improving your ability to grow, deploy, and manage your team.

Best of Concierge Services

1
Transformation Quotient Assessment

Measure your capability and readiness to transform.

2
AI Vendor Landscape

Leverage our AI vendor landscape service to streamline your AI vendor selection with analyst-backed insights.

3
AI Strategy Review

Validate and elevate your AI strategy using Info-Tech's expert input and leading practices.

Best of Vendor Quadrants

by SoftwareReviews

These buyer's guides are designed to help prospective purchasers make better decisions by leveraging the experiences of real users.

1
Business Intelligence & Analytics Enterprise Data Quadrant

2
Project Management Emotional Footprint Quadrant

3
IT Service Management Enterprise Data Quadrant

Best of Training Programs

1
Adaptive IT Leadership Development Program

Lead the technology-first enterprise at the pace of exponential change.

2
AI Workforce Development

Future-proof your IT workforce with essential artificial intelligence competencies.

3
Building AI Literacy in the Workplace

Learners will discover ways to identify and evaluate AI tools, applying ethical oversight for responsible use.

Best of Workshops

1
Build Your AI Strategy and Roadmap

Develop your AI strategy to maximize return and mitigate risks with your AI investments.

2
Establish Your Adaptive AI From Governance Program: From Principles to Practice

Prepare your organization for agentic AI and tomorrow's AI technologies and solutions.

3
Develop Your Agile Approach for a Successful Transformation

Understand Agile fundamentals, principles, and practices so you can apply them effectively in your organization.

Best of Industry Research

1
Identify Use Cases to Inform an AI Strategy for Professional Services

From promise to practice: Select and prioritize AI use cases for professional service organizations.

2
Extend Enterprise Architecture to Operational Technology for Utilities

From strategy to grid: A practical walkthrough of EA for AMI.

3
Identify and Select AI Use Cases to Pilot in the Education Sector

Go from idea to impact with a value-driven selection process.

Best of Keynotes

1
Agentic IT: From Hype to Value

The next wave of AI promises transformation but only for organizations that can move from experimentation to measurable value.

2
From Data as a Product to the Data Value Chain

Data doesn't create value on its own. Value emerges when data drives better insights, decisions, and actions.

3
Inside the Agentic Enterprise

Most organizations will add agents. Very few will become agentic.

Best of AI Marketplace

1
AI Solution Summary: Power BI

AI-powered business intelligence for the modern workplace.

2
Drive Business Value With Microsoft 365 Copilot

Adopt and scale Copilot with intent and trust.

3
Cut Costs by Leveraging AI Solutions

AI uncovers savings that traditional methods can't reach.