Happy New Year from all of us at STEP Software!

If your 2026 resolutions include better coffee, less meetings that, ‘could have been an email’, and finally fixing that ‘older than your youngest exec’ legacy system, you’re in good company. As new year budgets are finalized and strategies are set, we’re seeing IT decision-makers and business leaders focus on several key priorities — and a few shared concerns.

Our first blog of the year offers up a snapshot of what’s on the radar for tech leaders and business leaders alike. Backed by current industry insights and a sprinkling of incite from our customers, we’re eager to dive into a year of IT resolutions, strategic focus and legacy modernization projects.

🧠 2026 IT Budget Priorities — The Top Themes

📈 1.Moderate Growth with Strategic Focus

• Worldwide IT spending is projected to grow by nearly 10% in 2026, topping $6 trillion for the first time. Software growth is predicted to be 15.2% over 2025 spending, largely thanks to Generative AI.
• Despite growth predictions, many CIOs are planning targeted investments rather than broad spending sprees. They’re cautious, aiming to connect budgets to measurable business value and aligning with Finance for long term wins.

📅 2026 Resolution: Spend smarter, not just bigger.

🤖 2. AI From Experimentation to Core Strategy

• AI remains at the top of many wish lists, with leaders boosting budgets to embed AI into operations. Some forecasts suggest that 90% of organizations will expand AI spending in 2026, and some companies are prioritizing it over other spending.
• Analysts expect more domain-specific AI (specialized models tailored to your business) to become mainstream, improving value over generic tools.

📅 2026 Resolution: Stop treating AI like a side project.

☁️ 3. Cloud, Cybersecurity & Resilience

• Security remains a non-negotiable focus, with both public and private sectors increasing spend to protect data, identity, and infrastructure. Globally the spend is estimated at over $520 billion!
• Cloud and hybrid models continue to expand as organizations balance performance, cost, and control. Yet this trend also brings complexity — and a need for tighter governance.

📅 2026 Resolution: Build secure cloud foundations before adding more bells and whistles.

📉 Early Concerns on the Radar

Even with growth expected, IT leaders are thoughtfully balancing innovation with discipline:

• Economic volatility & geopolitical risk are making executives more cautious about how fast and where they invest.
• Skills and talent gaps especially for AI, cloud, and data modernization remain a significant strategic challenge.
• ROI pressure: IT organizations are under scrutiny to show real, measurable outcomes for every dollar spent — not just cool dashboards or trend charts.

📅 2026 Resolution: Build metrics that matter — and track them relentlessly.

🔄 The Legacy Modernization Imperative

Returning to the 2026 ‘top concerns list’ are the strategic discussions on the state of legacy systems.

Legacy platforms are often relied upon to carry the business forward — but they can be fragile, costly to maintain, and a blocker to modernization efforts like AI, cloud analytics, and cybersecurity improvements. Without modern foundations, new tools may only band-aid deeper technical debt.

Modernization isn’t about ‘rip everything out.’ It’s about:

• Prioritizing systems most critical to business outcomes
• Using AI and automation wisely to refactor and integrate
• Establishing CI/CD, observability, and scalable data pipelines
• Turning old monoliths into agile, secure platforms for growth

In 2026, leaders who tackle these challenges head-on are the ones who will see real strategic advantage.

📅 2026 Resolution: Commit to working with a legacy expert to jumpstart modernization initiatives.

✅ 2026 Tech Resolutions for Leaders

🔍 Align every technology investment with business outcomes

⚙️ Invest in AI that’s measurable and mission-focused

🔐 Strengthen cyber posture as a foundation, not an afterthought

🧱 Modernize legacy systems to unlock innovation pathways

🤝 Foster collaboration between IT, lines of business and strategic partners

If you need help turning your 2026 resolutions into a roadmap with measurable value, we’d love to partner with you. Let’s talk modernization, strategy, and practical success. Knock off your first 2026 TODO by booking your free 30-minute consultation today.

Here’s to a successful, strategic, and impactful 2026. Let’s build technology that doesn’t just run — it leads.