CompTIA: 5 Tech Trends Shaping EMEA’s IT Strategy in 2026: Insights from CompTIA’s IT Industry Outlook


CompTIA: 5 Tech Trends Shaping EMEA’s IT Strategy in 2026: Insights from CompTIA’s IT Industry Outlook

 

 

 

January 26, 2026 - CompTIA: Economic headwinds, geopolitical uncertainty, and regulatory pressure will continue to shape the IT landscape in EMEA in 2026. CompTIA’s IT Industry Outlook 2026  points to cautious optimism, but also to a clear shift: organizations are no longer chasing “digital” in the abstract; they’re demanding measurable business value.

For EMEA, with its diverse markets and strong regulatory environment, these five global trends, highlighted in the report, also stand out:

1. The AI push continues... along with the push for organizational value


AI is moving from pilot projects to embedded capability. According to the report, 94% of organizations are at least somewhat likely to invest in AI-specific training in 2026. In EMEA, where data protection and compliance are non-negotiable, AI initiatives will live or die on their ability to:

That means AI fluency must extend beyond data scientists and developers to business leaders, legal/compliance teams, and frontline staff.

2. Cybersecurity expands its reach…and training evolves to keep up

Privacy concerns rank as the #1 driver of cybersecurity strategy, which strongly resonates in EMEA’s GDPR-centered environment. The report highlights expanded focus areas such as operational technology (OT) security, zero trust, and even preparing for postquantum cryptography.

Organizations can’t rely on niche experts alone. Training, internal programs, external courses, and industry certifications are becoming the primary mechanisms to:

3. Businesses double down on data practices…building toward strategic objectives

Most firms do not consider themselves “highly capable” in core data disciplines such as governance, architecture, and mining. Yet data security and analytics rank among the strongest capabilities.

For EMEA companies, tightening regulatory requirements and a fragmented market make robust data practices a strategic imperative. The report shows firms prioritizing:

The message: without solid data foundations, neither AI nor regulatory compliance can scale.

4. Workforce pipelines become a focal point... as companies strive to translate skills to tasks

With 77% of respondents feeling good about their prospects, many are betting on people, not just platforms. Skills-based approaches are gaining traction as organizations try to map capabilities to tasks rather than just to job titles.

In EMEA’s highly competitive talent market, this means:

5. Automation drives workflow renovation…with strong technical teams behind the effort

54% percent of companies report partially digitized workflows, with automation initiatives progressing in parallel. For many EMEA organizations, often operating across legacy, on-prem, and multi-cloud environments, automation is less about isolated tools and more about end-to-end workflow redesign.

The report underscores that success depends on:

In 2026, EMEA organizations that align AI, cybersecurity, data, skills, and automation around clear business outcomes will be best positioned to thrive.

CompTIA’s IT Industry Outlook 2026 report examines the major trends that will drive technology and business strategy over the next twelve months. Education and evolution around tech components, along with deeper maturity in skills-based workforce approaches, will lead organizations toward their ultimate goals of automation and enhanced productivity.  

CompTIA’s IT Industry Outlook study was conducted via a quantitative survey fielded online during October/November 2025. A total of 1,012 business and technology professionals in the United States completed the survey.

For full details and data behind these trends, download the CompTIA IT Industry Outlook 2026  report.

 

CompTIA certification vouchers and training are available in Romania through Simple IT, CompTIA Partner in Romania.

 

 

About Simple IT

 

SIMPLE IT is a distributor for software solutions and hardware appliances, adding value with consulting, training, implementation, configuration and support services, backed by certified specialists, in order to offer the best IT experience to customers and partners. For more information, please visit www.simpleit.com.ro.