10th ANNIVERSARY
IT Trends 2026
The IT Trends is NOVIPRO’s flagship annual report, providing an in-depth analysis of the key trends shaping Canada’s IT landscape through a survey conducted among 452 business and technology decision-makers.
This 10th edition of the IT Trends highlights a critical inflection point: organizations are accelerating their technology investments, IT leaders are gaining greater influence within executive decision-making, and digital transformation initiatives continue to expand across enterprises. Despite this momentum, IT is still not consistently recognized as a strategic business enabler. Without enterprise-wide alignment, clearly established governance, and strong executive sponsorship, technology investments may fail to deliver their intended business outcomes and long-term value.
3 Key Messages:
- Bridging the gap between IT and non-IT perspectives to achieve true strategic alignment
- Positioning technology investments as a shared business priority rather than solely an IT initiative
- Governing, executing, and developing talent with intention to build sustainable competitive differentiation
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THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
The disconnect between IT leadership and the broader organization is limiting business performance.
When IT and executive leadership are not aligned on costs, risks, and strategic priorities, even the most significant technology investments lose effectiveness and fail to achieve their full potential.
2026 KEY FINDINGS
Insights That Demand Attention
DATA SOVEREIGNTY
77 %
of companies state that data
sovereignty issues are more important today than they were two years ago
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
80 %
of organizations are actively leveraging AI solutions, with more than half having moved beyond the pilot phase
CYBERSECURITY
42 %
state that it is not a priority among the 48% of organizations that have not reassessed their security practices following high-profile cyber incidents
HUMAN RESOURCES
91 %
of companies report facing at least one issue in IT human resources
DATA INTERPRETATION
Data Sovereignty: Now a Critical Business Imperative
If your organization cannot clearly identify where its sensitive data resides, who has access to it, and under which jurisdiction it is governed, this is no longer simply a data sovereignty challenge — it is a critical governance issue that must be addressed.
AI: From Pilot Projects to Operational Reality
In 2026, the real challenge surrounding AI is no longer driving adoption within Canadian organizations, but ensuring enterprises have a structured AI strategy capable of delivering measurable business outcomes.
Cybersecurity: Increased Spending Without Increased Resilience
Employee training remains insufficient, governance frameworks continue to lack maturity, and executive leadership is often misaligned with IT teams on what defines a modern, resilient cybersecurity strategy.
Human Resources: At Crisis Level
Organizations continue to face persistent challenges in talent acquisition, workforce development, and employee retention. IT workforce issues must now be addressed as a core operational risk, not simply as an HR concern.
“Ten years ago, most of the technology studies were focused on North America or the United States with no Canadian specific, this is why the NOVIPRO’s IT Trends Report was created to help Canadian organizations better understand how technology was reshaping their operations. A decade later, one thing is clear: technology itself is no longer the limiting factor. The real challenge lies in how organizations align, or fail to align, around it.”
Alain Cormier, Chief Executive Officer, NOVIPRO
A STUDY CONDUCTED BY
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WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR PARTNERS
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