Top Trends that Will Shape Digital Infrastructure and Operations in 2026

Gartner, Inc., a global leader in IT research and advisory services has identified six trends that it says will transform how infrastructure and operations teams strategise and manage technology in the next 12 to 18 months.

Also, the research company added that the trends will affect spending choices, technical design, and risk management in 2026. The list includes hybrid computing, agentic AI, platforms for AI governance, energy-efficient computing, security against disinformation, and geopatriation.

Infrastructure and operations, commonly known as I&O, encompasses the hardware, software, and processes that underpin business applications and data. Gartner indicated that leaders in this domain are under pressure from the implementation of AI, energy limitations, and geopolitical shifts.

“I&O leaders need to recognise all these trends and be ready to act on those that could significantly affect their organisations, enabling them to adapt, respond effectively, and drive innovation,” stated Jeffrey Hewitt, VP Analyst at Gartner. “By grasping the complete effects of these developing trends, organisations can adopt efficient strategies to react, stay ahead, and optimise the value of their I&O functions in 2026.”

1. Hybrid computing

Hybrid computing as a developing method in infrastructural design that integrates various computing components to create a single, more optimised system. The main goal of hybrid computing systems is to use the strengths of each component to optimize performance, efficiency and flexibility.

Areas of application

Hybrid computing systems are widely used in the fields of artificial intelligence, scientific computing, finance, medicine, graphics, cryptography, oil and gas industry and logistics. They combine central processing units, GPUs, software accelerators, and networks to efficiently solve complex tasks such as machine learning, numerical modeling, data analysis, and visualization.

Furthermore, Gartner noted that this technique has the potential to prolong the lifespan of existing infrastructure investments. It added that it can merge both old and new systems into a more adaptable computing framework.

“Hewitt stated that hybrid computing will compel I&O leaders to embrace more efficient business and technology architecture in their long-term strategy.”

2. Agent AI

Gartner identified agentic AI as a key focus in the larger trend of AI adoption. It stated that Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) place AI within their top three priorities.

Agentic AI are systems capable of analysing data, recognising patterns, and acting with a degree of independence. These systems extend past basic recommendation engines or chatbots.

Examples of agentic AI automation

Agentic AI is being applied across various industries to automate tasks and optimize processes. Here are a few examples:

Customer service

Agentic AI can empower human agents to tackle more complex problems by managing customer inquiries, resolving issues, and delivering personalized support.

Supply chain management

Agentic AI can optimize supply chains, predict demand, and automate logistics by analyzing data from diverse sources like sales, inventory, and shipping.

Healthcare

Also, doctors and researchers can use agentic AI to help with diagnosis, treatment planning, and drug discovery by analyzing medical records, research papers, and clinical trials.

Financial services

Agentic AI can help automate fraud detection, risk assessment, and investment strategies by analyzing market data, customer behavior, and financial statements.

Software development

By automating code generation, debugging, and testing, agentic AI can help accelerate the development cycle and improve code quality.

Also, Gartner stated that these tools can cut down the time I&O teams dedicate to repetitive tasks. They mentioned they are capable of managing intricate analytical tasks that humans now perform.

“Hewitt stated that AI ranks among the top three priorities for CIOs, and agentic AI is a highly advantageous subset of it.” “Agentic AI offers a considerable chance for I&O leaders by facilitating performance improvements via time efficiencies, which will grow as systems develop.” It can assist I&O by rapidly analysing intricate datasets, recognising patterns, and operating independently.

3. AI Governance

Gartner stated that AI governance has emerged as a distinct area of focus for IT and Operations (I&O) teams. It described AI governance as the establishment of policies, allocation of decision-making rights, and the development of accountability regarding AI application.

AI governance platforms operate above AI systems. These platforms manage the construction, training, deployment, and monitoring of AI models.

The company stated that these platforms can integrate responsible AI principles into everyday workflows. They also monitor compliance risks and business risks.

Also, Gartner added that these platforms address concerns such as bias, transparency, data security, and privacy. They also address model assessment, validation, and security risks arising from the misuse of AI.

4. Energy Management

Energy-efficient computing stands out as a trend on the list. Gartner linked it with hybrid computing but presented it as a targeted reaction to energy shortages.

Also, the company described it as a set of technologies and methods that is aimed at reducing the energy consumption and the carbon footprint of IT systems.

Gartner stated that I&O leaders can affect both energy consumption and environmental consequences through design decisions. It stated that organisations can establish long-term plans centred on this objective.

Furthermore, the company mentioned optical computing and neuromorphic systems as instances of new technologies in this field. These technologies employ various methods for data processing compared to conventional chips.

5. Disinformation Security

Gartner has described disinformation security as a fresh area of emphasis for infrastructure and operations. It described this as a collection of technologies designed to address disinformation.

These tools operate in conjunction with current security measures. They focus on safeguarding brands, protecting identities, and maintaining online reputations.

The firm stated that disinformation security includes the detection of deepfakes and the prevention of impersonation. It also includes oversight and safeguarding of the company’s reputation.

“Hewitt stated that as technology evolves, disinformation security will help I&O leaders maintain trust in communication, identity, and reputation.”

6. Geopatriation

The last trend on Gartner’s list is geopatriation. The company described this as transferring workloads and applications from international cloud providers to local or national options.

Also, Gartner associated this trend with uncertainties in geopolitics and changes in national policies. It stated that organisations are reevaluating where they operate and keep essential systems.

Geopatriation builds upon a prior concept that Gartner referred to as the distinction between nationalism and globalism. That previous theme centred on data sovereignty.

“Geopatriation builds upon an earlier trend known as ‘nationalism versus globalism,’ according to Hewitt.” “It can be said that it extends beyond the cloud, covering data sovereignty, operational sovereignty, and technical sovereignty.” Geopatriation enables I&O to mitigate geopolitical risks and fulfil distinct sovereignty needs. Also, it allows I&O leaders to bolster and enhance the autonomy of local economies. Gartner expects that these six trends will influence how I&O leaders operate in the coming year.