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Current Trends in IT Budgeting for 2026

A recent report from DataStrike highlights significant insights into the IT landscape as organizations gear up for 2026. According to their survey, a promising 74% of IT leaders are optimistic about an increase in their budgets. However, there's a concerning trend that accompanies this optimism: over half of these leaders indicate that their teams do not have enough staff to tackle urgent issues or drive innovative projects.

Growing Reliance on Managed Service Providers

The survey, which included responses from nearly 280 IT leaders across various sectors, reveals a marked shift towards using Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Currently, 60% of organizations are leveraging MSPs for their data infrastructure needs, which is a substantial increase from previous years. This trend underscores a rising dependence on external expertise, especially as companies focus on modernization amid growing technical debt. This reliance is particularly notable as teams work to manage their data systems more effectively, closing skills gaps, and cloud migration accelerates.

Rob Brown, the President and COO of DataStrike, emphasizes the broader narrative shaping IT strategies: "Organizations are now asking how to modernize their existing systems while managing costs effectively. They are not just implementing cloud solutions; there is a concerted effort to build a robust data strategy that can support future innovations. Many are exploring alternative databases, including open-source options like PostgreSQL, to enhance efficiency while minimizing costs."

Challenges Ahead for IT Departments

Despite the optimistic financial outlook, significant challenges loom. The survey illustrates that developing a solid data strategy is a top priority for 61% of those surveyed, a shift from last year’s focus on tool sprawl and slow adoption of new technologies. Modernizing old systems emerged as the most pressing challenge for 46%, with managing technical debt following behind at 33%. These findings resonate with the recognition that having a strong data foundation is crucial for realizing returns on investments in AI technologies.

The results paint a stark picture: IT departments are walking a tightrope between ensuring stability in their operations and initiating transformative changes. As organizations transition from merely migrating to the cloud to embarking on comprehensive modernization agendas, finding the right mixture of internal expertise and external support becomes vital. A growing tendency to consider outsourcing database management highlights this balancing act.

Staffing Challenges Persist

Despite this increased reliance on external providers, internal staffing challenges remain pervasive. A mere one-third of those surveyed have dedicated Database Administrators (DBAs), and among those, more than half operate with only one or two DBAs. Considering the diverse platforms they manage, including Oracle and SQL Server, the industry faces a shortage of skilled professionals. Nearly 25% of surveyed leaders feel they need five or more DBAs to manage their workloads effectively. With the average salary for a DBA exceeding $120,000 annually, these staffing requirements could impose substantial financial burdens.

A Shift in Focus Towards Sustainability and Growth

The survey results suggest that a hybrid model combining in-house expertise, outsourced solutions, and fractional support could be the key to sustaining performance and fostering future growth. Nearly 75% of respondents expressed interest in outsourcing aspects of database management, and 83% are open to exploring alternative providers to bridge the gaps in skills and to mitigate costs.

As the industry shifts gears, it is vital for companies to adopt a proactive mindset. The focus will be on redefining their data strategies to not just keep pace but to lead in an increasingly competitive and complex technology landscape. The full findings from the 2026 Data Infrastructure Survey Report are available at DataStrike's website for those looking to delve deeper into these telling insights. This snapshot into IT's evolution provides a clear message: while budgets may rise, so must innovation, staff, and strategy.