10 top priorities for CIOs in 2026

A new year creates fresh opportunities — and challenges. Here are key IT priorities that will help your organization thrive this year.

A CIO’s wish list is typically long and costly. Fortunately, by establishing reasonable priorities, it’s possible to keep pace with emerging demands without draining your team or budget.

As 2026 arrives, CIOs need to take a step back and consider how they can use technology to help reinvent their wider business while running their IT capabilities with a profit and loss mindset. Here’s an overview of what should be at the top of your 2026 priorities list.
1. Strengthening cybersecurity resilience and data privacy
2. Consolidating security tools
3. Ensuring data protection
4. Focusing on team identity and experience
5. Navigating increasingly costly ERP migrations
6. Doubling-down on innovation — and data governance
7. Facilitating workforce transformation
8. Improving team communication
9. Strengthening drive agility, trust, and scale
10. Addressing an evolving IT architecture

Based on cio.com story by John Edwards, JANUARY 19, 2026