AI maturity, workload-aware cloud strategies, and deeper cyber resilience will define enterprise priorities in 2026, says Suhail Hasanian, Senior Regional Director & GM, MEA, NetApp
As enterprises move into 2026, the pressure to manage rapid technological change continues to intensify. Organizations are looking for clarity on how to harness the next wave of innovation—particularly in artificial intelligence, cloud architectures, and cybersecurity. Drawing from its global expertise, NetApp has outlined a set of practical, experience-driven predictions designed to help enterprises focus on what will matter most in the year ahead.
According to Suhail Hasanian, AI will shift from experimentation to everyday deployment across industries. Success, however, will not depend on the sheer volume of data but on how intelligently organizations manage it. Clean, well-governed, high-quality data will be the foundation for unlocking meaningful AI-driven outcomes. “Enterprises that can keep their data organized, accessible, and secure will move fastest from pilot to real-world impact,” Hasanian explains.
NetApp also forecasts a dramatic refinement in cloud strategies. Instead of moving everything to the cloud by default, enterprises will adopt ‘workload placement intelligence’—making thoughtful decisions about where applications and data should reside based on performance, compliance, latency, and cost. Hybrid and multicloud architectures will become more dynamic, supported by automation and policy-driven controls that reduce administrative burden and allow teams to concentrate on business results.
Cybersecurity, unsurprisingly, will take on even greater urgency. With threats growing more sophisticated, organizations will prioritize earlier detection, faster response mechanisms, and integrated recovery frameworks. Security will no longer sit on the periphery; it will be embedded directly into applications, data flows, and infrastructure planning from day one. Ensuring data accuracy, integrity, and responsible use will be essential as enterprises become increasingly data-driven.
Finally, NetApp expects companies to accelerate efforts to simplify and modernize infrastructure. Intelligent data services, scalable architectures, and flexible consumption models will help organizations adapt quickly while keeping disruptions low. As data footprints expand, the ability to scale seamlessly and maintain high availability will become a core competitive advantage.
NetApp’s overarching message is clear: the winners in 2026 will be those that infuse intelligence, agility, and resilience into every layer of their technology stack. In a landscape defined by rapid change, this unified approach will turn emerging challenges into new opportunities for growth.
