Is Your SMB Ready to Get More from IT in 2026?

Technology is now at the heart of how every business operates, whether you’re a manufacturer in Derbyshire, a professional services firm in Nottinghamshire, or a growing team in Leicestershire. And as we head towards 2026, the opportunities to get more from your IT are bigger than ever.

But so are the challenges.

Downtime, cyber threats, rising compliance pressure and the struggle to keep systems up to date continue to drain time, money and energy from business owners. The good news? With the right IT approach, these issues become far easier to manage, and in many cases, avoid entirely.

This guide walks you through how local SMBs can strengthen their IT, boost productivity and build a more resilient business for the year ahead.

1. Maximise Productivity by Reducing IT Downtime

IT downtime doesn’t just slow people down - it affects customers, revenue and staff morale. UK data shows that businesses lose over £3,000 per employee each year through preventable IT outages and inefficiencies.

The most common causes we see across the East Midlands include:

• Ageing PCs and servers

• Systems that aren’t updated regularly

• Slow networks

• Reactive IT support that only steps in once something breaks

  
  

At Somerbys IT, we’ve always believed IT should quietly support your business, not interrupt it. That’s why proactive monitoring, regular maintenance and a structured hardware lifecycle plan make such a difference.

What this looks like in practice:

• Fewer repeated issues

• Faster systems that help staff work at their best

• Clear replacement schedules to avoid unexpected costs

• Problems fixed before they impact your day

  
  

Small improvements like these add up to a big uplift in productivity.

2. Strengthen Cyber Security to Stay Ahead of New Threats

Cyber criminals are not just going after large organisations anymore. In fact, UK SMBs are now more likely to be targeted, with phishing, ransomware and business email compromise still the top causes of breaches.

2026 will bring even more sophisticated threats, including:

• AI-powered phishing attacks

• Fake QR codes leading to malicious sites

• Cloud account takeovers

• Supply chain compromise

• Attacks designed specifically to fool busy staff

  
  

And with an increasingly strict regulatory environment, failing to protect customer data can lead to both reputational and financial damage.

Areas to focus on this year:

• Advanced threat protection (EDR, AI-driven email security)

• Zero Trust security, ensuring only authorised people and devices get access

• Regular cyber risk assessments

• Employee cyber awareness training - always the strongest defence

• Reliable backup and disaster recovery planning

  
  

Allan Page, our MD, has spent more than 30 years helping businesses strengthen their defences. One thing he consistently highlights is that cyber security doesn’t need to be complex, it just needs to be done properly and consistently.

3. Use Emerging Technologies Like AI, Automation and Cloud to Work Smarter

New technology can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure where to start. But for many SMBs, small, well-planned changes create huge efficiencies.

AI and automation are already helping businesses:

• Reduce admin-heavy workloads

• Speed up customer responses

• Improve financial and operational accuracy

• Identify risks faster

• Support decision-making with clearer data

  
  

Just as importantly, the cloud gives businesses more flexibility and better resilience. It enables teams to collaborate easily, work securely from anywhere and scale operations without heavy upfront investment.

For many local businesses, 2026 will be the ideal time to modernise older systems and move towards a more stable, secure cloud-first setup.

4. Align IT Strategy with Business Goals to Drive Measurable Growth

IT shouldn’t sit in a silo. It should support your wider plans, whether that’s hiring new staff, opening a new site, improving customer experience or tightening compliance.

A clear IT roadmap helps you:

• Prioritise the right investments

• Avoid unexpected costs

• Strengthen your cyber posture

• Support staff working more effectively

• Make decisions based on accurate, reliable data

  
  

Our customers often tell us that having a friendly, knowledgeable team who knows their business makes all the difference. Low staff turnover means our team builds real relationships, understands how you operate and can proactively guide you—not just fix things when they break.

5. Why Proactive IT Support Matters More Than Ever in 2026

Relying on reactive IT - fixing things as they fail - creates unnecessary stress and costs. Proactive IT support gives you peace of mind that your systems, staff and data are protected around the clock.

What proactive support delivers:

• Stability

• Better security

• Reduced downtime

• Predictable monthly costs

• Improved staff productivity

• Long-term planning instead of firefighting

  
  

It’s all part of delivering IT with a human touch - supporting your people as much as your technology.

Ready to Get More from Your IT in 2026?

If you want your IT to be more reliable, more secure and more aligned with your business goals, we’re here to help. Somerbys IT has been supporting East Midlands businesses since 1996, and our approach has always been the same: friendly service, no jargon, and solutions that genuinely make your working day easier.

Book a complimentary IT review and discover practical ways to strengthen and streamline your technology for the year ahead.