Colt CIO Priorities: AI Inference, NaaS and Quantum Security

Colt Technology Services has released its forecast for enterprise technology trends expected to dominate CIO agendas in 2026, with AI inference, Network-as-a-Service evolution and quantum-ready security emerging as priority areas. 

“CIOs will continue to face headwinds in 2026 as they balance complex business transformation programmes at scale – often centred around AI – with ongoing cost-reduction programmes in an ever-changing regulatory environment,” says Buddy Bayer, Chief Operating Officer at Colt Technology Services. “But there’s huge opportunity too: AI programmes are beginning to mature, digital infrastructure has greater capacity than ever before, and we’re seeing an evolution of solutions like NaaS which are reshaping our digital experiences.”

The company has identified several technology shifts it expects to accelerate through 2026, spanning AI maturity, network infrastructure development and security investments driven by quantum computing threats.

Colt research reveals AI investment challenges

Businesses continue to commit substantial resources to AI programmes, yet return on investment remains difficult to demonstrate. Colt’s research indicates one in five global firms spend US$750,000 annually on AI infrastructure and tools. Separately, 95% of respondents in a recent MIT report study report seeing no return on their investments.

This gap between spending and measurable returns appears set to narrow in 2026 as AI projects mature and begin generating tangible value. Vendors are responding by building AI maturity assessments and structured ROI models into their offerings, helping businesses define, track and quantify value across their AI deployments.

AI inferencing is set to reach a new level of maturity in 2026, shifting from experimentation to integration within enterprise IT environments, at a time when McKinsey forecasts AI inference will account for a majority of AI workloads by 2030.

Agentic AI, driven by inference capabilities, extends beyond enterprise applications to consumer tasks including privacy management, healthcare, scheduling assistance and household management, according to research from the IEEE.

Colt predicts Network-as-a-Service transformation

With the Network-as-a-Service market continuing to be driven by AI, edge computing and cloud adoption, Colt’s research finds 58% of 1,500 CIOs surveyed report increasing their use of NaaS features due to growing AI demands.

The company forecasts NaaS will evolve beyond its traditional role supporting digital experiences to become intelligent, automated and outcome-focused. This next generation of NaaS delivers real-time performance, adaptability and autonomy for AI-driven enterprises, a shift Colt terms ‘NaaS 2.0’.

AI workloads transmitted over transatlantic cables grow through 2026 and face projected surges from 8% of total capacity in 2025 to 30% by 2035, placing additional strain on global network routes. Technology trials and global partnerships are pioneering approaches which boost performance without increasing energy consumption or carbon emissions.

Sovereign AI gains momentum as nations increase AI investments and regulations around AI governance come into force across major economies. Countries and organisations build and run their own AI systems using domestic data, infrastructure, personnel and regulatory frameworks. This approach allows nations to maintain control of their technology, protect their data and build resilience in an increasingly AI-shaped world.

Multi-cloud models could become the default in 2026 as enterprises seek flexibility and resilience beyond single-provider strategies. APIs and secure interconnects between providers and hyperscalers become more streamlined, complementary and competitively priced, with access through aggregators.

Colt identifies quantum security investment surge

Quantum security spending will also be a priority investment area as Q Day approaches. Forrester forecasts quantum security spending will exceed 5% of enterprises’ overall IT budgets in 2026, whilst a report from The Quantum Insider estimates the quantum security market will grow at over 50% CAGR to 2030, reaching US$10 billion.

Traditional data cryptography methods face vulnerability to quantum computers. Q Day, the point at which quantum computers can decipher current encryption methods, could arrive as soon as 2030.

Low Earth Orbit satellites also face a breakthrough year in 2026, with organisations launching new satellites and services. These systems provide connectivity in underserved or rural areas and offer resiliency options for enterprise infrastructure. Colt plans to trial low earth orbit satellite connectivity for quantum key distribution, enabling secure exchange of symmetric encryption keys using quantum technology whilst overcoming distance limitations of terrestrial connectivity. The company and partners will trial space-based and subsea techniques which extend quantum security to global networks through 2026.

“It’s an exciting time and, at Colt, we’re leading the way for our customers,” says Buddy.