Is Your IT Ready for 2026?

For many small and medium-sized businesses, IT is something you only think about when it stops working. But 2026 is shaping up to be a very different environment:

• Cyber attacks are more targeted and financially motivated
• Downtime is more expensive than ever
• Insurers, clients, and regulators expect stronger controls
• Standards like Cyber Essentials are increasingly required to win contracts

The real question isn’t “Is your IT working today?”

It’s “Is your IT ready for what’s coming next?”

This short quiz helps SMEs honestly assess whether their IT setup is fit for 2026 or quietly exposing the business to unnecessary risk.

How the Quiz Works

For each question:

2 points = Yes, confidently

1 point = Partially / in progress

0 points = No / not in place

Be honest. The value is in clarity, not the score.

The 2026 IT Readiness Quiz for SMEs

1. Do you have a clear IT strategy?

Is there a documented plan that:

• Aligns IT with business goals?
• Covers upgrades, replacements, and growth?
• Is reviewed regularly?

Yes / Somewhat / No

2. Could your business cope with unexpected downtime?

If key systems went offline tomorrow:

• Do you know how long recovery would take?
• Is there a continuity plan?
• Would staff know what to do?

Yes / Somewhat / No

3. Are your backups regularly tested?

Not just backed up, tested!

• Can data be restored quickly?
• Are backups protected from ransomware?
• Are they stored off-site or immutably?

Yes / Somewhat / No

4. Do you have full visibility of your IT assets?

Can you easily see:

• All laptops, desktops, servers, and cloud systems?
• Who has access to what?
• Which devices or software are unsupported?

Yes / Somewhat / No

5. Are updates and security patches applied proactively?

Are operating systems and applications:

• Patched automatically?
• Monitored for failures?
• Updated before vulnerabilities are exploited?

Yes / Somewhat / No

These controls form the foundation of Cyber Essentials and are often where SMEs fall short.

6. Are your users trained to spot cyber threats?

Do staff receive:

• Regular cyber awareness training?
• Phishing simulations? -A simple way to report suspicious emails?

Yes / Somewhat / No

Most Cyber Essentials failures aren’t technical they’re human.

7. Would you pass a Cyber Essentials assessment today?

Ask yourself:

• Are firewalls, MFA, and endpoint protection correctly configured?
• Are admin privileges tightly controlled?
• Is compliance evidence documented and up to date?

Yes / Somewhat / No

Many SMEs assume they’re compliant, until they’re tested.

8. Do you know how an IT or cyber incident would be handled?

If something goes wrong:

• Is there a clear incident response plan?
• Do you know who is responsible?
• Are response times defined?

Yes / Somewhat / No

9. Is your IT spend predictable and value-driven?

Can you clearly answer:

• What do we spend on IT each month?
• What risks does that spend reduce?
• Does it support compliance, growth, and resilience?

Yes / Somewhat / No

Your Results

🚨0–6 points: High Risk

Your IT setup is reactive and fragile. Cyber Essentials compliance is unlikely, and one incident could cause serious disruption.

⚠️ 7–12 points: Some Exposure

You’re doing some things right, but gaps remain. These gaps are exactly what Cyber Essentials and insurers are designed to uncover.

🔐13–18 points: Well, Prepared

Your IT is supporting the business and aligning with modern security standards. Maintaining this level requires regular review and testing. What “IT-Ready for 2026” Really Means

What's next?

For SMEs, being IT-ready doesn’t mean that you need enterprise complexity. It means:

• Proactive IT Support instead of firefighting
• Clear asset and access control
• Tested backups and recovery plans
• Cyber Security aligned with Cyber Essentials standards
• IT decisions driven by risk reduction and business goals

This is achievable with the right structure and support.

Final Thoughts

2026 won’t punish businesses trying to take the right steps.

It will punish businesses that take no action to protect their data!

Cyber Essentials is quickly becoming the minimum expectation, not the finish line.

If you’re unsure where you stand, an independent IT and Cyber Essentials readiness review can highlight risks, gaps, and quick wins without pressure.

Information is powerful and proactive steps is always cheaper than reactive recovery.

Written by Jamie Kilner

Date: 02/01/2026