As 2026 approaches, Australian organisations face a rapidly changing technology and security landscape. Akamai Technologies’ latest predictions highlight key trends shaping cloud strategy, AI adoption, and cybersecurity.
Jenkins emphasizes that digital sovereignty is redefining cloud strategies. Organisations are seeking autonomy to move workloads, enforce strong data controls, and run AI where it is most effective. With IDC predicting that 80% of APAC CIOs will rely on edge services for AI by 2027, businesses are increasingly adopting multi-cloud and distributed infrastructures to avoid vendor lock-in. This portability not only mitigates risk but is essential for next-generation AI workloads demanding high performance and low latency.
“In 2026, Australian organisations must design cloud and AI systems with portability, resilience, and security at their core to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.”
— Jay Jenkins, CTO, Cloud Computing, Akamai Technologies
Distributed AI architectures will gain traction as inference moves closer to operational systems and users, ensuring faster, more reliable services. Jenkins also highlights a shift in FinOps, where organisations embed real-time cost visibility into AI deployments, allowing cost efficiency to be built into every system from day one.
On the security front, Koh warns that AI is accelerating cyber threats. Autonomous AI-driven attacks will drastically reduce breach timelines, while AI-powered social engineering and API vulnerabilities create new entry points for attackers. Ransomware is expected to become fully democratised, leveraging AI automation for faster, larger-scale attacks across supply chains and data-rich sectors.
“AI is fundamentally changing the economics of cyberattacks in Australia. Organisations must modernise security operations and build operational resilience to keep pace with machine-speed threats.”
— Reuben Koh, Director of Security Technology & Strategy, Akamai Technologies
Australian organisations must adopt AI-powered detection and response tools, modernise API security, and reinforce operational resilience to maintain business continuity. Industries such as finance, healthcare, retail, and public services are particularly at risk and will need zero-trust architectures and automated threat containment strategies to keep pace with AI-enhanced cybercrime.
In 2026, success will depend on organisations’ ability to integrate distributed AI, secure infrastructure, and operational resilience into every layer of digital strategy, enabling businesses to thrive in a hyperconnected, AI-driven world.