From Jonathan Wright, CPO & CMO, GCX
As enterprises gear up for 2026, four major forces are set to reshape how global organisations secure, manage and optimise their digital environments.
SSE/SASE Takes Over
SSE is overtaking traditional SD-WAN as organisations move toward fully unified SASE platforms for simpler, stronger, cloud-ready security.
Takeaway: Streamline your network + security stack now to stay agile.
Data Sovereignty Fuels ‘De-Clouding’
Tougher data laws — especially across the Far East — are pushing enterprises to localise workloads and rethink cloud strategies. Private networking is back in focus.
Takeaway: Evaluate where your critical data lives and whether hybrid or private models are needed.
AI Becomes the Enterprise Nerve Centre
AI-driven monitoring and analytics are transforming risk management — but they’re also increasing uplink usage and cost considerations for some SASE models.
Takeaway: Leverage AI’s benefits while optimising bandwidth and infrastructure spend.
Post-Quantum Security Moves Into the Now
Threat actors are already harvesting encrypted data today to decrypt tomorrow. Quantum-resilient cryptography can’t wait.
Takeaway: Start adopting PQC strategies to protect long-lived data.
The Bottom Line
2026 will belong to enterprises that simplify platforms, adapt to data laws, embrace AI and prepare for quantum threats.
Those who move early will lead.