What to Include in Your 2026 IT Budget: 6 Essentials Every Business Should Plan For
Q3 is here, which means it’s officially IT budgeting season.
Whether you’re running a small business, managing operations at a nonprofit, or overseeing infrastructure at a growing healthcare or education org—your 2026 budget needs to do more than keep the lights on.
With cyber threats evolving, cloud tools expanding, and AI-powered everything around the corner, your technology plan should reflect not just maintenance—but growth, protection, and innovation.
At Pacific IT Support, we help organizations like yours build smart, strategic IT budgets that stretch every dollar and reduce surprise costs later. Here’s what we recommend every business include in their 2026 IT budget (and why it matters).
Read also: How IT Consulting Can Transform Your SMB
Device & Hardware Lifecycle Planning
If you’re still waiting for a laptop to die before replacing it, you’re gambling with productivity—and security.
What to include:
- Replacement schedule for laptops, desktops, servers
- Business-grade routers, firewalls, and switches
- Mobile devices and accessories
- Monitors, docking stations, and peripherals
- Budget for new hires’ equipment
Pro Tip: Plan a 3–5 year refresh cycle to avoid surprise expenses.
Read also: How to Budget IT for Your SMB
Cybersecurity Tools & Services
Cyberattacks in 2025 are more sophisticated—and more expensive to recover from. Investing in layered security now protects your team, your clients, and your reputation later.
What to include:
- Endpoint protection (EDR/XDR)
- Email & phishing protection
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Password manager licenses
- DNS filtering
- Security awareness training
- Cybersecurity insurance (or support documents for renewals)
Pro Tip: Budget for quarterly phishing simulations to keep your team sharp.
Read also: Cybersecurity Vulnerability Assessment: A Must for SMBs
Cloud Services & SaaS Subscriptions
Whether you’re migrating from on-premise or optimizing existing tools, cloud services are the new standard for agility, cost savings, and collaboration.
What to include:
- Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace licenses
- Cloud storage and file sharing
- Line-of-business SaaS tools (CRM, billing, HR, etc.)
- Virtual desktops or cloud servers
- Cloud backup & disaster recovery tools
Pro Tip: Budget in licensing audits to avoid overpaying for unused accounts.
Read also: How to Choose the Right IT Partner for Your Company
Backup & Disaster Recovery Planning
It’s not enough to “have a backup.” You need to test it, scale it, and make sure it matches your actual business needs.
What to include:
- Daily offsite or cloud backups
- Disaster recovery services or DRaaS
- Business continuity planning
- Regular restore testing
Pro Tip: Add a line item for recovery time objective (RTO) planning—so you know how fast you need to bounce back if disaster strikes.
Read also: What is a Disaster Recovery Plan and Why Your Business Needs One
Read also: The Essential Guide to Business Data Backup
IT Support & Managed Services
If you’re still paying for IT on a break/fix basis, consider budgeting for Managed Services in 2026.
Why it’s smarter:
- Predictable monthly costs
- 24/7 monitoring and maintenance
- Faster issue resolution
- Fewer emergencies
- Strategic IT planning included
Pro Tip: Managed Services can replace or supplement in-house IT at a fraction of the cost—especially for growing SMBs and nonprofits.
Read also: What IT Management Can Do for Your Business
Read also: How Often Should Your SMB Replace IT Equipment?
Training & Compliance Preparation
Technology is only as strong as the people using it. Ongoing training ensures your team isn’t your weakest link.
What to include:
- Security awareness & phishing training
- Compliance tools (HIPAA, FERPA, GDPR)
- Internal policy development (BYOD, remote access)
- Workshops or onboarding for new tools
- Audit preparation & documentation services
Pro Tip: Budget time for internal tech audits before official compliance inspections.
Read also: Guide: Ensuring Compliance for Your Business
Your 2026 Budget Should Answer These Questions:
- How will we stay secure and compliant?
- Where are we overspending (or underplanning)?
- What’s the cost of NOT upgrading this system?
- Is our IT partner helping us plan or just fixing things?
Read also: Enhancing Your Internal IT Team with Co-Managed IT Services
Need Help Building a Smarter IT Budget?
At Pacific IT Support, we help organizations across industries audit their current tech, identify hidden costs, and create scalable, realistic plans for growth.
We’ll help you:
- Evaluate hardware and software needs
- Forecast expenses with zero surprises
- Justify investments to leadership
- Stay compliant and protected
- Align your IT with your mission
📩 Ready to budget better for 2026? Let’s build your IT roadmap together.