A new year inevitably brings change — especially in IT. Many cyber incidents, compliance failures, and outages aren’t caused by unknown threats, but by known issues left unresolved.

As the UK enters 2026, organisations face a range of deadlines, from platform end-of-life dates to network infrastructure transitions. Below is your practical IT resolutions checklist for 2026, tailored to UK SMEs and growth-focused enterprises.

Plan for Windows Server End-of-Life in 2027

Several widely deployed Microsoft server platforms are approaching their final support lifecycles. In particular, Windows Server 2016 — still running in many organisations — will reach end of extended support on 12 January 2027, after which Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or patches.

This deadline means that if your business still relies on Windows Server 2016 (or other end-of-life server versions), you must prioritise migration or replacement in 2026. Unsupported server infrastructure significantly increases cyber risk, jeopardises compliance (including GDPR requirements), and can void cyber-insurance warranties.

Recommended actions

• Audit on-premise and virtual server workloads.

• Plan migrations to supported Windows Server versions or cloud-hosted alternatives.

• Update backup and disaster recovery plans to match your future server architecture.

Review Legacy Infrastructure

Beyond Windows Server 2016, many organisations still operate ageing mission-critical systems — from old databases to specialised hardware — that may not be supported beyond 2026–27. Conduct an infrastructure risk survey to avoid unplanned outages or security vulnerabilities.

UK PSTN & ISDN Switch-Off Timeline

The retirement of the UK’s Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) — which carries traditional landline telephony and many legacy connectivity services — has shifted several times in recent years. The telecoms industry now plans a full shutdown of PSTN and ISDN services by 31 January 2027.

Key timeline points

• September 2023: stop-sell of new PSTN/ISDN services began — meaning providers increasingly stopped offering new copper lines.

• End of 2025: many providers target moving existing customers before this date to reduce risk and avoid last-minute congestion.

• 31 January 2027: full PSTN/ISDN network switch-off across the UK — meaning any service still reliant on legacy copper networks will cease working.

If your business uses analogue phone lines, alarm systems, lift phones, card payment terminals, or any service tied to PSTN, the time to act is now. Delaying until late 2026 increases the risk of disruption and higher migration costs.

Strengthen Identity Security

Multi-Factor Authentication remains vital, but today’s threat landscape has evolved. Beyond enabling basic MFA, businesses should implement phishing-resistant authentication, conditional access policies, and risk-based monitoring to reduce account compromise. This is especially important as cyber insurance and security frameworks increasingly expect resilient identity controls.

Test Your Backups — Beyond “Checkboxes”

A backup that has never been restored is a liability, not a security control. In 2026, integrate regular restore tests, off-site retention, and disaster recovery planning into your annual IT calendar. Doing this reduces downtime, improves business continuity, and supports compliance.

Reduce Cloud Sprawl & Licence Waste

Cloud adoption continues to grow organically within organisations. An annual audit of cloud services — including unused Microsoft 365 licences and over-permissive access — can improve security while optimising costs.

Improve User Access & Exit Controls

Employee joiner/mover/leaver processes remain one of the most critical yet under-managed areas of IT. Regular access reviews, automated onboarding/offboarding, and role-based permissions help keep systems secure and compliant.

Refresh Security Awareness

Annual training isn’t enough. Staff need ongoing, real-world security education, including simulated phishing exercises and clear reporting procedures.

Eliminate Single Points of Failure

Identify and manage modern single points of failure — from identity providers to internet circuits — as part of your resilience planning.

Update Your AI Usage Policy

AI tools are widely used across businesses, often without governance. A clear AI usage policy protects sensitive data and supports responsible adoption.

Improve IT Documentation

Documentation isn’t just an admin task — it’s a key resilience control. Maintain up-to-date records of system configurations, recovery procedures, and supplier dependencies.

Treat Compliance as the Floor

Frameworks like Cyber Essentials are a baseline, not the finish line. True security maturity requires continuous review, layered controls, monitoring, and testing.

Final Thought

Many IT failures are predictable — and preventable. A structured annual IT review is one of the most effective ways to control cost, reduce cyber risk, and support long-term growth.

At Meta Eagle, we help UK businesses turn these resolutions into practical, measurable actions through proactive managed IT services, roadmap planning, and compliance-driven support. If you’re unsure where your organisation stands, that uncertainty itself is a signal to act now.