The changes in technology during 2026 gave business owners plenty to prepare for in 2027. AI is becoming more capable, cyber attacks are becoming harder to anticipate and the technology your business relies on more expensive to replace.
AI use among UK businesses doubled in a year, rising from 16% to 32%. Adoption reached 52% among larger organisations, but many businesses are still at an early stage, using AI mainly for straightforward tasks such as generating text and summarising documents.1
In 2027, AI agents will help businesses automate more of the repetitive work behind reporting, customer follow-ups, document reviews and internal processes.
Throughout 2026, we saw more examples of shadow AI. Employees use personal accounts to analyse figures, summarise reports or draft communications without their employer knowing which tool was used or what company information was shared, potentially exposing sensitive data.
Cyber threats also took new forms. AI helped criminals research their targets and create more convincing phishing and impersonation attempts, while attacks on connected refrigeration systems caused disruption across supermarkets in Europe.
The growth of AI infrastructure placed further pressure on the technology market in 2026. Demand from AI data centres contributed to rising memory and storage costs, with Gartner estimating that PC prices would increase by 17% compared with 2025.2 TrendForce expects DRAM supplies to remain tight in 2027, which could make device replacement more expensive and harder to plan.3
Here are four areas to watch in 2027 and what they could mean for your business.
While large enterprises are already using AI to improve productivity and reduce operating costs, many SMEs are still at an early stage or have not started using it at all.1
As AI adoption increases, businesses that continue to delay could fall behind competitors able to work faster, handle more enquiries and increase capacity without immediately growing their teams.
The use of personal accounts or unapproved tools for work, known as shadow AI, can expose financial records, customer details and employee information. Once sensitive data leaves approved systems, the consequences can spread across the entire organisation.
AI can deliver far more value than drafting emails or summarising documents. Automating routine reports, follow-ups and internal queries can reduce administrative costs and free employees to focus on customers and revenue-generating work.
2027 is the time to turn basic AI use into a secure, structured approach that delivers lasting business value.
AI is making cyber attacks faster and more convincing. Criminals can automate parts of an attack, find vulnerabilities more quickly and create phishing messages, calls and impersonation attempts that are harder to recognise.
And once again, cyber attacks dominated headlines throughout 2026. The incident affecting ASOS reportedly began when a criminal posed as a trusted contact and obtained an employee's login details. The attacker then gained access to customer names and contact information, increasing the risk of further phishing and impersonation attempts.
It raises an important question for every business: would your employees verify an unusual request before sharing login details, approving access or making a payment? What verification process does your business have in place?
We regularly remind businesses that verification needs to be a recognised process, not something left to individual judgement. Employees should know how to confirm unusual requests and feel comfortable challenging them.
Recognising a name, voice or email address is no longer enough. High-risk requests should be confirmed through another trusted channel, and employees need to know that pausing to verify is expected, even when the request appears to come from someone senior.
Another wave of attacks affected connected refrigeration systems across Europe. Supermarkets faced rising temperatures, food being removed from shelves and disruption to everyday operations.
The attacks are a reminder to check exactly which devices and systems are connected to your network. The list now extends far beyond laptops, tablets and mobile phones. CCTV, building controls, access systems, manufacturing equipment and other IoT devices all need to be properly managed, regularly updated and protected.
This is where strong cyber security foundations become essential. Cyber Essentials provides every business with an important security baseline. It is no longer a nice-to-have certification. Its controls help protect devices, software and user accounts from common cyber attacks, but they are only the first layer of protection against threats that continue to evolve.
Ask your IT provider what additional security controls your business needs. Continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, employee training and XDR can help identify weaknesses, detect suspicious activity and respond before an incident spreads.
Cyber security and compliance should influence every recommendation your IT provider makes. Before trusting them with your technology and company information, you should also understand how they protect their own organisation.
Ask for evidence. UKAS-accredited ISO 27001 and ISO 9001, Cyber Essentials Plus and NCSC Assured Cyber Advisor status show that a provider's security, processes and advice have been independently assessed. Assured Cyber Advisors must pass an independent assessment and work for a provider accepted under the NCSC Cyber Advisor scheme.
When you choose or review an IT provider, make these credentials part of your routine checks. The company protecting your technology should meet the same security and compliance expectations your customers, auditors and regulators place on you.
Your provider should also help you plan ahead. Regular strategy meetings should cover emerging risks, compliance requirements, business growth, device replacement and changes such as AI adoption.
You should leave those meetings with clear priorities, rather than a list of products to buy.
With costs rising and supplies expected to remain tight, planning device replacements in advance gives you more control. You can spread costs, avoid rushed purchases and choose equipment that will meet the business's needs over the coming years.
It also gives you time to consider warranties, energy efficiency, secure disposal and the ongoing costs of supporting each device.
You should not be expected to plan this alone. A proactive IT partner will guide the process through regular strategy meetings, helping you plan replacements, prepare for growth and make the best use of your technology investment.
AI, cyber threats and the technology market will continue to change throughout 2027. Preparing early can give your business a competitive advantage by helping you use AI securely, strengthen your cyber defences and make informed technology decisions.
Your IT partner should help you turn these priorities into a practical roadmap. It should reflect where your business is heading, the risks and opportunities ahead, and what needs attention now, over the next 12 months and during the next three to five years.
Talk to our team about how we can help you identify your priorities, address the risks and build a technology roadmap for 2027 and beyond.
Call us: 0131 603 7910
Message us: https://www.grantmcgregor.co.uk/contact-us
Sources
1. Department for Business and Trade, AI Adoption Survey 2026: Executive Summary, 29 October 2026.
2. Gartner, Gartner Says Surging Memory Costs Will Reduce Global PC and Smartphone Shipments in 2026, 26 February 2026.
3. TrendForce, Diverging Memory Market Outlook in 2027 as DRAM Supply Remains Tight While NAND Flash Supply Conditions Ease, 30 July 2026.