IT Procurement Statistics & Trends, 2026

A practical reference for IT buying decisions

These statistics bring together recent, named research that helps frame the environment around a technology purchase. Each figure links directly to its original publisher and is dated so readers can assess it in context.

The figures

Six IT procurement statistics to know

$6.37T

Forecast worldwide IT spending in 2026

Gartner forecasts global IT spending will reach $6.37 trillion in 2026, up 14.2% from 2025. Buyers are making choices in a market shaped by accelerating investment in AI infrastructure, cloud platforms, and intelligent applications.

Source: Gartner, July 2026 ↗

$822B

Forecast data center systems spending in 2026

Gartner forecasts worldwide spending on data center systems will reach $822 billion in 2026, with AI infrastructure a major driver. Capacity, operating responsibility, and supplier commitments need to be considered alongside the initial platform decision.

Source: Gartner, July 2026 ↗

31%

Breaches starting with a software vulnerability

Verizon found that 31% of breaches in its 2026 reporting dataset began with a software vulnerability, making it the leading initial access vector. Procurement needs to account for patching expectations, software dependencies, and the speed of remediation.

Source: Verizon DBIR, May 2026 ↗

48%

Breaches involving a third party

Verizon reported that 48% of breaches involved a third party, up from roughly 30% in the prior year. Vendor evaluation should examine the access, data, subcontractors, and recovery dependencies a supplier introduces.

Source: Verizon DBIR, May 2026 ↗

$4.99M

Global average cost of a data breach

IBM and Ponemon Institute reported a $4.99 million global average breach cost in 2026, a record high and a 12% increase from the prior year. Security and recovery expectations belong in the buying decision, not after it.

Source: IBM and Ponemon Institute, July 2026 ↗

$20.877B

Reported internet crime losses in the United States for 2025

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reported more than $20 billion in losses from 1,008,597 complaints in 2025. Technology decisions need clear accountability for identity, fraud exposure, escalation, and response.

Source: FBI IC3, April 2026 ↗

Methodology and sources

How this page is maintained

This page uses only published figures from named sources. A statistic is included only when the original publisher identifies the number and report date. Sidekick IT reviews the page regularly and updates figures when a newer primary source is available.

Suggested citation: Sidekick IT. IT Procurement Statistics & Trends, 2026. Updated September 21, 2026. sidekickit.io/it-procurement-statistics