2025 was the year organizations in all industries – from public safety to utilities to construction – sought out AI-enabled solutions to boost efficiency.
Taking advantage of the latest technology is key to enhancing productivity. Yet, tech deployments have grown more complex. Organizations must stay up to date on the latest software tools while giving employees laptops and tablets with the right processing power to handle advanced AI-powered applications. Plus, employees need time to learn how to best take advantage of new devices and software applications.
Deploying the tech is only the first step.
Organizations now face a greater threat of cybersecurity breaches. In 2025, 72% of business leaders reported experiencing a recent rise in cyber risks. Meanwhile, the cybersecurity skills gap continues to widen. Cyberattacks have grown more sophisticated to the point where they can infect every part of the device from the hardware to the firmware.
In this landscape, two clear trends will dominate tech deployments in 2026. Organizations will prioritize tech partnerships that support end-to-end project delivery and will need to implement layered security strategies that start at the supply chain.
End-to-end Project Delivery Streamlines Tech Deployments
76% of IT sector employers are struggling to find the tech talent they need. This makes it challenging to deploy new technology. Partnering with tech experts who can determine the best solutions for their goals is the first step. Deploying the solutions takes time, though, and training employees in the new tools requires additional support.
It’s no surprise that more organizations are turning to tech partners to support them through this process. Amid the IT talent shortage, it’s crucial to seek out a tech partner who offers end-to-end project delivery. This means one partner who can handle the full spectrum of logistics for a successful tech deployment from identifying the right hardware and software to managing unboxing and trainings to continued consultation that helps the organization stay up to date on the latest tech.
Take a police department, for instance. Working with a tech partner who can help identify the right hardware and set up the necessary software configurations is an important time-saver for short-staffed IT teams. Another time-consuming piece is the management of the full deployment. A statewide police department would need to coordinate shipping new laptops across the state. Once they arrive at the correct location, unboxing the devices and recycling the packaging materials takes time. Plus, they need to configure the docking stations for each vehicle and ensure an ergonomic setup for all officers. A tech partner who can support all these phases and help the department stay up to date on technology for the year ahead is crucial to maximize productivity.
Partners who also offer flexible payment models can simplify the deployment process. Organizations with fixed budgets often struggle to gain CAPEX funding for technology. Solutions, such as TOUGHBOOK as a Service, help overcome this challenge by offering an OPEX option that spreads the cost of deployment over several years for a more budget-friendly option. This also makes it easier to upgrade technology in the years ahead to ensure the organization stays on top of the latest trends.
The Supply Chain: The Key Starting Point for a Layered Security Strategy
As organizations deploy devices on a 1:1 device to worker ratio, they give employees access to time-saving AI-based applications but also put themselves at greater risk from cyber threats. Traditional cyberattacks happen at the OS level, like when an employee accidently clicks on a bad link that allows malicious software to download and corrupt the system. While these types of threats are still common, organizations must also protect themselves against more sophisticated attacks that target the hardware and firmware levels of a device.
Some of these attacks start at the supply chain stage before an organization even receives the device. Devices that leave the factory don’t go straight into the customer’s hands. If attackers were to gain access to the device hardware and insert small microchips, they could receive the device’s data as soon as utility workers begin using them. This puts the utility’s tech infrastructure and sensitive customer data at risk. Attackers could systematically power off their laptops as utility workers attempt to quickly restore power during a hurricane.
Bad actors can also compromise device hardware once organizations have access to the device. A malicious USB inserted into the laptop could compromise the device as construction workers attempt to access the blueprints for an upcoming build, hindering efficiency as the industry grapples with a looming productivity gap.
The implications of these below-the-OS breaches are significant, costing organizations up to $100 million and inhibiting police officers’ and utility workers’ ability to respond efficiently. Achieving true resilience requires deploying a layered strategy that secures vulnerabilities from the supply chain level to the on-device hardware and firmware.
When implementing a security strategy, it’s critical to consider one that allows for supply chain security as well as endpoint visibility and protection:
- Embedded hardware-level tamper detection at the BIOS level identifies threats before they reach the operating system. Strict controls ensure only approved hardware can operate on the device, preventing malicious USB devices from accessing data. And real-time alerts notify users of supply chain breaches before they start using the device.
- Firmware integrity monitoring and risk assessment helps prevent threats at the lowest levels of the device, ensuring compliance with mandates from regulatory bodies like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. Solutions that can quickly detect threats as they move from the OS to firmware help extend the longevity of a device.
- AI-powered endpoint protection, response, and remediation prevents ransomware and zero-day threats in real-time even when devices are offline. It’s important to identify a solution that can isolate an attack and prevent disruption to the entire network if a breach does occur.
- Firmware-embedded endpoint visibility and self-healing controls help maintain compliance and remote control even when a device goes off the network. This type of solution helps organizations manage and track all devices from one platform, allowing them to respond to threats in real time.
2026: Strategic Tech Deployments Dominate
With tech deployments growing more critical and subsequently complex, it’s more important than ever for industries to work with tech partners who can support the full deployment cycle and help implement a robust security strategy that begins at the supply chain.
A strategic approach to tech adoption will help organizations benefit from productivity enhancements without having to worry about the complexities of a deployment or cyber threats.
