10 in-demand IT roles for 2026

Hiring IT talent in 2026 is still shaped by the same reality many employers have faced for years: demand stays high, skills are niche, and strong candidates are rarely on the open market for long. If your hiring plan relies only on applicants, you usually end up competing for the same small pool of active jobseekers.

In this blog, we break down 10 IT roles we expect employers to hire most in 2026, based on what we see across IT support, infrastructure, cloud and cyber security recruitment.

If you're new to hiring IT talent or want to get the full picture first, our IT recruitment guide is a good place to start.

Why certain IT roles will be in high demand in 2026

The roles on this list are not “new”. What’s changed is the pressure on IT teams to deliver stability, security, and scale while managing tight resources. That’s why demand keeps leaning towards roles that protect systems, keep platforms running, and reduce risk.

Below are the main drivers behind demand, so you can sense-check where your own hiring needs are likely to land.

Cloud adoption and hybrid infrastructure maturity

Most organisations are now past the early migration stage. In 2026, the focus is on running hybrid environments properly, with fewer outages, better performance, and clearer ownership across platforms.

This shift increases demand for engineers who can manage cloud platforms day-to-day, support legacy systems where needed, and keep services stable while teams continue to modernise.

Rising cyber security risk and compliance pressure

Security is not just a cyber team issue anymore. It affects infrastructure, identity, cloud platforms, vendors, and end user access. As threats rise and compliance requirements tighten, employers need more hands-on specialists, not just policy owners.

That’s why roles like cloud security, IAM, SOC, and network security stay hard to hire. These candidates also tend to be passive, which changes how you need to approach outreach and hiring speed.

Skills shortages across infrastructure and security roles

Skills shortages are still strongest in areas where experience takes time to build. Many employers want candidates who can walk in, take ownership, and make things safer or more reliable quickly.

When supply stays tight, time-to-hire increases and salary expectations rise. It also makes role clarity more important, because vague job specs attract the wrong candidates and slow everything down.

Increased reliance on scalable and resilient IT systems

Downtime is expensive. Poor performance impacts customers. Weak processes create risk. In 2026, IT teams are expected to keep services available while also supporting business change.

This increases demand for roles that improve resilience, monitoring, incident response, and IT service delivery, especially in organisations scaling quickly or managing complex tech estates.

Top 10 in-demand IT roles for 2026

This list focuses on the IT roles employers consistently hire for across cloud, infrastructure, networking, IT operations, and cyber security. We’ve included practical detail to help you scope each role clearly and avoid combining multiple jobs into one advert.

1. Cloud infrastructure engineer

Cloud infrastructure engineers remain one of the most in-demand IT roles as organisations continue to operate complex hybrid environments. In 2026, this role focuses less on migration and more on performance, availability, and cost control.

Employers rely on cloud infrastructure engineers to keep platforms stable, secure, and aligned with business needs. These professionals often work closely with security, networking, and application teams.

Core skills employers look for:

• AWS, Azure, or GCP environments

• Networking and identity management

• Hybrid and multi-cloud support

• Monitoring, resilience, and cost management

Common certifications:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect

• Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert

• Google Professional Cloud Architect
  
  

2. Cloud security engineer

Cloud security engineers are in demand because cloud environments are now business-critical and often complex. In 2026, this role is less about “adding controls” and more about building secure cloud services that teams can actually run at speed without creating risk.

Employers hire cloud security engineers to strengthen IAM, encryption, monitoring, and security posture across cloud platforms. This role often sits between security and infrastructure teams, so communication and stakeholder skills matter as much as technical depth.

Core skills employers look for:

• Cloud security posture management (CSPM)

• IAM, network security, encryption, and key management

• Secure cloud architecture and shared responsibility understanding

• Risk, audit support, and incident response readiness

Common certifications:

• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

• AWS Certified Security Specialty

• Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate

• CISSP (often for senior hires)
  
  

3. Information security analyst (SOC and incident response)

Information security analysts, especially SOC and incident response profiles, stay in high demand because threats keep rising and internal teams need faster detection and response. In 2026, employers look for people who can triage alerts properly and make clear decisions under pressure, not just monitor dashboards.

These hires protect your business day-to-day. They support threat detection, incident handling, and continuous improvement of security operations. For many employers, the challenge is finding analysts with real experience rather than purely certification-led CVs.

Core skills employers look for:

• Threat monitoring and detection workflows

• Incident response processes and investigation support

• SIEM tooling and alert triage

• Security operations reporting and playbook use

Common certifications:

• CompTIA Security+

• CompTIA CySA+

• GIAC (GCIA, GCIH)

• Blue Team Level 1 (BTL1)
  
  

4. IAM and zero trust engineer

IAM and zero trust engineers are becoming essential as organisations tighten access controls and reduce reliance on traditional perimeter security. In 2026, this role focuses on ensuring the right people have the right access at the right time, across cloud, on-premise, and SaaS environments.

Employers hire IAM and zero trust engineers to reduce identity-based risk, manage privileged access, and support secure remote and hybrid working models. This role often works closely with security, infrastructure, and compliance teams.

Core skills employers look for:

• Identity and access management platforms

• Privileged access management (PAM)

• Zero Trust architecture and principles

• Directory services, SSO, and federation

Common certification:

• Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator

• Okta Professional or Administrator

• CyberArk Defender or Sentry

• CISSP (identity and access domains)
  
  

5. Cyber security engineer (network and infrastructure)

Cyber security engineers focused on infrastructure and networks remain difficult to hire because the role requires hands-on technical experience rather than purely theoretical knowledge. In 2026, employers rely on these engineers to secure hybrid estates without disrupting performance.

This role typically owns firewalls, network security tooling, vulnerability management, and secure infrastructure design. Many organisations hire cyber security engineers to strengthen resilience rather than respond after incidents occur.

Core skills employers look for:

• Network and perimeter security

• Firewalls, IDS and IPS technologies

• Vulnerability management and remediation

• Secure infrastructure design

Common certifications:

• CISSP

• CCNP Security

• CompTIA Security+

• GIAC Network Security (GSEC)
  
  

6. Senior cloud infrastructure architect (enterprise)

Senior cloud infrastructure architects are in demand as organisations move beyond single-cloud environments and focus on long-term platform design. In 2026, this role is less hands-on and more strategic, supporting scalability, governance, and resilience across the business.

Employers hire senior architects to define cloud standards, support multi-cloud strategies, and guide engineering teams. These hires often work closely with senior leadership and are critical to reducing technical debt over time.

Core skills employers look for:

• Enterprise cloud architecture design

• Multi-cloud and hybrid strategy

• Governance, resilience, and availability planning

• Stakeholder and technical leadership

Common certifications:

• AWS Solutions Architect Professional

• Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert

• TOGAF (for enterprise environments)
  
  

7. Network engineer or network architect

Network engineers and architects remain in demand as organisations support hybrid connectivity, cloud platforms, and secure remote access. In 2026, the focus is on reliability, performance, and secure connectivity rather than purely on-site networking.

Employers rely on network specialists to design and maintain resilient networks that support cloud services, data centres, and remote users. This role often overlaps with security and infrastructure teams.

Core skills employers look for:

• Routing and switching

• SD-WAN and modern connectivity

• Network security fundamentals

• Hybrid and cloud connectivity

Common certifications:

• CCNA

• CCNP Enterprise

• Juniper JNCIP

• Fortinet NSE
  
  

8. Systems administrator or infrastructure engineer

Systems administrators and infrastructure engineers remain critical to day-to-day IT operations. In 2026, this role supports both traditional server environments and cloud-based platforms, often acting as the bridge between legacy systems and modern infrastructure.

Employers hire systems and infrastructure engineers to keep services running, manage patching and access, and support internal teams. These roles are often broad, which makes clear role definition especially important when hiring.

Core skills employers look for:

• Windows and Linux server environments

• Active Directory or Entra ID

• Virtualisation platforms

• Patch management and access control

Common certifications:

• Microsoft Windows Server Hybrid Administrator

• Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA)

• VMware VCP
  
  

9. IT project manager (infrastructure, cloud, and cyber)

IT project managers remain in demand as organisations deliver infrastructure upgrades, cloud migrations, and security programmes. In 2026, employers value project managers who understand technical risk as well as timelines and stakeholders.

This role coordinates delivery across internal teams and third-party suppliers, ensuring projects land on time without disrupting live services. Strong communication skills are as important as formal project methods.

Core skills employers look for:

• IT infrastructure and cloud delivery

• Risk and stakeholder management

• Vendor and supplier coordination

• Hybrid delivery approaches

Common certifications:

• PRINCE2 Practitioner

• PMP

• AgilePM

• ITIL 4 Foundation
  
  

10. ITSM or ServiceNow administrator

ITSM and ServiceNow administrators are increasingly important as organisations standardise service management and automation. In 2026, employers rely on these roles to improve incident handling, asset visibility, and service workflows.

These professionals support service delivery teams by maintaining platforms that reduce friction for users and improve reporting for leadership. Demand continues to grow as ServiceNow adoption increases.

Core skills employers look for:

• IT service management processes

• ServiceNow platform administration

• Workflow automation

• CMDB and asset management

Common certifications:

• ITIL 4 Foundation

• ServiceNow Certified System Administrator

• ServiceNow Implementation Specialist
  
  

Hiring in 2026 continues to be shaped by skills shortages, rising security pressure, and increasing complexity across cloud and infrastructure environments. The roles outlined in this blog reflect where employers are consistently investing to protect systems, maintain performance, and support business growth.

For hiring managers, the key takeaway is clarity. Clearly scoped roles, realistic expectations, and an understanding of where demand sits will help you hire faster and reduce competition for the same limited talent pool. Many of the roles listed here are filled through passive candidates, which means your approach, messaging, and timelines matter more than ever.

If you want a wider view of how these roles fit into a complete hiring strategy, from defining requirements through to attracting and retaining IT talent, our ultimate guide to IT recruitment covers every stage in detail and is a good place to continue.