How can aerospace and defense organizations modernize legacy systems without disrupting operations?

Legacy IT infrastructure is one of the industry’s most pressing challenges, limiting data accessibility, slowing AI‑driven analytics and creating operational and security gaps. With 36% of A&D leaders prioritizing infrastructure modernization, organizations are seeking ways to improve performance while supporting emerging technologies. Protiviti supports A&D organizations in modernizing technology foundations so they can reduce risk, improve reliability and accelerate innovation.

What AI adoption challenges are slowing progress for A&D organizations?

A&D executives cite the inability to deploy AI at a competitive pace (29%), uncertain ROI (29%), and increased third-party risk (27%) as their top hurdles. Many organizations also struggle with integration and workforce readiness, making it difficult to scale AI beyond early pilots. Protiviti helps organizations implement responsible AI frameworks and operational strategies so AI delivers sustained, enterprise-wide value.

What cybersecurity risks should A&D leaders prepare for in 2026?

Cyber threats are the #1 near-term risk for the A&D sector, driven by CMMC requirements and rapidly advancing, state-sponsored attack tactics. These attacks increasingly target intellectual property, supply chains and critical systems using methods such as zero-day exploits and AI-enabled reconnaissance. Protiviti helps organizations strengthen cyber resilience, improve third-party oversight and meet evolving regulatory expectations.

Where are aerospace and defense executives planning to invest most in the next two to three years?

The top investment areas include data privacy (48%), cybersecurity (42%) and infrastructure modernization (36%), reflecting the sector’s focus on safeguarding sensitive information and enabling advanced technology. These priorities support improved resilience, readiness for AI and compliance with expanding global regulations. Protiviti helps A&D organizations turn these investment areas into measurable improvements in performance, security and operational agility.

What long-term risks should A&D executives prepare for as they plan the next decade?

The top 10-year challenges include long-term security and privacy concerns (58%), evolving AI deployment risks (41%) and increasing sustainability requirements (38%). These areas reflect expanding regulatory expectations and the growing complexity of autonomous systems and digital platforms.

Top Risks and Opportunities 2027: TMT Industry Insights

5 min read

2027 Executive Perspectives on Top Risks and Opportunities

Growth opportunities look abundant to technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) leaders. Turning them into results is the harder part. Protiviti's 2027 findings show AI moving into core operations faster than many organizations can govern it, pushing leaders toward ecosystem partners for capabilities they cannot, or need not, build in-house. But partnerships alone won't close the gap. AI can't scale on legacy systems, data must be secure yet accessible to autonomous tools, and technology investment creates growth only when it reaches the customer. Read the TMT brief to see what it will take to execute at the speed of disruption.

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Watch the 2027 cross-industry webinar on-demand

Where tech, media & telco leaders see the greatest growth opportunities over the next two to three years

Revenue growth and geographic expansion remain long-standing priorities for TMT leaders, but ecosystem development posted the biggest gain this year. Partners give organizations access to the AI capabilities, platforms, distribution and data that few can build on their own.

83 %

see revenue potential as an opportunity.

60 %

see opportunity in geographic expansion.

74 %

see opportunity in ecosystem development.

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Executing at the speed of disruption depends on secure operations, governed AI, ready data and modern infrastructure, and customer experiences that keep pace. These capabilities help TMT leaders turn growth opportunities into results.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Prioritize, build and embed AI in real workflows, with governance, security and change enablement that build trust and deliver measurable value.

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Technology

Modernize infrastructure and applications across cloud, ERP, data and cybersecurity, connecting technology strategy to execution with speed and control.

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Cybersecurity

Protect data and critical assets across every layer of the organization, from cloud and identity to incident response, so growth and innovation stay secure.

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Data and Analytics

Build modern data foundations and governance so data is trusted, accessible and ready to support analytics, AI and faster decisions.

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Customer Experience

Design and connect experiences across channels that build trust and drive revenue growth, from journey mapping to personalization at scale.

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Technology, Media & Telecommunications

Scale growth, maintain consumer trust and adapt to regulatory scrutiny with support across privacy, regulatory compliance, transactions, cybersecurity and digital transformation.

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Discover our full catalog of insight briefs for additional research findings and expert commentary related to the 2027 report on Top Risks and Opportunities.

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FAQs

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What are the top risks for TMT companies in 2027?

Cyber threats and AI implementation tie for first at 3.50 on a five-point impact scale, followed by disruptive innovation (3.48), workforce skills (3.29) and privacy compliance (3.25). AI implementation rose from 3.05 and disruptive innovation from 3.01, showing AI risk is catching up with AI ambition. Cybersecurity, meanwhile, is increasingly treated as a permanent operating condition rather than a discrete risk program.

Where are TMT companies directing their investments over the next two to three years?

TMT companies rank cybersecurity as their top investment priority at 55%, unchanged from 2026. Advanced data analytics rose to 38% from 25%, the biggest increase of any investment priority, as AI exposes data weaknesses faster than it solves them. Customer experience climbed to 34% from 24%, reflecting a recognition, particularly in telecommunications, that network quality alone may not be enough to secure customer loyalty.

How can TMT organizations get more value from AI?

TMT organizations get more value from AI by strengthening governance, integration and workforce readiness together. 38% rank improving AI governance and accountability as a top priority, followed by integrating AI with existing technologies, processes and the workforce (37%) and better equipping the workforce (34%). Governance is returning to board agendas, with the focus extending beyond policy to accountability, intellectual property, data boundaries, security, agent behavior and measurable business outcomes.

Why does infrastructure and data readiness matter for AI in TMT?

Infrastructure and data readiness matter because many TMT organizations are adding compute-intensive AI workloads to legacy systems, on-premises data centers and cloud platforms not designed for today's demands. That increases pressure on computing capacity, storage, connectivity, cooling and electricity while adding cost and supply chain uncertainty. Data must also be accessible, reliable, well-governed and secure. Moving AI from experimentation to scale may ultimately depend on data and infrastructure readiness.

What long-term risks will shape TMT over the next decade?

Over the next decade, TMT leaders rank AI deployments (58%, up from 53%) and security and privacy (58%, up from 57%) as their top long-term risks, followed by customers and competition (44%, up from 30%). AI and cybersecurity are seen as enduring features of how TMT companies operate and compete, while emerging areas such as quantum computing and quantum-related cyber defense may reshape the risk landscape over time.