EZO, a provider of enterprise asset management and IT asset management software, today released its 2026 State of IT Maturity Report, a benchmark study examining how IT teams manage growing infrastructure complexity, security demands and operational accountability.
The report reveals a growing gap between the expectations placed on IT teams within enterprise organizations and the tools and processes available to support them. While many teams report progress in modernizing operations, fragmented systems, manual workflows and incomplete asset visibility remain widespread.
According to the study, 53 percent of organizations rely on IT service management or Configuration Management Database (CMDB) platforms as their primary system of record, while 16 percent still depend on spreadsheets to track assets and configurations, highlighting the operational risks associated with disconnected IT environments.
The research also found that only about 21 percent of organizations report real-time visibility into their IT environments with automated alerts, while most operate with partial or delayed visibility across devices, software, and infrastructure.
"As organizations scale, operational visibility becomes critical not only for IT teams but for the business as a whole," said Syed Ali, founder and CEO of EZO. "Leaders increasingly rely on accurate, real-time insight into the assets and systems powering their organizations. Without that visibility, IT teams spend more time reconciling data and responding to issues instead of proactively managing risk, cost, and performance."
While IT leaders widely recognize automation as a priority, progress remains uneven. Nearly 46 percent operate with only limited integrations between tools, requiring frequent manual updates, and just 15 percent report working within a fully unified IT platform where data flows seamlessly across systems. These gaps create operational inefficiencies, with 54 percent stating that preparing audit evidence takes one to three weeks, reflecting the challenge of retrieving data across disconnected systems.
Organizations with stronger IT asset management (ITAM) practices report improved outcomes in areas such as security posture, audit readiness, and license cost management. Integrated platforms that unify asset data can also automate routine processes such as patching, onboarding/offboarding, and license reclamation. The study also found that 44 percent of respondents identify as final decision-makers for IT investments, highlighting the growing strategic role of IT leaders.
Despite increased investment in IT operations, satisfaction levels remain moderate. While 63 percent of respondents say their IT systems adequately support business goals, 60 percent report being only somewhat satisfied with their organization's overall IT maturity, suggesting continued room for improvement.
As regulatory requirements, cybersecurity threats, and infrastructure complexity continue to increase, the report concludes that IT maturity will become a defining factor in organizational resilience.
The 2026 State of IT Maturity Report is available for download here.
