Benchmark study finds many organizations still rely on fragmented tools and manual processes as IT complexity grows
EZO, a provider of enterprise asset management (EAM) and IT asset management (ITAM) 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% of organizations rely on IT service management or Configuration Management Database (CMDB) platforms as their primary system of record, while 16% 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% 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.
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“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.”
The 2026 State of IT Maturity Report is based on a survey of 50 IT leaders and practitioners across mid-market and enterprise organizations, spanning industries including software, financial services, healthcare, government, education, and manufacturing. Respondents included CIOs, IT directors, IT managers, system administrators, and InfoSec leaders responsible for managing technology infrastructure and assets. Participants were recruited through an independent research panel with findings reported in aggregate.
Additional Key Findings
Automation and integration remain major maturity gaps.
While IT leaders widely recognize automation as a priority, progress remains uneven. Nearly 46% of organizations operate with only limited integrations between tools, requiring frequent manual updates, and just 15% report working within a fully unified IT platform where data flows seamlessly across systems. These gaps create operational inefficiencies: 54% of respondents say preparing audit evidence takes one to three weeks, reflecting the challenge of retrieving data across disconnected systems.
IT asset management is emerging as a critical operational control layer.
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% of respondents identify as final decision-makers for IT investments, highlighting the growing strategic role of IT leaders.
Confidence in IT maturity remains mixed.
Despite increased investment in IT operations, satisfaction levels remain moderate. While 63% of respondents say their IT systems adequately support business goals, 60% 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.
“Organizations will need to treat operational visibility and asset intelligence as strategic capabilities,” Ali added. “When IT teams trust their data and operate on connected systems, they can automate more processes, move faster, and deliver stronger, more scalable outcomes for the business.”
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