How future proof is your business in 2026?

With older technologies like the PSTN set to retire next year, many businesses are starting to think more about how ready they are for the future. But futureproofing doesn’t have to mean big projects or major investment. Often, it’s about simple steps that strengthen your foundations and reduce the risk of disruption.

Here are some practical ways to prepare your business for the year ahead.

We’re talking a lot about the switch-off at the moment, for good reason – if your business isn’t prepared, you could be left without a service. If you need some advice, get in touch.

1. Start with reliable, modern connectivity

A strong connection is the foundation of a future-ready business. Full fibre broadband gives you fast, stable speeds that make it easier to run cloud services, support hybrid working, and keep your team productive. If you need guaranteed performance or you run critical systems, a leased line offers dedicated bandwidth and consistent reliability.

Upgrading your connectivity is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prepare for the future. It removes many of the bottlenecks that hold businesses back and gives you the flexibility to grow.

2. Move to digital voice services

With the move to all-IP networks – and the inevitable end of the traditional phone network – digital voice/VoIP is becoming the natural choice for businesses of every size. Services like CloudComms give you clearer audio, better reliability and helpful features that support the way teams work today – including mobile and desktop apps, call routing, and the ability to take calls from anywhere.

If you’re looking for something more straightforward, Digital Voice offers an easy first step into all-IP calling. It brings improved quality and modern functionality without the need for complex equipment.

3. Strengthen your resilience with simple backup options

Even the most reliable connections can be affected by unexpected outages. Adding 4G backup is a cost-effective way to keep your business online if your primary connection ever drops. It’s a small step that offers real peace of mind, especially if you rely on cloud services or support hybrid workers. If you’re interested, fill in the form on our site and we’ll be in touch.

4. Take a fresh  look at your online presence

Your website, domain and hosting play a big role in how customers find and trust your business. A secure, well-managed online presence helps protect your brand, ensures your site stays available, and gives customers confidence.

Keeping your domain, hosting and email services with a trusted provider can also make things easier to manage, reducing the number of systems and bills you need to keep track of.

5. Review your cloud and hosting setup

As more businesses move services and applications to the cloud, it’s worth checking whether your current setup still meets your needs. For some, cloud hosting or IaaS offers a flexible way to scale. For others, colocation is a good option if you need more control or want to take advantage of specialist data centre facilities.

The key is choosing the approach that suits your growth and simplifies your IT, not complicates it.

6. Support your hybrid-working needs

Hybrid working is now a normal part of business life. Making sure your team has the right tools helps them stay productive wherever they are.

Reliable connectivity, digital voice services, collaboration platforms and secure remote access all play a part. The right combination keeps your business agile, supports employees, satisfies customers, and helps you adapt quickly when things change.

7. Choose partners who help you grow responsibly

Futureproofing isn’t just about technology. It’s also about choosing suppliers and partners who support your long-term goals. That might mean working with businesses that reinvest their services, prioritise responsible practices, or take steps to reduce their environmental impact.

That’s why we think Zen is a smart choice. We’re a certified B Corp and carbon neutral, with a clear purpose: to do right for people and planet. Our HQ and data centre run on 100% renewable electricity, and we reinvest our profits back into our people, our network and our community.

Making sustainable, well-informed choices today helps build stability and trust for the future. And we’re here to support you.

If you’d like help reviewing where your business stands today, our team is here to make the next steps clear and straightforward. Get in touch, and we’ll be happy to help.