Rebecca Harness, CISO at Deltek, lays out her predictions for the built environment in 2026
Compliance by design, not by burden
For AEC firms, compliance requirements will move from being a check-box exercise to a competitive driver. Everything from building standards and sustainability benchmarks to data privacy and auditability will need to be built into the blueprint of firms’ operations. Further, as AI continues to shape business transformation, firms will take a more responsible and value-oriented approach to adoption, integrating new technology in ways that strengthen governance, transparency and client trust.
By integrating compliance directly into project workflows, approvals and financial systems, organisations will remove friction, reduce risk and unlock faster project delivery. This puts compliance at the core to the operations of firms and not a hurdle to overcome, empowering teams to innovate confidently while meeting evolving standards seamlessly.
Resilience is the new productivity
The more connected project operations become, the more critical it is to design for continuity. Cloud and SaaS platforms have unlocked agility and collaboration but leaders also need to plan for confident delivery, even in the event disruption. That means investing in operational redundancy, clear communication protocols, and hybrid systems that ensure continuity when core platforms are unavailable.
When projects keep progressing, data stays accessible, client confidence remains high, and teams can switch seamlessly to backup workflows. When deadlines and reputation go hand-in-hand, this mindset turns resilience into competitive advantage.
Security as the enabler of innovation and growth
For too long, security has been seen as the department of slow progress or adds friction to transformation. In reality, it’s the opposite. When designed with intent, security is the foundation that unlocks innovation. It allows organisations to move faster, experiment safely, and deliver with confidence.
In project-based industries where data integrity and client trust are critical, embedding security into the design of systems and processes doesn’t limit creativity, it protects and amplifies it. Security should be seen as a catalyst for continuous progress.”
Responsible AI as the next standard of professional integrity
As AI continues to dominate the technology landscape, the next wave of maturity won’t be defined by how fast firms adopt it, but by how responsibly they integrate it. For architecture, engineering and consulting organisations, the focus is shifting from rapid experimentation to value-oriented, ethical adoption, ensuring that automation strengthens expertise rather than replaces it.
Responsible AI creates a safe, durable foundation that turns rapid innovation into lasting innovation. By embedding governance, transparency and accountability into every stage of implementation, firms can use AI to enhance decision-making, improve client outcomes and reinforce trust.
For project-based industries, the leaders who treat responsible AI as an extension of their professional integrity, and balance creativity with accountability, they’ll be well equipped to set new standards of responsible AI integration.
The post Deltek’s CISO Rebecca Harness makes her predictions for 2026 appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.
