Survey: Enterprise IT Shifts Off Premises as AI Reshapes Data Centers
Techstrong IT, Thursday, July 30th, 2026
Third-party data centers now host more enterprise workloads than corporate facilities for the first time, driven by AI capacity demands.
According to Uptime Institute's 2026 Global Data Center Survey, 46% of enterprise workloads now run in third-party environments while enterprise-owned facilities account for 44%.
AI infrastructure is reshaping facility design, with average rack density exceeding 11 kilowatts for the first time, and nearly a quarter of operators managing racks exceeding 30 kW.
Data center operators remain cautious about AI autonomy in facility control, with confidence declining year-over-year. Staffing challenges persist, particularly for electrical specialists and junior personnel, as companies struggle to find qualified candidates needed for complex AI infrastructure.