This is what our best-selling labs are telling us about the developer landscape in 2026
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“Last year showed the world where organizations were most vulnerable,” says Tom Butler, COO of go deploy. “This year is showing that companies around the world are increasing training budgets to ensure their teams are ready for what comes next.”
It may not come as a surprise that our best-selling labs focus heavily on cloud infrastructure, security, and automation. Here’s an inside look at what developers and IT teams around the world are training on in 2026, and what it tells us about the skills shaping the industry.
The labs shaping learning in 2026
- Cloud infrastructure and administration
What it teaches: AZ-900T00 teaches the basics of cloud concepts, Azure services, security, governance, and pricing models.
Trend insight: Foundational cloud knowledge is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s essential as organizations accelerate cloud adoption. Its popularity signals that both newcomers and seasoned professionals are ensuring they understand cloud fundamentals before diving deeper.
AZ-104T00 – Microsoft Azure Administrator (Cloud Share)
What it teaches: AZ-104T00 manages Azure subscriptions, resources, storage, virtual networks, identity, and governance.
Trend insight: As more enterprises migrate critical workloads to Azure, administrators with hands-on experience are in high demand. This lab’s popularity shows that operational cloud skills are an expected part of an administrator’s arsenal for more eyes on potential threats and outages.
AZ-305T00 – Design Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions (2024) (Cloud Share)
What it teaches: Advanced architecture design, governance, and integration strategies for complex Azure environments.
Trend insight: Enterprise cloud architecture continues to grow in complexity. Organizations need specialists who can plan resilient, scalable cloud solutions, and AZ-305T00 is a great lab to begin developing this skill set within a team.
- Microsoft 365 & Productivity
What it teaches: Endpoint management, device compliance, and modern device deployment in Microsoft 365.
Trend insight: Hybrid work environments have solidified endpoint security and management as critical priorities. The popularity of MD-102T00 here indicates companies are doubling down on secure device management and operational efficiency.
MS-102T00 – Microsoft 365 Administrator
What it teaches: Administering Microsoft 365 services, managing users, roles, and licenses, and configuring security and compliance settings.
Trend insight: Microsoft 365 remains the backbone of enterprise productivity. Administrators with deep knowledge are key to ensuring smooth, secure operations, making MS-102T00 a must for IT teams.
- Analytics & Automation
What it teaches: Data modeling, visualization, DAX calculations, and reporting using Power BI.
Trend insight: Data-driven decision-making is becoming standard across industries. PL-300T00’s popularity reflects the growing demand for professionals who can turn raw data into actionable insights, like just how much an outage costs the business.
PL-7002 – Create and Manage Automated Processes using Power Automate
What it teaches: Automating workflows, integrating applications, and improving operational efficiency.
Trend insight: Automation is no longer optional. Businesses are using labs like PL-7002 to help streamline processes to stay competitive. The high uptake of this lab shows developers and IT teams are embracing workflow automation as a core skill, while ensuring the systems in place are resilient.
- Security & Compliance
What it teaches: Threat protection, detection, and response using Microsoft Defender XDR tools.
Trend insight: With AI-powered cybersecurity attacks at an all time high, it’s no surprise that cybersecurity remains a top priority as threats evolve. Organizations are investing in proactive defense skills, highlighting the need for hands-on security expertise and SC-5004 is a fantastic training lab for cyberthreat defence professionals.
SC-900T00 – Introduction to Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity (Cloud Share)
What it teaches: SC-900T00 teaches core concepts in security, compliance, and identity management across Microsoft platforms.
Trend insight: Security literacy is essential across all levels of IT. The popularity of this lab shows that even foundational security knowledge is in high demand as companies work to protect their digital assets.
Key takeaways for 2026
- Cloud skills dominate: Azure fundamentals and architecture labs show that cloud adoption continues to accelerate.
- Security is non-negotiable: Both foundational and advanced security labs are popular, reflecting the ongoing threat landscape.
- Automation & analytics are rising: Organizations are investing in efficiency and data-driven insights, pushing skills in Power BI and Power Automate to the forefront.
- Foundational knowledge is still critical: Beginner-level labs remain top sellers, showing that no matter how advanced the technology, strong fundamentals are essential.
- AI and cloud-native architecture are on the horizon: labs in these areas will likely rise in popularity next.
Conclusion
Our best-selling labs offer a snapshot of the tech skills shaping the developer and IT landscape in 2026. For developers, IT leaders, and trainers alike, staying ahead means understanding these trends and aligning skills with the evolving demands of the industry.
The outages and cyberattacks of the past year didn’t just expose technical failures; they exposed skills shortages. Organisations are now reassessing how they train their teams in cloud architecture, security, and operational resilience. Labs like these reflect where investment is already moving, and trainers who adapt early will be best positioned to meet that demand in 2026 and beyond.
Whether you’re leading a team or developing your own skills, these labs offer a roadmap to stay ahead of emerging threats and industry trends. Explore these labs and others on our marketplace to see how your team can stay ahead in 2026.