January 2026: Landmark IT Standards Released for Data Centres, Keyboards, Health Security, and Urban Mobility

The information technology sector enters 2026 with a significant wave of new and revised standards that will impact energy efficiency, interoperability, cybersecurity, and user experience across data centres, office equipment, healthcare, and intelligent urban transport systems. This fourth installment in our January 2026 series reviews five newly published standards, providing critical context and actionable analysis for industry professionals, compliance managers, engineers, researchers, and procurement specialists seeking to maintain a competitive edge and meet the latest global requirements.

Overview / Introduction

Information Technology and Office Equipment standards underpin the digital backbone of today’s organizations—shaping how data is stored, processed, secured, and interacted with across environments as diverse as cloud data centres, healthcare networks, transport infrastructure, and office systems. Rigorous adherence to these international benchmarks ensures interoperability, safety, accessibility, and energy responsibility on a global scale.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• How the new standards advance data centre energy metrics, health data security, keyboard usability, and the safety of intelligent transport systems.
• The key requirements contained in each specification.
• Who in your organization needs to take action for compliance and best practices.
• The practical impacts and benefits of swift, voluntary adoption.

Detailed Standards Coverage

ISO/IEC 30134-2:2026 – Data Centre Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)

Information technology — Data centres key performance indicators — Part 2: Power usage effectiveness (PUE)

This updated standard specifies Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) as the definitive key performance indicator (KPI) for quantifying energy use efficiency in data centres—one of the IT industry’s most critical sustainability metrics. ISO/IEC 30134-2:2026 defines PUE, introduces standardized measurement categories, and describes precise calculation and reporting methodologies for both standalone and mixed-use facilities.

Noteworthy in this edition are expanded provisions for measuring at the data centre boundary, improved definitions for on-site electricity generation (measured in kWh), a new requirement for accounting unmeasured energy sources, and the introduction of derivatives such as Mixed-use PUE (mPUE), interim PUE (iPUE), and designed PUE (dPUE). The revision mandates 12 months of recording and documentation for energy data, incorporating trend tracking and guidance for categorizing and publicly reporting PUE data.

Who must comply: Data centre operators, facility managers, sustainability officers, IT infrastructure planners, and energy auditors.

Practical implications include more accurate benchmarking, greater transparency in public reporting, enhanced eligibility for green data centre certifications, and concrete guidance for designing energy-efficient facilities from the outset.

Key highlights:

• Unified global definitions of PUE and its derivatives for transparency and comparability.
• Standardized metering, measurement, and reporting protocols.
• New requirements for mixed-use buildings, designed PUE, and public reporting formats.

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 30134-2:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC 9995-11:2026 – Keyboard Dead Keys Functionality and Labelling

Information technology — Keyboard layouts for office systems — Part 11: Functionality and labelling of dead keys

The international office and text-processing environment relies on standardized keyboard layouts for seamless, language-agnostic user experience. ISO/IEC 9995-11:2026 is a pivotal update that precisely defines the functionality of dead keys (keys that modify the effect of subsequent key presses, such as accent marks) and the repertoire of characters entered via dead keys. The specification is highly relevant to word-processing and text-processing application developers, OS vendors, hardware manufacturers, and ergonomic UX teams.

This edition reflects modern Unicode requirements, clarifies the relationship between dead keys and combining characters defined in ISO/IEC 10646, and addresses compatibility for both hardware and virtual keyboards. New content covers alternative dead key handling for different environments, entry of combining characters, handling with digits and mathematical symbols, and the labelling of diacritical marks on keytops.

End users: Device manufacturers, office system integrators, software vendors, localization engineers, accessibility specialists.

Implementing these guidelines greatly enhances consistency, supports multilingual input, and ensures compliance with accessibility standards worldwide.

Key highlights:

• Revised dead key functionality for Unicode environments and flexible input contexts.
• Labelling recommendations for physical and virtual keyboards.
• Harmonized dead key handling for diverse languages and symbol sets.

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 9995-11:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO/IEC 9995-1:2026 – General Principles for Keyboard Layouts

Information technology — Keyboard layouts for text and office systems — Part 1: General principles governing keyboard layouts

As part of the comprehensive ISO/IEC 9995 series, Part 1 lays out the fundamental design principles for keyboard layouts used across all types of information technology equipment, including PCs, workstations, typewriters, ATMs, mobile devices, and on-screen tabular layouts. This update identifies the logical and physical sections of the keyboard, detailing key spacing, numbering, shape, and the rules for placing characters and symbols.

The forth edition brings the standard in line with modern device and software needs. It expands support for Level 4 (accessing more than two alternate characters per key), improves symbol positioning guidelines for four or more levels/groups, and emphasizes usability for Latin-based and multilingual input environments. This provides ergonomic and technical consistency for both hardware and virtual keyboards in an increasingly globalized workspace.

Who should comply: Keyboard and device manufacturers, operating system developers, HCI (human-computer interaction) engineers, national standards bodies.

Compliance results in improved usability, reduced user confusion, streamlined localization, and a greater ability to accommodate future languages and symbol sets.

Key highlights:

• Refined key placement, numbering, and sectioning for modern keyboards.
• Support for up to four levels/groups, accommodating complex inputs.
• Enhanced character and symbol placement principles for consistency.

Access the full standard:View ISO/IEC 9995-1:2026 on iTeh Standards

ISO/TR 17739-1:2026 – Location-Based Services for Urban Mobility Safety

Intelligent transport systems — Roadside infrastructure supported location-based services on nomadic and mobile devices for urban connected automated mobility — Part 1: General information and use case definition

Urban mobility is undergoing a rapid transformation with the advent of connected and automated vehicles, personal devices, and roadside infrastructure. ISO/TR 17739-1:2026 provides general information and a comprehensive suite of use cases for deploying road safety enhancement services via nomadic (mobile, wearable, and smart) devices. Focusing on vulnerable road users (VRU) like pedestrians and cyclists, as well as conventional and automated vehicles, this standard enables real-time exchange of safety information within urbanized areas (e.g., intersections, school zones, roundabouts).

This technical report details interoperability between devices and intelligent transport system (ITS) stations, AI-powered roadside detection, and the supporting communication architecture. It introduces a robust framework for how various actors—personal ITS stations, central ITS stations, connected cars—exchange standardized status and intent messages for improved urban road safety.

Intended users: Municipal transportation authorities, ITS developers, smart city planners, automotive OEMs, IoT and V2X solution vendors.

Benefits include more effective accident prevention, holistic safety coverage even for non-participating users, and harmonization of connected mobility architecture worldwide.

Key highlights:

• Detailed safety-focused use case definitions for urban areas and intersections.
• Guidelines for integrating AI-driven roadside ITS detection with mobile devices.
• Framework for bi-directional status/intent messaging between all road users.

Access the full standard:View ISO/TR 17739-1:2026 on iTeh Standards

EN ISO 27799:2026 – Health Informatics: Information Security Controls in Health

Health informatics — Information security controls in health based on ISO/IEC 27002 (ISO 27799:2025)

Security of health information is a cornerstone for all health providers and custodians of personal health data, especially with the accelerating adoption of cloud-based electronic health records and interconnected medical devices. EN ISO 27799:2026 (aligned with ISO 27799:2025) delivers robust, practical information security controls tailored for healthcare organizations of every size. It builds upon the general framework of ISO/IEC 27002:2022, extending security policies and technical controls to both generic ICT and health-specific equipment.

This standard applies to hospitals, clinics, mobile health units, and care provision in all settings—whether on-premises or remote, and covers all forms of health information, including text, images, and medical device data. Critical areas include business continuity, privacy, legal compliance, cloud security, secure supplier relationships, and incident response. The new edition introduces enhanced controls for digital health devices, better alignment with global privacy best practices, and more detailed implementation guidance for both physical and virtual environments.

Applicable sectors: Hospitals, clinics, residential care, remote health providers, health IT departments, and suppliers managing personal health data.

Adoption secures patient trust, regulatory compliance, streamlined security audits, and preparedness for evolving cyber threats in healthcare.

Key highlights:

• Comprehensive information security controls specific to health informatics.
• Applicability for digital medical devices, cloud, and all health delivery settings.
• Detailed guidance on privacy, legal obligations, and incident handling.

Access the full standard:View EN ISO 27799:2026 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

These January 2026 Information Technology and Office Equipment standards provide forward-looking frameworks for core IT operations, data security, infrastructure efficacy, and user interface consistency. Organizations in data hosting, healthcare, smart infrastructure, and office automation face new expectations and opportunities:

• Data centres: Enhanced energy use measurement and transparent reporting now underpin compliance with sustainability pledges and green energy schemes. Adopting PUE and its derivatives enables benchmarking against peers and facilitates access to eco-certifications.
• Keyboard manufacturing and system software: Consistent keyboard layouts and behaviour improve accessibility, save on localization costs, and minimize support issues. Swift compliance is critical for OS vendors and device producers targeting a global market.
• Urban mobility and transport: The rapid evolution of ITS and V2X ecosystems require integration with AI-driven sensors and interoperability frameworks. Compliance is crucial for municipal governments and automotive OEMs to deliver safer, smarter urban transportation.
• Healthcare IT: Implementing rigorous, health-specific security controls ensures compliance with privacy regulations (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR) and protects against ever-increasing cyber threats targeting patient data.

Compliance timeline: Most standards are effective immediately upon publication, but organizations should consult local regulators and supply chain partners for any sector-specific or contractual adoption deadlines.

Benefits of compliance:

• Competitive differentiation and improved public trust
• Reduction in operational risk, energy costs, and cyber exposures
• Streamlined interoperability and global market access

Consequences of non-compliance:

• Legal and regulatory penalties (especially in healthcare)
• Brand/reputational damage from energy inefficiency or security breaches
• Loss of eligibility for sustainability or quality certifications

Technical Insights

Common Technical Requirements

• Energy and Sustainability: Metrics like PUE (and mPUE, dPUE) demand investment in sub-metering, detailed energy tracking, and regular audits for data centres.
• UI/UX Consistency: ISO/IEC 9995 standards require careful design of hardware layouts and driver-level support for multinlingual input, dead keys, and symbol positioning—crucial for modern productivity solutions.
• Security in Health Informatics: Modular controls cover everything from data encryption, off-premises device authentication, and cloud governance to legal documentation and supply chain security.
• Urban Mobility: Integration of sensor data, AI analytics, networked communication protocols, and standardized status/intent messaging is vital for next-gen ITS deployments.

Implementation Best Practices

1. Conduct a standards gap analysis to map current capabilities against new requirements.
2. Integrate measurement and monitoring tools—for energy, security, or input data—into routine operational workflows.
3. Train staff across functions (from facilities management to software engineering) on the updated standards.
4. Establish a compliance plan with clear milestones and reporting responsibilities.
5. Engage with accredited certification and testing bodies (for security, energy, or usability).

Testing and Certification Considerations

• Data centres: Verification of energy data and audit logs; independent third-party certification for PUE claims.
• Keyboards/UI: Product interoperability and localization testing; certification to ISO/IEC 9995.
• Healthcare IT: Security audit, penetration testing, and documentation per EN ISO 27799.
• Transport/IoT: System integration testing and field deployment pilots conforming to ISO/TR 17739-1.

Conclusion / Next Steps

The January 2026 standards in Information Technology and Office Equipment are a testament to the sector’s drive for greater transparency, efficiency, security, and accessibility. Organizations that proactively adopt these specifications will unlock competitive advantages, minimize regulatory risks, and be better positioned to meet the digital demands of tomorrow.

Key takeaways:

• Review your current policies and systems against these 2026 standards.
• Update procurement and training to reflect new requirements in energy management, data security, and keyboard design.
• Leverage the full, authoritative content via iTeh Standards to ensure correct interpretation, robust documentation, and secure compliance.

Explore these and other critical Information Technology and Office Equipment standards for January 2026:Browse iTeh Standards

Stay informed on each installment in our standards update series. Your commitment to standards compliance will empower your organization to deliver safer, smarter, and more sustainable technology solutions in 2026 and beyond.