The dominant factor in 2026 is the extreme demand for computing power for AI, which is “sucking” the component market dry. Manufacturers are allocating the majority of capacity to dedicated HBM memory, which has led to prices for standard DRAM and SSDs rising more than 50% year-over-year in early 2026. RAM now accounts for up to 35% of the cost of new device production, double that of the standard.
CPUs, virtualisation licences and the Proxmox partnership
The situation is also critical for processors. Server chip capacities are virtually sold out at key vendors for the entire year 2030, with prices for server solutions increasing across the board by about 15-20%. For cloud operators, this means a drastic increase in infrastructure renewal costs, which inevitably translates into end prices.
Adding to the hardware challenges is the radical transformation of licensing policies at the dominant virtualization vendors. The era of perpetual licenses is over, and the widespread shift to expensive subscription models has increased the cost of operation for many projects by tens or even hundreds of percent. At Railsformers, we have responded to this pressure by partnering with Proxmox. This platform allows us to eliminate nonsensical licensing fees, plus it offers tools that make technical migration from VMware essentially a routine affair.
In an environment where the cost of technology inputs is rising by leaps and bounds, we are focused on keeping our clients’ projects sustainable. We don’t look for mechanical solutions; we set performance and security parameters to accurately reflect current market realities and don’t waste expensive resources. Transparent communication about external influences is key to building long-term partnerships.
The IT world is changing faster than ever in 2026. We’re ready to help you navigate these changes and ensure that your digital infrastructure remains a competitive advantage, not a financial burden.