IDC's Worldwide Global DataSphere Taxonomy, 2026

This IDC study defines and provides a framework for analyzing the worldwide creation, capture, replication, and consumption of data."Data is now generated by billions of devices and increasingly shaped by AI-driven workloads, creating a landscape that is broader and more complex than ever," says Adam Wright, research manager for IDC's Global DataSphere and Global StorageSphere. "The 2026 Global DataSphere taxonomy distills this complexity into a coherent framework that helps organizations understand the sources and implications of global data creation."