Press release
AI Fuels Surge in Data Privacy Investments and Redefines Governance, Cisco Reports
News SummaryAI drives privacy transformation: 90% of organizations have expanded their privacy programs and 93% plan to invest more, pointing to how critical
About this update from Cisco Systems, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"News SummaryAI drives privacy transformation: 90% of organizations have expanded their privacy programs and 93% plan to invest more, pointing to how critical privacy is to scaling AI responsibly.Governance evolves for the AI era: Organizations are facing new challenges in data governance and management as they evolve to meet the needs of AI. Two-thirds (65%) struggle to efficiently access high-quality data, highlighting the urgent need for better data hygiene, understanding, transparency, and oversight to build and maintain trust.Cross-border data flows: While there is growing demand for data localization (81%), most say it limits their ability to offer seamless services across markets, and 83% support more harmonized international data transfer rules.SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking and security, unveiled the results of its 2026 Data and Privacy Benchmark Study, showing a striking shift in how organizations approach data privacy and governance. As AI adoption accelerates, nearly all companies are expanding privacy programs and governance frameworks to protect their data and innovate at scale. The growing demand for high-quality data to power AI is exposing gaps in oversight, and raising the stakes for trust, security, and competitiveness. The bottom line: for organizations to succeed in the AI era, scalable and responsible AI strategies must be built through a mature, integrated approach to privacy and data governance.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nCisco surveyed 5,200 IT, technology, and security professionals with data privacy responsibilities across 12 markets* worldwide. The study reveals AI as the primary catalyst driving 90% of companies to report expanded privacy programs, with 93% planning further investment to keep up with the complexity of AI systems and expectations of customers and regulators. Notably, 38% of organizations surveyed spent at least $5 million on their privacy programs in the past year, up from 14% in 2024.AI Raises the Bar for Privacy and Trust, But Governance Is Still EvolvingAn overwhelming 96% of organizations report that robust privacy frameworks unlock AI agility and innovation, while 95% recognize privacy is essential for building customer trust in AI-powered services.This year's report points to a deep structural shift, where trust...