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As the digital landscape evolves,dataprotection must become a governing business principle.

Without proper investment and support, privacy teams are struggling, and businesses are exposed to unnecessary risks.

While new legislation has initiated pathways to address these issues, achieving compliance remains a struggle for overstretched workforces.

Meanwhile, threats are continuing to evolve, and professionals are struggling to keep pace with adversaries.

Chief Global Strategy Officer of ISACA.

Worryingly, just 38% of European professionals feel confident in their organization’s ability to safeguard sensitive data.

This is hugely damaging for a business’s bottom line.

So, whats driving this crisis of confidence among privacy professionals?

The research reveals some concerning statistics.

This severe underfunding is taking a direct toll on staffing.

And privacy professionals are not just negatively impacted by a lack of funding.

Their situation is exacerbated by the complexities and evolution of the current threat landscape.

The digital world is rapidly changing but is also increasingly ubiquitous throughout workplaces.

Business leaders must acknowledge the challenges their privacy teams are facing as a first step towards implementing meaningful solutions.

Regulation and compliance: challenges and opportunities

The regulatory landscape continues to develop.

These regulations provide a helpful framework for organizations to reassess how they interact with privacy at a fundamental level.

In many cases it is no longer a choice, but a legal business demand.

Theres no doubt that these regulations are a critical step towards creating resilient data protection acrossnetworks.

Organizations who always practice Privacy by Design have seen tangible benefits.

As a result, 58% of those always practicing are highly confident in their teams.

However, compliance is not always straightforward.

As AI continues to rapidly evolve, its role in current and future business practices cannot be overstated.

Privacy professionals are already incorporating AI into their work.

According toMicrosoft, 75% of global knowledge workers are using AI at work.

The technology can offer significant advantages to overstretched professionals by speeding up processes and automating routine tasks.

It also reduces human error, enhancing accuracy and efficiency in privacy management.

However, businesses must deploy AI with caution, as it cannot replace skilled professionals.

Instead, it’s true potential lies in enhancingproductivityand enabling professionals to work more efficiently.

Specifically, AI increases the sophistication of cyberattacks such as phishing, making them harder to detect.

Firstly, to alleviate the understaffing crisis, closing the skills gap is crucial.

Nearly half (47%) of European organizations are already training non-privacy staff to transition into privacy roles.

However, AI must be seen as an enhancement tool, not a replacement for skilled professionals.

This technology is only as effective as the individuals trained to use it responsibly.

Thirdly, businesses must undertake an active role in prioritizing privacy within their organizations.

Privacy is no longer just a compliance checkbox it is abusinessnecessity.

Organizations which fail to invest in privacy risk reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and loss of customer trust.

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The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc.