Privacy Is Fueling the CIO's AI Agenda

Cisco Research Shows How AI Is Reshaping Data Privacy and Governance Jennifer Lawinski • January 27, 2026

Enterprise data privacy and governance are undergoing fundamental shifts as the promised speed and efficiency of artificial intelligence come crashing into the realities of data risk and regulatory uncertainty.

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The Cisco 2026 Data and Privacy Benchmark Study shows how enterprises are weathering this transformation, highlighting ways privacy has moved from a compliance exercise to a cornerstone of enterprise strategy. AI is the primary driver of this evolution, with 90% of companies saying it's driving the expansion of their privacy programs. According to the survey report, 93% plan to invest more to keep pace with the growth of AI and the expectations of both regulators and customers.

And it's growing more costly. This year, 38% of respondents said they spent ...