Only 14% balance data security with business goals

According to a recent survey by Gartner, only 14% of security and risk management (SRM) leaders are able to effectively secure organisational data assets while simultaneously enabling the use of this data for achieving business objectives.

The survey, which gathered insights from 318 senior security leaders globally, highlights that while 35% of respondents are successful in securing data assets and 21% in using data to meet business goals, just one in seven manages both effectively.

"With only 14% of SRM leaders able to secure their data while supporting business goals, many organisations can face increased vulnerability to cyber threats, regulatory penalties, and operational inefficiencies, ultimately risking their competitive edge and stakeholder trust," said Nathan Parks, Senior Specialist, Research at Gartner.

In light of these findings, Gartner has suggested five strategies for SRM leaders to align their security goals with business objectives effectively. These strategies involve reducing governance-related friction by involving end-users in the creation of data security policies, aligning data security governance with other internal functions, identifying mandatory security requirements, setting parameters around generative AI tools, and ensuring collaboration with data and analytics (D&A) teams to obtain top-down support for security initiatives.

These recommendations are detailed further in Gartner's resource "Infographic; 5 Actions to Balance Data Security With Business Enablement." Additionally, a complimentary webinar aims to educate Chief Information Officers (CIOs) on protecting their organisations from evolving security threats.