As organisations observe Data Privacy Week from January 26 to 30, with Data Privacy Day on January 28, industry leaders stress that trusted, resilient data is no longer optional it is essential for secure innovation, AI adoption, and business continuity.
Data Privacy Week 2026 arrives at a defining moment for enterprises navigating rapid digital transformation. With artificial intelligence moving from experimental hype to real-world deployment, data has become both the most valuable asset and the most significant risk for organisations worldwide. As a result, data privacy and resilience are now inseparable from business strategy, innovation, and trust.
“True data resilience starts with trust and control,” said Rick Vanover, Vice President of Product Strategy at Veeam Software. “As we mark Data Privacy Week, we must empower organizations to take charge of their data protecting privacy, ensuring security, and unlocking value at every turn. In today’s digital era, trusted data is the cornerstone of both privacy and progress.”
From cloud-first architectures and hybrid work environments to AI-driven decision-making, enterprises are generating and consuming vast volumes of sensitive data. While these technologies enable agility and growth, they also amplify exposure to breaches, data loss, and compliance failures making resilience a board-level concern rather than an IT afterthought.
Trusted Data: The Gateway to AI and Innovation
As organisations increasingly look to AI for efficiency, automation, and competitive advantage, the quality and integrity of data has taken centre stage. According to Vanover, secure, governed, and trustworthy data is the foundation not only for regulatory compliance, but also for safe AI adoption and transformative business outcomes.
“Organizations that ensure their data is secure, governed, and trustworthy lay the foundation not only for compliance, but also for safe AI adoption and transformative business outcomes,” he noted. “Empowering organizations with trusted data enables innovation, builds resilience, and unlocks the true promise of AI for our businesses and society.”
However, the rapid pace of AI adoption has also exposed a critical challenge: many organisations are attempting to innovate without first strengthening their data resilience foundations.
Walking the AI Tightrope
Reflecting on the evolution of Data Privacy Day, Andre Troskie, EMEA Field CISO at Veeam Software, highlighted how AI has shifted from buzzword to business reality placing unprecedented pressure on data strategies.
“It’s been a big year since the last Data Privacy Day. AI has transitioned from runaway hype into a real business advantage putting data squarely under the spotlight,” Troskie said. “There’s only one catch. Organisations have to learn to walk the tightrope between keeping data secure, without compromising usability.”
Troskie warned that immature data resilience is no longer just a security risk it has become a major barrier to unlocking AI’s true business value. Fear around data exposure, misuse, and compliance is holding organisations back, even though proven solutions already exist.
The Case for Strong Data Resilience Foundations
Despite the narrative of a “new era” driven by AI, experts caution that success still depends on fundamentals that have long defined strong data protection strategies. Impact assessments, data standardisation, governance frameworks, and continuous validation remain critical to sustaining trust and resilience.
“If the nearly two decades of Data Privacy Day have taught us anything, it should be to never neglect the foundations of data resilience,” Troskie emphasized. “This should not be treated as a yearly reminder, but as an ongoing observance. Straying too far into new technology like AI without the basics in place can only spell trouble.”
Resilience as a Business Imperative
Beyond prevention, resilience is also about recovery. Vanover underscored that organisations must have confidence in their resilience technologies and practices to ensure continuity even when things do not go as planned.
As Data Privacy Week 2026 unfolds, the message from industry leaders is clear: privacy, resilience, and trusted data are the bedrock of digital progress. Organisations that invest in strong data foundations today will be better equipped to innovate securely, adopt AI responsibly, and keep their businesses running no matter what challenges lie ahead.
