Experts warn that privacy-by-design, strong governance, and resilient digital infrastructure are critical as organisations scale AI and digital-first models
As the world marks Data Privacy Day 2026 on January 28, industry leaders are urging organisations to rethink how data protection is approached in an era defined by artificial intelligence, cloud adoption, and always-on digital operations. What was once viewed primarily as a compliance requirement has now emerged as a core pillar of digital trust, business resilience, and sustainable growth.
With enterprises rapidly deploying AI-driven systems, the volume, velocity, and sensitivity of data being generated has increased dramatically. According to experts, this shift makes privacy and security foundational—not optional—elements of digital transformation strategies.
“Data privacy is the foundation of digital trust in an AI-first economy.”
— Vaibhav Tare, CISO, Fulcrum Digital
“Data privacy has become a foundational pillar of digital trust, especially as enterprises accelerate AI adoption,” said Vaibhav Tare, Chief Information Security Officer at Fulcrum Digital. He emphasised that organisations must move beyond checkbox compliance and embed privacy directly into system architecture, processes, and AI models. “Managing privacy risks in an era of automation requires strong governance, accountable leadership, and a clear balance between innovation and responsible data use.”
The growing complexity of digital environments is also expanding the attack surface for cybercriminals. As businesses adopt cloud-first and AI-driven models, protecting data throughout its lifecycle has become a critical business priority.
“Privacy and cybersecurity must be built into systems by design, not added later.”
— Sunil Sharma, MD & VP – Sales (India & SAARC), Sophos
“Data protection today is not just a regulatory obligation—it’s a fundamental business imperative,” said Sunil Sharma, Managing Director and VP – Sales (India & SAARC) at Sophos. He noted that privacy and cybersecurity must be built into systems by design, supported by continuous monitoring, robust governance, and rapid incident response. Sharma also highlighted the human factor, stressing that a culture of accountability and awareness is as important as technology in mitigating data risk.
“Secure digital infrastructure is critical to maintaining data sovereignty and trust.”
— Narendra Sen, Founder & CEO, RackBank & NeevCloud
Beyond software and policy, experts point to digital infrastructure as a decisive factor in enabling data privacy and sovereignty—especially as countries move toward data localisation regulations.
“Today, data privacy is closely tied to digital infrastructure,” said Narendra Sen, Founder & CEO of RackBank and NeevCloud. He explained that purpose-built, secure data centres play a crucial role in maintaining control over sensitive data, ensuring resilience, and building trust in digital ecosystems. Sen added that future-focused regulation and infrastructure development must strike the right balance between innovation, privacy, and governance.
As Data Privacy Day 2026 highlights, organisations that embed privacy into technology, culture, and infrastructure will be best positioned to earn trust and thrive in an AI-first digital economy.