New Gartner® Report Tackles Securing Data in the GenAI Era

In our opinion, a new report by Gartner, Security Leaders’ Guide to Data Security in the Age of GenAI, delivers a clear message: generative AI is reshaping the future of enterprise data protection.  

According to Gartner:  

By 2026, 75% of organizations running generative AI (GenAI) initiatives will reprioritize their data security efforts, shifting their spending from structured data security initiatives to unstructured data security initiatives.  

By 2027, at least one global company will see its AI deployment banned by a regulator for noncompliance with data protection or AI governance legislation.

These predictions shed light on the urgency for security leaders to adapt now before innovation outpaces protection.

Why Business-Driven Data Security Matters Now

Effective data security must be grounded in governance and risk assessments that translate threats into business priorities. This approach ensures executive alignment, reduces disruption and improves ROI. Once that foundation is set, organizations can scale key capabilities such as data discovery, automated classification and Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) to help manage risk across hybrid and multicloud environments.

Global regulations like GDPR, CCPA, Brazil’s LGPD and China’s PIPL are also evolving quickly, all while AI adoption is intensifying scrutiny. Enterprises must modernize privacy and retention strategies, implement frameworks like TRiSM (Trust, Risk, and Security Management) and prepare for future challenges such as post-quantum cryptography. Legacy, tool-centric approaches such as traditional DLP are no longer enough. Gartner discusses the need for integrated platforms, AI-enhanced controls and proactive processes that safeguard sensitive data while supporting innovation.

Forcepoint’s Integrated Approach to Data Security

We believe Forcepoint follows Gartner insights by helping enterprises implement a comprehensive approach to securing sensitive data.

With Forcepoint DSPM, organizations gain visibility into their data landscape, discovering and classifying sensitive information across hybrid and multicloud environments. This ensures they understand where their most critical assets reside, who’s accessing them. how they are accessed and where risks emerge.

Forcepoint DDR adds a proactive layer of defense by detecting data risks and threats dynamically by examining all data-in-use. By surfacing early warning signs of exfiltration or misuse, DDR helps security teams stop potential breaches before they escalate into costly incidents.

For policy enforcement, Forcepoint DLP applies consistent protection across cloud applications, networks and endpoints. Augmented by Risk-Adaptive Protection, it adapts to user behavior in real time, tightening or relaxing controls as risk scores change. This dynamic approach reduces insider threats while preserving employee productivity.

Preparing for the Future of Enterprise Data Security

In our opinion, this Gartner report makes one theme clear: fragmented defenses will not withstand the pace of generative AI. Security leaders need business-driven, multidisciplinary programs that combine governance, compliance and advanced technologies to protect sensitive data while supporting business growth.