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ISACA, the global professional association advancing careers in digital trust, has unveiled its State of Privacy 2025 survey report, shedding light on the escalating stress levels among privacy professionals in India. The report highlights a growing strain on these professionals, fueled by rapidly evolving compliance demands, technological advancements, and resource shortages.
The survey, which drew responses from over 1,600 professionals worldwide, including 126 from India, revealed that 53% of privacy professionals in India find their roles significantly more stressful than five years ago, with 29% reporting a sharp increase in stress. The primary factors contributing to this stress are the fast-paced evolution of technology (76%), compliance complexities (67%), and inadequate resources (57%).
The survey, which elicited responses from more than 1,600 professionals across the globe, including 126 from India, found that 53% of privacy professionals in India find their jobs much more stressful than five years ago, with 29% reporting a sharp increase in stress. The top factors cited for this increased stress are the rapid pace of technological change (76%), complexity in compliance (67%), and lack of resources (57%).
Key Findings
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Stress Levels on the Rise:
- 53% of privacy professionals in India report increased stress compared to five years ago.
- 29% indicate a significant rise in stress, driven by:
- Rapid technological advancements (76%)
- Compliance challenges (67%)
- Resource shortages (57%)
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Training and Awareness Gaps:
- 53% of Indian respondents cite inadequate training as a major concern.
- Only 6% report no privacy training, aligning with global trends.
- Privacy training for new hires is included in 49% of global organizations but slightly higher at 53% in India.
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Privacy Failures:
- Indian organizations reported their top privacy failures as:
- Lack of training or poor training (53%)
- Data breaches (49%)
- Non-compliance with laws and regulations (43%)
- Failure to perform risk analysis (43%)
- Indian organizations reported their top privacy failures as:
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Resource and Budget Challenges:
- 70% of respondents find expert-level privacy professionals the hardest to recruit.
- While 44% of Indian respondents feel their privacy budgets are adequate, 51% anticipate increased funding in the next year.
- Only 37% find it easy to understand privacy obligations, highlighting the need for clearer compliance guidance.
Encouraging Trends
Despite the challenges, Indian organizations are making strides in strengthening privacy programs:
- 81% affirm that their privacy strategies align with organizational objectives.
- 63% believe their boards prioritize privacy adequately.
- 76% of Indian enterprises integrate privacy by design into their applications and services, resulting in greater confidence in privacy teams (68%) and better-staffed technical areas (52%).
RV Raghu, Director at Versatilist Consulting India Pvt Ltd and an Ambassador for ISACA India emphasized on the concept of continuous improvement:
"As India's digital economy grows, organisations must address skill shortages, changing compliance needs, and new technology risks. Training, awareness of privacy, and privacy by design will form the backbone for long-term digital trust," she said.
Safia Kazi, ISACA's Principal of Privacy Professional Practices, said:
When aligned with business goals and seen both as an ethical as well as compliance imperative, an organization can unlock massive value. Of course, best practices, innovative technologies, and frameworks will be fundamental in navigating this moving landscape.