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Immuta's 2025 State of Data Security Report Unveils Grave Data Access Issues

Immuta, renowned for its prowess in data security, recently released its fifth annual State of Data Security Report, shedding light on the pressing concerns organizations face regarding data access amid rapid changes in digital infrastructure. Conducted in partnership with UserEvidence, the survey gathered insights from over 700 data leaders and professionals across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. The findings indicate that nearly 60% of organizations struggle to adapt their data management practices in light of evolving demands, a scenario that significantly undermines the returns on their data platform investments.

The Broken System of Data Provisioning

Matthew Carroll, Co-founder and CEO of Immuta, articulated a pressing concern regarding legacy data provisioning systems that have become inadequate. He highlighted that the primary challenges relate to change management, focusing on three critical elements: people, processes, and technology. With the ever-increasing number of users—both human and automated—enterprises find themselves overwhelmed, leading to inefficiencies in providing timely and secure data access. The report emphasizes that manual processes can no longer meet the demands of contemporary data governance.

AI and the Evolving Data Landscape

In the realm of data management, artificial intelligence (AI) is creating a dual-edged sword. While AI necessitates sophisticated data strategies, the report reveals that 60% of respondents believe their organizations are lagging in adjusting to AI-driven data needs. Compounding this issue are traditional challenges in data architecture, with about half of the organizations identifying compliance and privacy as crucial concerns. Furthermore, two-thirds of data leaders report significant hurdles in facilitating secure access to data for authorized personnel. The research highlights a crucial balance that must be struck between data security and accessibility to fully leverage data platforms and AI investments.

Impact on Business Performance

Despite ongoing investments in data platforms, the report uncovers that 64% of data leaders report that data access issues are severely affecting the return on investment for these technologies. The ramifications of these access challenges manifest as negative impacts on business performance, with 31% of organizations missing internal goals, alongside 30% reporting lost revenue and collaboration issues with other business units or external partners.

Complex Access Controls and AI Adoption

Adopting AI technologies demands a robust data provisioning strategy. However, without efficient and secure access to quality data, organizations risk hindering their AI initiatives and missing out on the potential benefits of these transformative technologies. The report reveals that three-quarters of organizations are likely to adopt AI/ML applications within the next year, with nearly half believing these initiatives will dramatically impact their business outcomes. Nevertheless, over half of the data leaders surveyed indicate that their data security frameworks are not keeping pace with AI's rapid evolution.

Strategic Initiatives to Enhance Data Governance

To overcome the identified challenges, data leaders are considering various strategic initiatives aimed at improving data governance, access, and compliance. Some of the likely steps include:

• - Implementing Data Monitoring Systems: To enhance data protection by gaining better insights into data usage.
• - Expanding Cloud Platforms: This initiative will address growing data volumes, promoting flexibility and accessibility for the appropriate teams.
• - Establishing Internal Data Marketplaces: This approach defines roles, rules, and capabilities essential for success in AI initiatives and beyond.

Steve Touw, the Chief Technology Officer of Immuta, reiterated the importance of driving data adoption while maintaining strict controls to prevent oversharing. He called upon data leaders to adopt a new vision of data accessibility that empowers users while ensuring compliance with governance standards.

Conclusion

The 2025 State of Data Security Report serves as a wake-up call for organizations striving to keep up with the complexities of data management in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. By addressing the highlighted data access challenges, organizations can not only enhance their data governance frameworks but also unlock the full potential of their investments in data platforms and AI technologies.

For more insights, the full report is available on Immuta's website.