Embracing privacy-first to tackle cyber & regulatory risks

OpenText Cybersecurity has highlighted the increasing need for businesses to adopt a privacy-first approach amid intensifying regulatory demands and cyber threats.

Commenting on the current landscape, Greg Clark, Director of Product Management and Data Security at OpenText Cybersecurity, noted that organisations are contending with an array of complex and stringent rules, ranging from US cybersecurity executive orders to HIPAA, GDPR, and AI privacy policies. Clark remarked, "These challenges can strain resources and create operational risks."

This statement comes as businesses prepare to observe Data Privacy Week, an event that highlights the importance of privacy-first strategies. Clark emphasised, "This Data Privacy Week underscores the urgency of embracing an organisation-wide privacy-first approach to shift away from complexity, ensure compliance, and protect data from persistent cyberattacks."

Clark shared recommendations for organisations, stressing the significance of adopting clear, company-wide policies for the secure handling of information, especially with the growing use of generative AI tools. An OpenText survey found that "only 27% of employed respondents use privacy tools and settings to protect workplace information when using GenAI."

Addressing data privacy and security teams, Clark suggested simplifying security infrastructures to enhance information protection, improve cross-team communication, utilise relevant threat insights, and boost transparency. This approach, he pointed out, facilitates unifying threat detection and response, as well as modernising data privacy.

Clark also acknowledged the crucial role of employees in safeguarding data, noting the increasing sophistication of phishing scams and insider threats. He stated, "Whether a large enterprise or a small business, education and awareness across all departments need to be layered on top of AI-powered technologies that detect threats."

He concluded that adopting a privacy-first approach does not necessarily hinder innovation. Instead, Clark suggested that "by streamlining security stacks and policies, organisations can move beyond complexity to unlock more efficient, integrated workflows."