The ISACA State of Privacy 2025 survey highlights that privacy professionals are facing escalating stress due to the increasing complexity of their roles. According to the survey, 63% of privacy professionals say their jobs have become more stressful over the past five years, with 34% reporting that it has become significantly more stressful. The primary factors contributing to this stress include the rapid evolution of technology, compliance challenges, and resource shortages. These challenges are compounded by a complex international legal and regulatory environment, making it difficult for privacy professionals to maintain compliance while ensuring data security.
The survey also identifies several obstacles faced by privacy programs, including a lack of competent resources and the challenge of managing risks associated with new technologies
Many privacy professionals report that their organizations’ privacy budgets are underfunded, with 43% stating their budgets are insufficient and 48% expecting a decrease in the coming year. Additionally, there is a significant shortage of expert-level privacy staff, with 73% of respondents indicating that hiring skilled privacy professionals is particularly difficult. The survey also reveals that common privacy failures include inadequate training, data breaches, and the failure to practice privacy by design.
Despite these challenges, the research provides some positive findings. For instance, fewer respondents report that their privacy teams are understaffed compared to previous years, especially in technical privacy roles. The survey also shows that privacy strategy alignment with organizational objectives has improved, with 74% of respondents confirming this alignment. Furthermore, 57% of respondents believe that their boards have adequately prioritized privacy, and 82% of organizations use frameworks or regulations to manage privacy, indicating an increasing commitment to privacy practices within enterprises.
One of the key differentiators for successful privacy programs is the practice of privacy by design, with 67% of respondents indicating that they incorporate privacy into new applications and services from the outset. Enterprises that practice privacy by design report higher confidence in their privacy teams, better staffing of technical privacy roles, and fewer privacy skills gaps. Additionally, the survey notes a growing trend in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for privacy-related tasks, with 36% of respondents planning to use AI for privacy work in the next 12 months. This trend is particularly prominent in enterprises that view privacy as a competitive advantage rather than merely a compliance requirement.
