Report by Veeam

The Data & AI Trust Gap

42 FINDINGSPublished Jun 3, 2026
View Original Report →

Key Findings

32% of organizations say market expansion triggers action on data sovereignty.

Market ExpansionData Sovereignty

38% of organizations identify public cloud environments as a major visibility gap.

Cloud SecurityOperational Visibility

99% of enterprise decision-makers agree that data sovereignty is critical.

Data SovereigntyEnterprise

45% of UK organizations identify data used for AI and analytics as their biggest blind spot, the highest rate in Europe.

Operational VisibilityAI GovernanceUK

38% of organizations in MEA report reliance on third-party ecosystems and vendors, increasing supply-chain blind spots.

Third-Party RiskSupply ChainMiddle EastAfricaMEA

44% of organizations cite reducing the risk of data breaches as a top motivator for data sovereignty action.

Data Sovereignty

43% of organizations cite gaining greater control over data as a top motivator for data sovereignty action.

Data SovereigntyData Control

34% of organizations identify cross-border data flows as a major visibility gap.

Data FlowsOperational VisibilityVisibility Gap

33% of organizations identify third-party vendors as a major visibility gap.

Third-Party RiskOperational Visibility

40% of EMEA leaders name data used for AI or analytics as their top operational blind spot.

Operational VisibilityAI GovernanceBlind SpotAIEMEA

58% of UK organizations cite preventing data breaches as the primary reason for data sovereignty efforts.

Data SovereigntyData BreachesUK

82% of German leaders say accelerating AI development takes priority over establishing data controls.

AI AccelerationData ControlsGermany

90% of organizations report high confidence in established frameworks such as GDPR.

RegulationGDPR

68% of organizations prioritize broader digital transformation initiatives over establishing strong data controls.

Digital TransformationData Controls

33% of organizations say internal audits and compliance reviews trigger action on data sovereignty.

ComplianceData Governance

72.5% of EMEA organizations are actively deprioritizing data sovereignty in favor of accelerating AI.

Data SovereigntyAI GovernanceAI AccelerationEMEA

46% of French leaders cite protecting intellectual property and sensitive information as a primary motivation for data sovereignty.

Data SovereigntyIntellectual PropertySensitive InformationFrance

60% of organizations in Middle East and Africa (MEA) have fully operationalized data sovereignty.

Data SovereigntyRegional ReadinessMiddle EastAfricaMEA

88% of enterprises are running AI agents, but only 7% are fully prepared to manage them.

AI GovernanceOperational Readiness

32% of organizations report major challenges with Shadow IT where systems are deployed outside of IT governance.

Shadow ITIT Governance

44% of organizations say increased cyber risk is the top "Shadow AI" risk.

AIShadow AIRisk

88% of organizations are already using or piloting AI agents.

AIAI AdoptionAgentic AI

Only 28% of organizations are confident they can detect AI systems operating outside approved parameters.

AI GovernanceAI DetectionRisk Management

65% of CEOs believe they have a full AI inventory.

AI InventoryGovernance

83% of CEOs feel pressure to accelerate their AI and data capabilities.

AI AdoptionData Capabilities

Only 29% of organizations running AI today can identify within minutes which systems an AI accessed.

AI AuditOperational RiskAccess Management

Only 25% of organizations running AI today can identify within minutes what actions an AI took.

AI AuditOperational Risk

Only 24% of organizations running AI today can identify within minutes what decisions an AI influenced.

AI

Only 40% of leaders are very confident they can isolate and precisely reverse an agentic AI failure.

AI Incident ResponseAI ResilienceOperational RiskAgentic AI

95% of organizations report unauthorized AI use within their organization.

Shadow AIOperational Risk

Organizations relying on shared ownership are 47% less likely to detect rogue AI behavior.

GovernanceAI Risk

Organizations where CISOs own AI agent risk are 24% more likely to detect rogue AI behavior.

AI Risk

97% of organizations classified as fully AI-ready report measurable business benefits from data and AI investments.

AI ReadinessAI Investment

93% of organizations view unauthorized AI use as a significant risk.

Shadow AIRisk Management

61% of organizations say the EU AI Act has already influenced AI investment strategies in the last 12 months.

RegulationAI InvestmentEU AI Act

47% of organizations cite maintaining audit trails for AI decisions as their biggest compliance concern.

ComplianceAudit TrailsAI Governance

95% of organizations say data challenges have already slowed their AI progress.

Data GovernanceAIOperational Risk

48% of technical leaders believe they have a full AI inventory.

AI InventoryGovernance

48% of organizations overall report measurable business benefits from data and AI investments.

AI ReadinessAI Investment

Only 22% of organizations running AI today can identify within minutes which data the AI system used.

AI Audit

Only 7% of organizations are truly AI-ready.

AIAI Readiness

Only 25% of organizations offer approved alternatives to unauthorized AI use.

Shadow AIAI GovernanceAI Policy