This week is Data Privacy Week (January 26th – 30th), with Data Privacy Day falling on the 28th January. Below are Veeam executives’ quotes relating to Data Privacy Week and Data Privacy Day.
Sandeep Bhambure, Vice President and Managing Director – India and SAARC, Veeam Software
“This Data Privacy Week is a timely reminder that data control is at the heart of trust, resilience, and safe AI adoption. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, an organisation’s ability to govern, protect, and recover its data is becoming just as critical as its ability to secure it. Trusted, well-managed data is the bedrock for regulatory confidence, operational continuity, and responsible AI innovation.
Veeam’s latest ransomware research underscores this urgency with 69% of impacted organisations experienced multiple attacks in a single year, and 90% had their backups targeted. This highlights how fragmented visibility and weak data governance leave businesses dangerously exposed. Without clear oversight of where data resides, how it is protected, and how quickly it can be restored, organisations risk not only breaches but prolonged and costly disruptions.
In India, with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act now in effect and further regulatory changes ahead, businesses must move beyond reactive cybersecurity. They need to embed data control, governance, and resilience into their core strategies. Ensuring data is secure, compliant, and recoverable is no longer optional; it is essential for responsible AI adoption and long-term business success.”
Rick Vanover, Vice President of Product Strategy, Veeam Software
“True data resilience starts with trust and control. As we mark Data Privacy Week, we must empower organizations to take charge of their data – protecting privacy, ensuring security, and unlocking value at every turn. In today’s digital era, trusted data is the cornerstone of both privacy and progress. Organizations that ensure their data is secure, governed, and trustworthy lay the foundation not only for compliance, but also for safe AI adoption and transformative business outcomes. Let’s recognize that empowering organizations with trusted data is what enables innovation, builds resilience, and unlocks the true promise of AI for our businesses and society. And should things not go as planned, organizations should have the confidence in resilience technology and practices to keep the business running.”
Shiva Pillay, SVP and GM Americas, Veeam Software
“Data Privacy Week 2026 is a powerful reminder that taking control of your data is more than a security imperative, it’s a business accelerator. When organizations build trust in their data and embrace safe AI, they unlock new levels of agility, customer confidence, and competitive edge. Trusted data fuels smarter decisions, resilient operations, and innovation that drives real business outcomes. The companies who get this right won’t just keep pace – they’ll lead the way.”
Andre Troskie, EMEA Field CISO, Veeam Software
“It’s been a big year since the last Data Privacy Day. AI has transitioned from runaway hype into a real business advantage – putting data squarely under the spotlight. There’s only one catch. Organisations have to learn to walk the tightrope between keeping data secure, without compromising usability.
Immature data resilience isn’t just a security risk anymore – it’s now a roadblock for organisations looking to access the true potential of AI for their business. Fear around data is holding organisations back, but the solution is already out there. While all of this might be heralded as a ‘new era’, it still needs to be built on the same solid data resilience foundations as the last one. Foundations like impact assessments, data standardization and governance, and validation will all remain essential.
If the nearly two decades of Data Privacy Day have taught us anything, it should be to never neglect the foundations of data resilience. We should treat this not as a yearly reminder, but as an ongoing observance – that straying too far into new tech like AI without the basics in place can only spell trouble. New tools, confidence, and even AI breakthroughs can crumble in an instant if just one of those foundational data resilience measures is missing. So, when building with AI, let’s make sure we’ve done the groundwork first.”
