Cisco’s 2026 Data and Privacy Benchmark Study, based on responses from 5,200 IT, technology and security professionals across 12 global markets, shows that 90% of organizations have expanded their privacy programs and 93% intend to increase spending further to scale AI responsibly. Notably, 38% of firms invested at least 5 million in privacy controls last year, up from 14% in 2024. The study highlights that 96% of companies view robust privacy frameworks as catalysts for AI agility and innovation, while 95% see privacy as essential for building customer trust in AI services.

Although three-quarters of organizations report having a dedicated AI governance body, only 12% describe their governance frameworks as mature. As AI systems tap into increasingly complex datasets, 65% of respondents struggle to gain efficient access to relevant, high-quality data, underscoring the urgent need for improved data hygiene, transparency and oversight to maintain trust and competitive edge.

The survey finds that 81% of companies face growing demands for data localization, yet 83% say inconsistent regulations hinder seamless cross-market service delivery. While 82% prefer global-scale providers for managing international data flows, confidence that locally stored data is inherently more secure has declined to 86% this year from 90% in 2025. Eighty-three percent of organizations are now advocating for harmonized international data transfer standards to reduce cost, complexity and risk.

Evercore upgraded Cisco’s rating to Outperform from In Line, citing the company’s leadership in networking, security and AI-powered solutions and lifting its target based on renewed growth prospects. Meanwhile, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. increased its stake in Cisco by 4.3%, bringing its total to 588,908 shares valued at approximately 40.3 million. This follows similar position builds by several hedge funds, collectively bringing institutional ownership to over 73% of shares outstanding.