2021 Global Privacy Benchmarks Report

TrustArc’s 2nd Annual Global Privacy Benchmarks Report reveals a world in transformation, where privacy has become a business imperative, not just a compliance measure. With insights from over 1,600 professionals across roles and regions, this report tracks how large enterprises are evolving their privacy programs to meet the demands of a fast-changing regulatory and digital environment.

In 2021, privacy competence surged. Organizations expanded dedicated privacy teams, increased investment in purpose-built privacy software, and integrated privacy deeper into business strategy. TrustArc’s Privacy Index shows that companies prioritizing privacy earn higher trust scores from employees, customers, partners, and the public.

New challenges emerged, including data breaches, internal threats, and cookie consent complexities, but so did advancements. Companies that implemented robust, effective cookie consent solutions and fully adopted privacy platforms earned “A” ratings on the Privacy Index, significantly outperforming less mature programs.

The report also offers a comparative view of regulatory knowledge and preparedness, with UK-based companies leading in GDPR and local law awareness. Spending on privacy rose dramatically, with nearly half of enterprises budgeting $1M+ annually, driven by the realization that trust and privacy go hand in hand.

Key takeaways:

• Privacy competence improved, with 83% of companies now having dedicated Privacy Offices, up 17% year-over-year.
• 90% of employees report confidence in raising privacy concerns without fear of reprisal.
• A fully implemented cookie consent strategy correlates with a 17-point boost in the Privacy Index.
• 75% of companies believe they still have room to strengthen privacy protections.
• Use of privacy management software rose, while reliance on DIY or free tools declined.