Kiteworks today unveiled findings from its fourth annual Data Security and Compliance Risk Survey Report that expose a critical data governance gap among Middle East organizations. While regional organizations lead globally in requiring supplier security certifications (60%), they lack the visibility to track whether those standards protect private data flows – creating what experts call a “compliance theater effect” that’s strong on paper but weak on execution.
The comprehensive survey of 461 global organizations exposes how Middle East companies have built robust certification frameworks without the corresponding ability to monitor third-party data exchanges. This gap between process maturity and visibility technology creates cascading risks: Organizations operating in the dark about their third-party ecosystems face higher breach rates, slower detection times, and increased litigation costs.
“Requiring certifications demonstrates process maturity, but without visibility into actual data flows, it’s like having a state-of-the-art security system with no cameras,” said Dario Perfettibile, VP and GM, European Operations, Kiteworks. “Our research shows that measurement drives protection – organizations must know precisely where their private data travels and who handles it.”
Governance Challenge: Strong Standards, Weak Visibility
The report highlights a striking imbalance in Middle East data governance approaches:
- Process Excellence: 60% of Middle East organizations require security certifications from suppliers—the highest rate globally
- Visibility Gaps: Despite leading in certification requirements, regional organizations struggle with fundamental third-party data tracking
- Technical Controls: Only 31% have implemented technical controls to validate their governance policies
- AI Governance: While 24% enforce strict AI blocking (highest globally), they lack the foundational visibility to ensure these policies protect private content
Hidden Cost of Blind Spots
Global data from the report demonstrates the severe consequences of operating without third-party visibility:
- Organizations managing between 1,001 and 5,000 third parties face the highest breach risks – a “danger zone” that many enter unknowingly
- 46% of organizations globally cannot determine their breach frequency when they lack third-party visibility
- Companies with precise third-party tracking detect breaches up to four times faster
- Organizations with clear visibility reduce litigation costs by over 80%
“The data tells a compelling story: Visibility isn’t optional – it’s the foundation of effective governance,” added Perfettibile. “Middle East organizations have built the right processes; now they need the technology to make those processes meaningful.”
From Compliance Theater to True Governance
The path forward requires matching process excellence with visibility technology. Organizations must move beyond asking “Are our suppliers certified?” to answering critical questions:
- How many third parties handle our private data?
- Where does our sensitive information travel?
- Which controls effectively protect our data in practice?
- Can we detect and respond to breaches in real time?
The report emphasizes that certification frameworks and contractual safeguards deliver limited value without the ability to monitor and measure their effectiveness. True data governance requires both robust standards and real-time visibility into how those standards perform in practice.
Clear Mandate for Action
For Middle East organizations, the message is clear: Leverage existing process strengths while urgently addressing visibility gaps. The region’s leadership in certification requirements provides a strong foundation, but that foundation must support a comprehensive governance structure that includes:
- Unified tracking of all private data exchanges
- Real-time monitoring of third-party data flows
- Technical validation of certification compliance
- Measurable metrics for risk assessment and mitigation
“Middle East organizations stand at a critical juncture,” concluded Perfettibile. “They can either continue with compliance theater – looking good on paper while risks multiply – or they can build true governance by adding visibility to their already strong processes. The choice will determine whether they lead or lag in the global data security landscape.”
The complete Data Security and Compliance Risk: 2025 Annual Survey Report is available at https://www.kiteworks.com/data-security-compliance-risk-annual-report/.
About Kiteworks
Kiteworks’ mission is to empower organizations to effectively manage risk in every send, share, receive, and use of private data. The Kiteworks platform provides customers with a Private Data Network that delivers data governance, compliance, and protection. The platform unifies, tracks, controls, and secures sensitive data moving within, into, and out of their organization, significantly improving risk management and ensuring regulatory compliance on all private data exchanges. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Kiteworks protects over 100 million end-users and over 1,500 global enterprises and government agencies.
