We asked you to identify the most important data protection issue for organisations in 2026, and you delivered. After reviewing all entries, one response stood out for its clarity, relevance, and insight.

Sarib Kahn focuses on defining the data protection challenge of 2026 in an excellent way: as organisations rely on ever-expanding layers of SaaS tools, cloud providers, AI assistants and third-party integrations, the risk is no longer simply about collecting too much data — it is about losing sight of where that data goes once it enters the AI and vendor ecosystem. How is it reused, retained, or used to generate outputs? Who is responsible, and with what safeguards?

Our sincere thanks go to everyone who participated and offered their perspectives. Your thoughtful contributions helped shape this competition into a truly engaging and rewarding experience.