Enterprises Struggle to Secure Surging Unstructured Data

Cloud Security Alliance study finds traditional security practices can't keep up with data growth.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:13pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of tangled fiber optic cables and server racks, bathed in neon cyan and magenta lights, conceptually representing the complex, interconnected infrastructure struggling to secure the surge of unstructured enterprise data.As unstructured data proliferates across cloud and on-premises environments, traditional security tools struggle to maintain visibility and control.Seattle Today

A new report from the Cloud Security Alliance has found that enterprises are struggling to maintain visibility and security over the rapid growth of unstructured data, as traditional security and governance practices fail to keep pace with the proliferation of data across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments.

Why it matters

The explosion of unstructured data, from documents to media files, poses significant security and compliance risks for organizations as they lose control over where sensitive information is stored and how it is accessed. This trend highlights the need for more advanced data management and security tools to help enterprises regain visibility and control.

The details

The Cloud Security Alliance survey found that the rapid growth of unstructured data, which now accounts for over 80% of all enterprise data, is outpacing the ability of security teams to effectively monitor and secure it. Factors contributing to the challenge include the decentralized nature of data storage across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments, as well as the limitations of traditional security tools designed for structured data.

  • The Cloud Security Alliance survey was conducted in early 2026.

The players

Cloud Security Alliance

A non-profit organization that promotes best practices for providing security assurance within cloud computing.

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The takeaway

This report underscores the urgent need for enterprises to adopt more sophisticated data management and security solutions that can provide visibility, control, and protection over the growing volumes of unstructured data sprawling across their IT environments.