FTAPI Secure Data Report 2026
Between secure exchange and manual gaps.
Free report
Discover in the Secure Data Report 2026 how sensitive data leaves German organisations today, and who keeps track of it. With current figures on where control and evidence still depend on manual work.
What to expect in the report
Secure data exchange has long been standard practice in German organisations. The question is no longer whether sensitive data is transferred securely, but how consistently this is achieved. Where does the secure flow of data still break down? Which steps do employees still carry out by hand? And how well can organisations prove what happened to exchanged data if an incident occurs?
For the fourth edition of the report, techconsult surveyed 200 IT and security leaders on behalf of FTAPI. They work in manufacturing, healthcare, banking and insurance, and public administration. The results show where organisations are well positioned and where they lack visibility.
Key findings
Control wanted, but rarely implemented
85 per cent of organisations consider control over data flows important, yet only 15 per cent monitor them technically. As a result, responsibility for secure exchange usually rests with employees themselves.
Secure solutions in place, but no plan B
Almost 90 per cent use solutions for secure data exchange. If that solution fails, 72 per cent would have to fall back on insecure channels that meet neither data protection nor compliance requirements.
Evidence takes heavy lifting
For 58 per cent, audit-proof documentation involves high or very high effort, and only 2 per cent have largely automated it. As a result, information often has to be pieced together after the fact for inspections and audits.
Automation demanded, but seldom used
81 per cent consider automation important when choosing a solution. Yet only around a quarter use automated classification that determines the right delivery channel.
Provider origin as a blind spot
Respondents ranked the provider’s country of origin lowest of all selection criteria. Yet the legal framework where the provider is based helps determine who can demand access to data.
Find more results in the Secure Data Report 2026.
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