Why Privacy and Security Teams Should Work Together (But Often Don't)

In an ideal world, privacy and security teams operate in sync. Security protects the systems; privacy governs the data flowing through them. But in many organizations, the two essential functions operate in silos, causing inefficiencies, compliance gaps, and even brand damage.

The stakes have never been higher. As regulations evolve and public expectations around data handling rise, privacy and security alignment is not a luxury. It is a necessity.

The Disconnect: Why These Teams Drift Apart

While privacy and security have overlapping goals, they often report to different departments, speak different “languages,” and used different frameworks. Security teams are often laser-focused on threat detection, vulnerability management, and technical controls. Privacy teams, meanwhile, are rooted in policy, legal compliance, and data subject rights.

Example: Marriott International Data Breach

In 2018, Marriott revealed a massive data breach involving 500 million guest records. One of the most alarming aspects? The breach had gone undetected for four years. Investigations revealed poor integration between security systems and data governance processes. Security alerts were missed, and privacy teams were unaware of the long-term access and movement of sensitive data. The fallout included regulatory fines, lawsuits, and reputational harm.¹

The Benefits of Working Together

When privacy and security teams collaborate intentionally, the results are powerful:

1. Faster Incident Response - When a breach occurs, privacy teams can assess regulatory and legal obligations more quickly with support from security teams providing real-time technical data.
2. Stronger Data Governance - Security helps define where and how data is stored and protected. Privacy defines why it’s collected and how it should be used. Together, they prevent collecting too much data.
3. Unified Risk Management - Both teams can align risk scoring, reporting, and mitigation strategies, presenting a clearer picture to leadership and auditors.

How to Bridge the Gap

1. Create Joint Workflows and Playbooks - Incident response plans should involve both teams. For example, if a ransomware attack hits, the security team should manage containment while the privacy team evaluates breach notification requirements.
2. Use Shared Tools and Dashboards - Adopt platforms that allow both teams to track data assets, risks and compliance obligations together.
3. Establish Cross-Functional Leadership - Encourage privacy and security leads to participate in shared governance councils or risk committees.
4. Educate and Cross-Train - Offer privacy training for security teams and security training for privacy teams. Understanding each other's priorities builds empathy and reduces friction.

One Goal, Two Perspectives

Privacy and security are two sides of the same coin. When they work in unison, they not only protect the organization from threats and compliance failures, but they also reinforce a culture of trust. Inspire Security Solutions helps organizations build bridges between privacy and security functions through integrated assessments, cross-functional remediation planning, and fractional leadership support. When privacy and security move together , your business moves forward.

¹ https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/10/ftc-takes-action-against-marriott-starwood-over-multiple-data-breaches#:~:text=The%20second%20breach%20began%20around,birth%2C%20and%20loyalty%20account%20information^.