--- title: How Inspire Brands Built a Data Foundation That Powers Privacy, Security & AI description: "Download: How Inspire Brands Built a Data Foundation That Powers Privacy, Security & AI with BigID" --- [![bigid-logo](https://home.bigid.com/hubfs/bigid-horizontal.png)](https://bigid.com/) [GET A DEMO](https://home.bigid.com/demo) Inspire Brands Case Study Customer case study # How Inspire Brands turned one data inventory into wins for privacy, security, and AI Inspire Brands runs six of the most recognizable names in restaurants across 55 global markets. Its privacy team started with a simple goal: know what data it has, where it lives, and who owns it. Read how that foundation now supports privacy operations, data minimization, security investigations, and the company's approach to AI. **Arby'sBaskin-RobbinsBuffalo Wild WingsDunkin'Jimmy John'sSONIC** "What I didn't fully appreciate at the time was how many additional wins we were going to get from it."Jim Sturm, Chief Privacy Officer, Inspire Brands CUSTOMER CASE STUDY **How Inspire Brands Built a Data Foundation That Powers Privacy, Security & AI with BigID** PDF · 5 pages ## Get the full story Free download. We'll also email you a copy. **Six restaurant brands**One consistent privacy approach across all of them **55 global markets**Data discovered, classified, and inventoried **Thousands of requests a year**Data rights requests from US customers, automated **Snowflake, Salesforce, Microsoft 365**Plus databases, SaaS, and unstructured content > "Nothing else around a privacy program can really get built or formulated without knowing what data you have, where it goes, and where it comes from." **Jim Sturm**, Chief Privacy Officer, Inspire Brands How the value expanded ## From a privacy inventory to an enterprise data intelligence asset Inspire brought in BigID as the foundation of its privacy program. Each new use builds on the same discovery and classification. Where Inspire startedFoundation ### Scan and inventory Discovery and classification across cloud platforms, databases, SaaS, collaboration tools, and unstructured content. Minimize ### Reduce data risk Data that may no longer be needed is identified, routed to its owners, and deleted, minimized, or de-identified where appropriate. Automate ### Privacy operations at scale Personal data located for each request, coordinated across systems and teams, with access and deletion fulfillment supported. Secure ### Data-level access insight The cyber team uses BigID Access Intelligence to add data-level context to system-level access during investigations. Prepare for AI ### A head start on AI Sensitive systems and datasets already identified, including data AI shouldn't connect to or that needs more rigorous review. What you'll learn ## A blueprint any multi-brand or multi-business company can borrow The case study walks through the decisions behind Inspire's program, in the CPO's own words. [Download the case study](https://home.bigid.com/download-inspire-brands-customer-case-study#book) - **Why inventory came before everything else.** The fundamental questions Inspire answered before automating requests or building assessments. - **How discovery became data minimization.** Finding data that may no longer be needed, engaging the right owners, and acting consistent with retention and legal hold processes. - **Running data rights across six brands.** How a dedicated operator and cross-functional teams handle thousands of requests a year on BigID. - **Bringing data-level context to security.** Why the cyber team adopted Access Intelligence, and where it helps most during an investigation. - **Starting AI with visibility.** How existing data intelligence helps Inspire decide where AI may appropriately interact with enterprise data. In the CPO's words ## What one foundation made possible > "With BigID, we've been able to identify data that may no longer be needed, engage the appropriate data owners, and take action where appropriate." Jim Sturm, CPO, on data minimization > "With BigID, we can fulfill a high volume of data rights requests efficiently, with the platform supported by a dedicated operator and cross-functional teams." Jim Sturm, CPO, on privacy automation > "We initially brought in BigID as a foundational piece of our privacy program. What I didn't fully appreciate at the time was how many additional wins we were going to get from it, from reducing data risk to giving our security team deeper insight into access." Jim Sturm, CPO, on security > "We've already done meaningful work to identify many sensitive systems and datasets, including data AI shouldn't connect to or data that needs to go through a more rigorous review. That gives us a head start." Jim Sturm, CPO, on AI Validated well beyond Inspire ## The platform behind the story **Company of the Year**Frost & Sullivan 2025, AI Governance. **Leader in Privacy Management**The Forrester Privacy Management Wave and IDC Privacy Compliance MarketScape. **Leader across DSPM research**Omdia DSPM Universe, CB Insights, TAG, GigaOm, and Frost & Sullivan. **#1 in data classification**Ranked first by Intuit, ahead of 19 other vendors. > "BigID gives me better visibility into sensitive data, helps prioritize security protections, reduces attack surfaces, strengthens compliance, and increases operational efficiency overall." CISO, Global Healthcare Company > "BigID was the one solution that did this in the most efficient and sophisticated way, and had more use cases we could add on moving forward." Chief Privacy Officer, Global Telecoms Company Also a Leader across four GigaOm evaluations (DSPM, Data Security Platforms, Unstructured Data Management, Data Access Governance), named in Gartner's 2025 DLP and AI TRiSM Market Guides, and represented 30+ times in Gartner's 2025 Hype Cycles. Build your own foundation ## Start where Inspire did, with a clear view of your data ### Free data and AI risk assessment An agentless, cloud-native assessment on your real data, with an executive-ready report on where sensitive data and AI risk live and how to address them. [Get my assessment](https://home.bigid.com/free-assessment-demo) ### A demo built around your starting point Privacy automation, data minimization, access intelligence, or AI readiness. Tell us where you want to begin and we'll show you the platform on those scenarios. [Book a demo](https://home.bigid.com/demo) This case study describes Inspire Brands' experience and ongoing efforts with BigID and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, a representation, warranty, or guarantee regarding the security, privacy, integrity, or regulatory compliance of Inspire Brands' systems, data, or practices. Privacy and security programs evolve over time, and no technology or process can eliminate all risk. Restaurant brand names are trademarks of their respective owners. [Download the case study](https://home.bigid.com/download-inspire-brands-customer-case-study#book) © 2026 BigID All rights reserved [Privacy Notice](https://bigid.com/privacy-notice/)