Compliance tips for small business, mid-market, and large enterprises
Key Takeaways 1. Many global companies are experiencing compliance violations resulting in fines and penalties, highlighting the complexity of regulatory requirements. 2. Large fines, such as TD Bank’s multibillion-dollar fine, are motivating organizations to invest in comprehensive compliance training solutions. 3. Cybersecurity, data privacy, corporate governance, and AI compliance will be top priorities for organizations in 2026. 4. Small businesses should focus on basic compliance, practical cybersecurity, and flexible training to adapt to regulatory changes. 5. Midsize businesses benefit from localized compliance training, automation, and integrating compliance into employee development. 6. Companies must address international regulations, train on ESG and supply chain transparency, and use analytics to prepare for audits. 7. Embedding compliance into your organizational culture and using flexible, trackable, AI-driven learning technologies will improve operational performance and employee engagement.
According to PwC’s 2025 Global Compliance Survey: [1] More than 40% of global companies report at least one compliance violation that resulted in a fine, penalty, or back pay. Staying on top of regulatory compliance requirements has become increasingly complex and the stakes have never been higher. TD Bank fined $3.1 billion for ‘pervasive and systematic failure to maintain an adequate anti-money laundering (AML) compliance program’ [2] has demonstrated this and encouraged companies of all sizes to invest in a compliance training platform that can be used to demonstrate compliance in audit and regulatory defense scenarios.
In 2026, business leaders across all industries will focus on compliance topics such as cybersecurity, data protection and privacy, and corporate governance. Whether you run a small to medium-sized business (SMB), midsize business, or large enterprise organization, it’s important to address these and growing AI-related compliance concerns with the right training.
To help you plan your compliance training program, here are the top compliance priorities facing business leaders in 2026.
SMB compliance priorities
For small and medium-sized businesses, the focus is on basic compliance and security measures.
Cybersecurity and data privacy are receiving increasing attention. According to Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, small and medium-sized businesses continue to be the primary targets of cyberattacks, especially malware attacks, which impact them four times more than large enterprises. [3] Healthcare, financial, and manufacturing organizations are particularly vulnerable to hacking, so compliance training in 2026 should continue to focus on addressing frameworks such as GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA to ensure appropriate industry-compliant data processing practices. Hands-on training should include phishing simulations, password hygiene education, and incident reporting protocols to reduce human error, which remains the number one cause of data breaches. Improving employee awareness and skills. As remote and hybrid work models continue, SMB leaders aim to close the IT talent gap, address compliance vulnerabilities, and foster a culture of compliance. By integrating compliance topics into a broader employee development framework, you can connect compliance knowledge to job performance and career advancement. Employee training should emphasize digital literacy and compliance ownership. Leaders are implementing cyber hygiene microlearning courses, IT security certifications, and privacy awareness programs to close skills gaps and build resilience. Cost control. In 2026, budget-conscious small and medium-sized businesses will focus on selecting flexible, just-in-time training modules that can reduce dependence on expensive external consultants. Ready-made compliance libraries covering topics such as workplace harassment, safety, and data protection provide scalability and a predictable cost structure. Leverage a cloud-based learning management system (LMS) with on-demand, modular content. This allows teams to access microlearning on an as-needed basis without relying on in-person training or expensive consultants. Regulatory adaptation. Small businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing need to stay on top of evolving regulations, including updates to OSHA, PCI DSS, and FDA modernization initiatives. Deliver on-demand, mobile-friendly microlearning content and gamified learning experiences to frontline SMB teams to maintain compliance with minimal disruption to operations.
Midmarket compliance priorities
Mid-market organizations often experience growing pains as they expand regionally or internationally. In 2026, midsized businesses will need to pivot from tactical implementation of compliance to strategic enablement that supports both governance and innovation.
Expansion into new markets domestically and globally. Growth-oriented mid-sized companies require specific compliance knowledge to include and expand their regional and international regulatory frameworks. Globalization introduces complex compliance considerations, from cross-border data transfers to anti-corruption laws such as the UK Bribery Act and FCPA. Employ localized e-learning modules that address country-specific regulations to ensure employees understand both global and local regulatory compliance issues. Improving work efficiency. By tying compliance to IT processes and data management through automation and analytics, midsized businesses can integrate compliance into business operations. Linking LMS data to HR and IT systems enables automatic enrollment in required courses, automatic tracking of certifications, and streamlined audit reporting. Talent Retention and Workforce Development. Compliance is built into regular skills training to keep compliance top of mind for everyone in your organization. Upskilling efforts not only reduce compliance risk, but also strengthen the leadership pipeline by enabling teams to tackle increasingly complex or ambiguous tasks. Look for a modern compliance training solution that allows your team to blend soft skills development (ethics, communication) with technical compliance training. Adapting to changing cybersecurity frameworks. Regular security/information privacy training is required for all employees in midsize companies, especially remote or distributed teams. Launch pre-built cybersecurity training courses within your LMS and ensure your courses are updated regularly. Create and update custom training courses by leveraging built-in content authoring tools.
Corporate compliance priorities
Businesses face the highest compliance burden as they balance global regulatory complexity with the need for agility. Compliance programs are now data-driven, risk-based, and integrated with corporate strategy.
Regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions. With the entry into force of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and similar obligations, large companies will need to train their employees on ESG disclosure, carbon accounting and supply chain transparency. Deliver training that includes both technical and ethical aspects so your team understands not just what they have to report, but why it matters to your stakeholders. Cybersecurity, anti-bribery and anti-corruption. These principles, combined with AI and debiasing content for technology, should be a top priority for legal and risk teams and enforced at scale in 2026. Look for an LMS with a regularly updated library of pre-built compliance courses on cybersecurity, anti-bribery, and corruption to help your team quickly and consistently deploy the latest training on these topics. Real-time microlearning tied to operational events. Assigning short, clear, and targeted training to quickly respond to time-sensitive security incidents and new regulations is essential for businesses facing increased disruption and complexity. To quickly respond to compliance issues, use an LMS that integrates with your HRIS system and allows administrators to automate compliance-related alerts and assignments, making simple videos and quizzes available within your work flow. Robust training analysis and evidence for compliance audits. Demonstrating compliance is increasingly being treated as an “insurance” strategy to reduce the risk of large fines and reputational damage. A learning platform should streamline compliance audit preparation by: Automate training assignments triggered by operational events (such as failed phishing tests) Provide AI-driven course recommendations tailored to roles and behaviors Provide built-in LMS tools to track due dates and completion Real-time synchronization with external systems to ensure data accuracy Centralized reporting dashboard to consolidate training records for easy export Industry-specific compliance modules. Regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing require compliance training content to be regularly updated to reflect important regulatory changes such as OSHA and GMP. Provide your HR and compliance teams with regularly updated course modules that can be quickly delivered across your organization within a central LMS.
Trends affecting all segments
Several key trends are shaping the future of compliance training for all organizations, regardless of size or industry.
Expanding digital, mobile, and just-in-time learning. Compliance training should be delivered to users in a variety of environments and seamlessly adapt to remote or hybrid working. AI-powered compliance solutions. You can use AI learning solutions to quickly update and assign compliance training content, keeping your team on track and reducing inefficiencies. Measurable training completion dashboard. LMS reporting and analysis can be used defensively in regulatory reviews.
The compliance landscape of 2026 is more dynamic and interconnected than ever before. Supported by flexible learning technologies, organizations that integrate compliance into their broader culture not only meet regulatory requirements, but also optimize operational performance and increase employee engagement.
Whether you’re a small business, midmarket, or global enterprise, the future of compliance training is about agility, analytics, and accountability.
References:
[1] 2025 Global Compliance Survey
[2] TD Bank’s Historic $3.1 Billion Money Laundering Settlement Warns All Financial Institutions
[3] 2025 Data Breach Investigation Report
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