AI Is Already in Your Business – But Is It Secure?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used inside your business—whether you realise it or not. Employees are using tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and AI-driven automation to speed up tasks, generate ideas, and optimise workflows. But without oversight, these tools could be exposing sensitive data, creating compliance risks, and leading to ungoverned AI adoption.

The question isn’t should we use AI?—it’s how do we ensure AI is used securely and effectively?

1. Do You Know Where AI Is Being Used in Your Business?

Many businesses are unaware of just how much AI has already been adopted internally. Employees might be using:

ChatGPT and similar tools to generate emails, reports, or code.
Microsoft Copilot to summarise documents, create presentations, and automate tasks.
AI-powered design tools like Canva’s AI assistant.
AI-driven analytics for business intelligence or forecasting.

Without visibility, businesses risk data leakage, compliance violations, and unintended security breaches.

2. Are You Restricting What’s Being Shared with AI Tools?

Many AI tools work by processing and storing inputs—meaning any confidential business data entered into an AI system could be retained by the platform.

Are employees pasting sensitive business information into ChatGPT?
Are customer details being shared with AI-powered tools?
Have you reviewed how Microsoft Copilot interacts with your internal data?

Without clear policies, employees might unknowingly expose proprietary data to external AI models. In fact, we’ve already seen this happen:

In March 2023, OpenAI confirmed a ChatGPT data breach that exposed users’ chat histories and payment details due to a bug in an open-source library.
In May 2023, Samsung employees accidentally leaked confidential data—including source code and internal notes—by using ChatGPT. Samsung responded by banning generative AI tools and developing its own internal AI.

These real-world examples highlight why AI governance isn’t optional—it’s essential.

3. Are You Controlling Who Can Access AI-Powered Business Data?

Enabling AI inside Microsoft 365 (e.g., Copilot) is powerful—but also opens up access to company-wide data.

Do you have role-based access controls (RBAC) in place?
Are you locking down financial, HR, or executive-level data?
Can AI tools access sensitive or restricted information?

AI shouldn’t be a free-for-all. It needs structured permissions and governance.

4. Do You Have an AI Policy That Covers All of This?

Every business needs an AI usage policy that covers:

✅ Where AI is allowed and restricted (e.g., no customer data in ChatGPT).
✅ How AI-generated content is reviewed (to prevent inaccurate or misleading information).
✅ Who can enable AI tools (and who needs approval).
✅ What AI models employees can use (and which are prohibited for security reasons).

A policy ensures that AI is helping your business, not creating unnecessary risks.

5. Are You Monitoring AI Tool Usage?

AI isn’t just a one-time security check—it needs ongoing monitoring to:

Detect unauthorised AI tool usage (shadow IT).
Identify potential data risks from AI interactions.
Track how employees are using AI to refine policies and training.

By monitoring AI adoption, businesses can proactively address risks before they become security or compliance issues.

6. Are You Providing AI Training and Guidance?

Even with policies and controls in place, employees need clear guidance on AI best practices.

What should and shouldn’t be shared with AI tools?
How can employees use AI safely within business processes?
What are the risks of AI-generated misinformation?

Regular AI workshops and training ensure employees understand how to use AI effectively while protecting business data.

What to Do First – 3 Steps to Secure AI Usage in Your Business

If you’re unsure where to start, here’s what you should do right now:

1️⃣ Audit AI Usage – Identify what AI tools your team is already using and what data they interact with.

2️⃣ Restrict & Secure – Apply security policies, role-based access controls, and data-sharing restrictions.

3️⃣ Develop an AI Policy – Define usage rules, security protocols, and best practices for AI adoption.

The Next Step: Get a Clear View of AI in Your Business

Ignoring AI isn’t an option—it’s already being used in your organisation. The real question is: do you have the right policies, monitoring, and security measures in place?

📢 Book an Internal AI Usage Assessment – We’ll help you understand how AI is being used inside your business and provide a roadmap for secure, effective AI adoption.

➡️ Get in touch to schedule your AI security review today.

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