3 AI Security Risks You Can’t Afford to Ignore

From speeding up content creation to designing mini-me action figures, AI has changed the way we work and play for good. So much so, that 96% of businesses say their AI projects are now crucial for revenue generation.

As exciting as this new technology is, however, we urge you to keep a level head. Like many great inventions, AI comes with its fair share of risks — particularly in regards to data security and privacy.

These risks are only exacerbated by limited regulatory guidance and standards. Though some governing bodies, such as the EU, have enforced AI laws, many others are struggling to keep pace.

As such, the AI landscape feels more like the wild west. Fun? Without a doubt. But it’s important to proceed with caution. You never know what might be lurking behind those saloon doors.

The current state of AI

According to recent research by HiddenLayer, 83% of IT leaders say that every team within their organization uses some form of AI.

This may be a win for your productivity and engagement levels… But it isn’t necessarily cause for celebration.

The report goes on to highlight some more concerning trends. Of the IT leaders surveyed:

• 89% are concerned with the security vulnerabilities of third-party AI applications.
• 77% flagged breaches to their AI within the past year.
• 58% doubt that their current security efforts can keep pace with evolving threats.

But what exactly are these AI threats? And how can your business protect itself now and in the future?

3 AI security risks to watch out for

1. Shadow IT usage

Around two-thirds of IT leaders acknowledge that shadow AI usage is a problem in their organization. This means that employees are using third-party AI tools without the knowledge or guidance of IT teams.

Considering the fact that many of these tools contain vulnerabilities, this should be cause for concern.

Take ChatGPT as an example. Previous vulnerabilities within the AI have enabled attackers to attain access to user accounts and take control of chat history. This is a huge data security concern for individuals and businesses alike.

2. AI/ML data ingestion

Certain AI models use your data for training purposes. As an individual, you might not have any problem with this. However, as a business owner or IT lead, the last thing you want is for your employees to feed sensitive company data into a chatbot. Especially if the chatbot then uses this data in generated text or conversation with an unauthorized party.

3. Attacks on AI systems

75% of IT leaders believe that third-party AI poses a greater risk than existing threats. And it’s not hard to see why.

There are a number of ways cyber criminals can infiltrate AI models. One of the most common methods is “prompt injection”. This is where a cybercriminal tricks a model into performing a restricted action. For example, they may instruct an AI to ignore previous instructions or, in some cases, roleplay as a “character” that can disclose sensitive data (such as a CEO). Once they gain the upper hand, it’s possible for them to extract and leak confidential information.

How to bolster AI data governance and security

Now that you’re more familiar with the risks of AI, it’s time to implement some preventative measures.

Here are some tips that will help you protect your business as your AI usage expands:

• Vet your AI providers. Do your due diligence before adopting a new AI platform. Ensure the model processes your data ethically, and check that the vendor has the necessary security controls, compliance certifications, and governance practices in place.
• Create strict AI usage policies. Employees should only use trusted, IT-approved AI tools. We’d recommend creating thorough policies and distributing them across your organization via an easily-accessible digital workplace solution. This will help to clamp down on shadow IT and its associated risks.
• Implement training around AI security. Your employees will be less likely to breach data and fall for AI-based malicious threats if they have the right training in place. With a comprehensive learning management system, you can create and distribute compulsory, trackable AI security courses. Built-in analytics and test results will help you flag knowledge gaps and adjust your training approach.
• Encrypt and restrict sensitive data. As an added layer of security, encrypt any data stored on your digital workplace platform and regularly assess your roles and permissions. Restricted access to your most sensitive documents will reduce the likelihood of employees inputting PII into third-party AI.
• Learn when to say no. If you’d rather your employees didn’t use AI at all, turn it off. Some solutions, such as Claromentis, allow you to switch off AI functionality for all users.

Reap the rewards of AI — without the risks

Cybersecurity is the second biggest AI-related risk that businesses are working to mitigate, according to Gartner.

If this is a similar priority for your business, now is the time to take action. On top of implementing rigorous security policies and training, we recommend choosing an AI-powered platform that prioritizes your data security.

Take Claromentis as an example. Our secure, AI-powered digital workplace solution harnesses Google’s Vertex AI. In accordance with Google’s service agreement, this model does not ingest user data for training purposes. This means your employees can generate content without worrying about inadvertent data leakages.

For organizations with more stringent regulatory requirements, our partner Zylon can provide a completely private AI platform. Living in your on-premise environment, this AI ingests data from your Claromentis portal and empowers users to ask questions, create summaries, and generate resources without compromising security.

To learn more about our AI features, security measures, and more, please book a quick discussion call with one of our experts. We’d be more than happy to answer any of your questions!