Balancing AI Adoption and Security

The Rapid Adoption of AI

According to recent Microsoft statistics, 75% of SMB users are actively using AI, with over 80% of people incorporating AI into their everyday lives. This widespread adoption marks the fastest technological uptake in history, but it comes with significant security implications that businesses cannot afford to ignore.

Challenges in Tracking AI Usage

One of the primary challenges organisations face is simply knowing what AI tools their employees are using. Without proper discovery processes, tracking data movement between various AI platforms becomes extremely difficult. Many companies respond to this uncertainty with blanket prohibitions—blocking new AI tools as soon as they emerge. While understandable from a security perspective, this approach can significantly hinder productivity and innovation, as many free AI tools offer substantial benefits when used appropriately. The key is finding balance through education, governance, and appropriate guardrails rather than outright prohibition.

Security Risks of Free AI Applications

Most free AI applications are, by default, designed to train their large language models with user-submitted data and potentially expose this information publicly. For IT administrators, this creates a nightmare scenario where sensitive company information might be leaked through seemingly innocent employee interactions with these platforms. Instead of panic-blocking all AI tools, organisations should focus on educating staff about safe AI usage, implementing governance frameworks, and establishing clear policies about which tools are permitted and under what circumstances they can be used.

Microsoft’s Support for Businesses

Microsoft has recognised these challenges and is actively investing in supporting businesses through this transition. Their approach emphasises understanding specific business use cases, identifying pain points, and determining what value AI tools can bring to address those challenges. Microsoft funding options help organisations explore use cases for tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and develop implementation strategies that align with business objectives. This partnership approach reflects Microsoft’s understanding that successful AI adoption requires careful planning and strategic implementation rather than simply deploying new technologies.

Using Microsoft Tools for Secure AI Adoption

A practical starting point for organisations is leveraging free tools like Copilot Chat, which is available to all Microsoft 365 subscribers. When users sign in with their 365 accounts, Copilot Chat provides enterprise-class security (indicated by a green shield), protecting information entered into the platform. Organisations can introduce employees to this secure environment while conducting background work to assess data security posture, identify risks, and implement stronger protection measures through tools like Microsoft Purview.

Internal Risks of AI Tools

Interestingly, security risks aren’t limited to external AI tools. Even authorised platforms like Microsoft Copilot can create internal risks if data governance isn’t properly managed. Since Copilot has access to all data a user can access across the Microsoft tenant, it can potentially expose sensitive information that was inadvertently overshared within the organisation. One real-world example involved an employee searching for their payslip through Copilot only to discover a spreadsheet containing everyone’s annual bonuses because the document had been improperly shared.

Managing AI Security Risks

For organisations serious about managing AI security risks, Microsoft Purview offers powerful capabilities through its Data Security Posture Management for AI, providing visibility into AI tool usage across the organisation along with risk assessments. This integrated approach helps organisations maintain security while still enabling the productivity benefits that AI tools offer.

Balancing Innovation with Protection

The key takeaway for businesses embarking on their AI journey is that prohibition isn’t the answer. Instead, organisations should identify specific use cases for AI tools, understand usage patterns, assess risks, provide continuous training on safe AI practices, and implement appropriate safeguards. With proper planning and governance, AI can help businesses become more competitive while protecting their valuable data assets from unauthorised exposure or misuse.

BCN: Helping You Adopt AI Securely

Partnering with an accredited Microsoft Partner like BCN lets you leverage AI effectively and safely. We provide end-to-end support for businesses like yours to harness AI’s full potential. BCN offer services such as Copilot Readiness Assessments and AI Kickstarters to help you reach your AI objectives efficiently. Contact us to learn more.