August 25, 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) is generating tremendous buzz—and for excellent reasons. Cutting-edge tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot are revolutionizing how businesses operate. From crafting content and managing customer interactions to drafting emails, summarizing meetings, and supporting coding or spreadsheet tasks, AI is becoming indispensable.
While AI dramatically boosts efficiency and saves valuable time, improper use can lead to significant risks, particularly concerning your organization's data security.
Even small businesses face these threats.
Understanding the Core Issue
The technology itself isn’t the problem; it’s the way people use it. Employees who input sensitive information into public AI platforms risk having that data stored, analyzed, or even utilized to train future AI models. This can unintentionally expose confidential or regulated information.
For example, in 2023, Samsung engineers accidentally leaked internal source code through ChatGPT. This privacy breach was so severe that Samsung prohibited the use of public AI tools company-wide, as reported by Tom's Hardware.
Imagine this happening in your workplace—an employee pastes client financials or medical records into ChatGPT for a quick summary, unaware of the risks. Sensitive data could be compromised in an instant.
Emerging Danger: Prompt Injection
Beyond accidental data leaks, cybercriminals are exploiting a sophisticated method called prompt injection. They embed harmful instructions within emails, transcripts, PDFs, or even YouTube captions. When AI tools process this content, they can be manipulated into disclosing sensitive information or performing unauthorized actions.
In essence, the AI unknowingly becomes an accomplice to attackers.
Why Small Businesses Are Especially at Risk
Many small businesses lack oversight on AI usage. Employees often adopt AI tools independently, with good intentions but no formal guidelines. They mistakenly treat AI platforms like enhanced search engines, unaware that data they input may be permanently stored or accessible to others.
Furthermore, most companies haven’t established policies or training programs to guide safe AI use.
Practical Steps to Secure Your AI Use Today
You don’t need to eliminate AI from your operations, but you must implement safeguards.
Start with these four essential actions:
1. Develop a clear AI usage policy.
Specify approved tools, identify data types that must never be shared, and designate a point of contact for questions.
2. Train your team thoroughly.
Educate employees on the risks of public AI tools and explain threats like prompt injection.
3. Adopt secure, enterprise-grade platforms.
Encourage use of trusted solutions like Microsoft Copilot that prioritize data privacy and compliance.
4. Monitor AI activity actively.
Keep track of AI tools in use and consider restricting access to public AI services on company devices if necessary.
Final Thoughts
AI is an invaluable asset that’s here to stay. Businesses that embrace it responsibly will gain a competitive edge, while those ignoring its risks expose themselves to potential cyberattacks, compliance breaches, and other severe consequences. Protecting your data requires vigilance—because a single careless action can have costly repercussions.
Let's discuss how to safeguard your company’s AI usage today. We’ll help you craft a robust, secure AI policy and implement strategies to protect your data without hindering productivity. Call us at 608-416-2400 or click here to schedule your 10-Minute Discovery Call now.
