August 25, 2025
The buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) is undeniable—and with good reason. Innovative tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot are revolutionizing how businesses operate. From generating content and managing customer interactions to drafting emails, summarizing meetings, and even supporting coding or spreadsheet tasks, AI is transforming productivity.
While AI can dramatically save time and enhance efficiency, it also presents significant risks if not handled properly—especially concerning your company's data security.
Even the smallest businesses face these dangers.
Understanding the Risk
The challenge doesn’t lie in AI technology itself but in its application. When employees input sensitive information into public AI platforms, that data could be stored, analyzed, or even used to train future AI models—potentially exposing confidential or regulated information without anyone realizing it.
For example, in 2023, Samsung engineers accidentally leaked internal source code through ChatGPT, creating such a serious privacy breach that the company banned public AI tool usage entirely, as reported by Tom's Hardware.
Imagine this happening in your workplace—an employee unknowingly pasting client financials or medical records into ChatGPT for a quick summary, unintentionally putting private data at risk.
Emerging Threat: Prompt Injection Attacks
Beyond accidental leaks, hackers have developed a cunning method called prompt injection. They embed harmful commands within emails, transcripts, PDFs, or even YouTube captions. When AI tools process this content, they can be manipulated into revealing sensitive information or performing unauthorized actions.
In essence, the AI unknowingly becomes an accomplice to cyberattacks.
Why Small Businesses Are Especially at Risk
Many small businesses lack oversight on AI usage. Employees often adopt new AI tools independently, with good intentions but without proper guidance. They might treat AI platforms like enhanced search engines, unaware that their inputs could be permanently stored or accessed by others.
Moreover, few companies have established policies or training programs to educate staff on safe AI practices.
Practical Steps to Protect Your Business
You don't have to eliminate AI from your operations, but it's vital to establish control measures.
Start with these four essential actions:
1. Develop a clear AI usage policy.
Specify approved tools, outline data that must never be shared, and designate a point of contact for questions.
2. Train your team.
Educate employees about the risks of public AI tools and explain threats like prompt injection.
3. Adopt secure AI platforms.
Encourage use of enterprise-grade solutions like Microsoft Copilot that provide enhanced data privacy and compliance controls.
4. Monitor AI activity.
Keep track of AI tools in use and consider restricting access to public AI services on company devices if necessary.
The Bottom Line
AI is an integral part of the future. Businesses that master safe AI practices will gain a competitive edge, while those ignoring the risks expose themselves to cyber threats, compliance issues, and potentially devastating breaches. Just a few careless keystrokes can compromise your entire operation.
Let's have a quick conversation to ensure your AI use is secure and compliant. We'll help you craft a robust AI policy and protect your data—without slowing your team down. Call us at 252-240-3399 or click here to schedule your 15-Minute Discovery Call today.
