Skip to content
Schedule a Call

Is AI Making Your Business Smarter or More Vulnerable?

Picture of Fernando Perez

Do you know what your team’s AI tools are really doing with your data?

From content writing and data entry to customer service and research, AI tools are everywhere. Your team might already be using them, whether you approved it or not. Tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, Jasper, and Bard promise speed, ease and productivity. And for the most part, they deliver. But there’s a growing problem that many businesses haven’t addressed: AI tools are smart. But they’re also a risk.

If your company uses AI without proper controls, you could be exposing sensitive information, breaking compliance rules, or creating gaps in your cybersecurity defenses.

Here’s how it happens, and what to do about it:

How AI Tools Enter Your Business (Without You Knowing)

It usually starts with good intentions. An employee wants to write faster, summarize a meeting, or polish an email. So they copy and paste internal notes into a free AI tool. Maybe they upload a document, or connect the tool to your CRM or shared drive.

No one tells IT. No one checks security. The AI responds quickly, and the job gets done.

But here’s the problem:

  • That data might be stored on the AI provider’s servers

  • There’s no guarantee it’s encrypted

  • You don’t know where your info goes or how it’s being used

  • You might be violating NDAs, HIPAA, GDPR, or other compliance rules

What looks like a smart shortcut can easily become a costly mistake.

Real Risks of Unmonitored AI Use in Business

  • Data Exposure

    If your team puts confidential data into AI tools, you could lose control of the data permanently. Some AI systems are trained using user input, which means your information could en up in someone else's query tomorrow.

  • Compliance failures

    If you work in healthcare, finance, or legal industries, using unvetted AI tools could mean breaking restrict data protection laws, even if done by accident. 

  • Shadow IT

    When employees use AI tools without telling IT, you lose oversight. This is known as Shadow IT, and it's one the biggest threats in cybersecurity today. 

  • Loss of accuracy and control

    AI sometimes makes things up. If your team relies on it for client work, reporting or documentation, you may be passing along false or misleading information.

 

How to Use AI Safely in Your Business

AI isn’t the enemy. In fact, when used right, it’s a great tool. But like anything else in tech, it needs rules. Here’s how to stay smart and safe:

  • Create a list of approved AI tools: Let your teams know what's safe to use and what isn´t.

  • Train your staff on what not to enter: Set a clear policy: no client data, no passwords, no financial or legal documents. 

  • Work with IT to monitor usage: Use tools that can track traffic and block risky platforms. 

  • Review AI tools terms of service: Look for red flags in data use, storage and privacy policies. 

  • Use business-grade AI platforms when needed: Some AI tools offer enterprise versions with better controls, encryption and privacy settings. 

 

Bottom Line: AI Is Powerful; But It’s Not Plug-and-Play

Letting your team use AI without rules is like letting them install random apps on company devices. You lose visibility. You lose control. And when things go wrong, you lose data, trust, and time. Start now by asking: Do we know what tools our team is using? And what data they’re sharing?

If the answer is “no” or “not sure,” it’s time to act.

Start with a FREE Network and Cybersecurity Check-Up from TheCompuLab. We’ll help you identify hidden risks, set smart policies, and make sure your AI tools work for you, not against you. Book today! 
, ,