As AI becomes more deeply integrated into everyday business tools and workflows, small business owners are being asked to rethink their approach to cybersecurity. Rather than trying to avoid AI, experts advise that businesses should embrace it while implementing strong governance and security practices.
Here, Marco Antonich, cloud workspace engineer at Haypp, shares advice for business owners struggling with AI anxiety.
understand the risks
One of the most pressing concerns is data leakage through AI prompts, where employees could unknowingly enter sensitive information such as company, customer, or financial information into AI tools. This information may be unintentionally disclosed to third parties.
Another growing risk is so-called shadow AI, where employees may use unauthorized consumer or free versions of AI platforms without oversight from IT or security teams. This lack of visibility creates significant blind spots in an organization’s security.
Additionally, many business owners may be unclear about what AI vendors will do with their data, including where it will be stored, how long it will be retained, and whether it will be used to train models. Some malicious AI tools disguised as legitimate productivity applications are designed to steal credentials or extract sensitive data.
Before using a new AI tool, make sure it meets your organization’s security standards to avoid future issues, and ensure that your data storage policies comply with your business needs.
A smarter approach to AI deployment
Business owners first need to understand which AI tools are being used across the organization. Clear policies should define what data can and cannot be input into an AI platform. At the same time, organizations must conduct appropriate due diligence to ensure they understand how their data will be processed, stored, and protected.
A controlled testing environment helps balance innovation and security, allowing teams to explore the capabilities of AI while ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place before widespread deployment.
