As artificial intelligence (AI) tools become more accessible, we’re seeing employees in our clients’ businesses increasingly experimenting with AI tools in their day-to-day work. Tools that can summarise documents, generate emails, or analyse data can be really helpful for speeding up everyday processes, but they also introduce new risks if used without clear policies or oversight.
Data exposure is a primary concern. When staff paste company information into public AI services, that data may be processed or stored by third-party systems outside your organisation’s control. This could include sensitive client information, internal documents, financial data, or intellectual property. In some cases, the terms of service of AI platforms may allow submitted data to be used to improve their models, which could create compliance, confidentiality, or regulatory risks for businesses.
There are also concerns around accuracy and reliability that we should all be mindful of. AI-generated responses can contain incorrect or misleading information, and without proper review processes this can lead to poor decision-making or reputational damage.
It goes without saying that organisations may struggle to maintain consistent security and compliance standards if staff independently adopt different AI tools.
For businesses that have not yet defined their AI strategy, restricting access to AI services at the network level can be a sensible interim measure.
For example, internet filtering solutions can identify and block known AI platforms, helping to prevent employees from submitting company data to external AI systems. By doing this, it can give your organisation time to properly evaluate AI technologies, assess risks, and determine how to safely integrate them into business workflows.
However, completely blocking AI is unlikely to be a long-term solution. AI technologies are rapidly becoming embedded into everyday software and productivity tools. Instead, the most effective approach is to develop a clear AI usage policy, outlining which tools are approved, what data can be shared, and how outputs should be verified. Combined with staff training and security awareness, this helps employees understand both the benefits and the boundaries of AI use.
By taking a measured approach that could include temporarily restricting access while developing policies and training, businesses can protect sensitive information today while preparing to adopt AI safely and responsibly in the future.
