Artificial Intelligence has officially moved from “emerging trend” to “everyday tool.
Your employees are using it to write emails. Summarize meetings. Generate code. Draft proposals. Build marketing content. Research vendors.
And they are often doing it without IT’s knowledge.
AI is not just a productivity tool. It is now a security conversation. And for many organizations, security policies have not caught up.
The Rise of “Shadow AI”
You have probably heard of shadow IT. Shadow AI is the next evolution.
Shadow AI happens when employees use AI tools without IT approval, oversight, or governance. That includes:
Uploading documents into public AI platforms
Using browser-based AI writing tools
Connecting AI apps to corporate email or file storage
Generating code with AI and deploying it internally
The intention is usually good. Employees want to work faster and smarter. But without guardrails, these tools can create risk in ways most businesses are not prepared for.
AI is moving faster than your policies. And attackers are moving just as fast.
Data Leakage Through AI Prompts
One of the biggest and most overlooked risks is data leakage.
When an employee pastes sensitive information into a public AI tool, they may be:
Sharing client data
Exposing internal financial details
Revealing intellectual property
Uploading confidential contracts
Even if the AI provider has strong privacy policies, your organization loses visibility and control the moment that data leaves your environment.
The risk is not always malicious. It is often accidental, but accidental data exposure is still a breach.
AI-Generated Phishing and Deepfakes
AI is not only a productivity multiplier. It is a threat multiplier. Attackers are now using AI to:
Write highly convincing phishing emails with perfect grammar
Clone executive voices for fraudulent phone calls
Generate deepfake videos
Automate social engineering campaigns
These attacks are faster, more personalized, and more scalable than ever before.
We recently discussed how digital platforms increase exposure in our blog, Your Social Media Is Part of Your Attack Surface. Just as social media has become a reconnaissance tool for attackers, AI is now amplifying what they can do with the information they gather.
The attack surface is expanding. AI is accelerating it.
Why AI Governance Matters
Blocking everything is not realistic. Allowing everything is reckless. The answer is governance.
AI governance means defining:
Which AI tools are approved for business use
What type of data can and cannot be entered into AI systems
How AI-generated content should be reviewed
What logging and monitoring is required
Who is responsible for oversight
This is not about slowing innovation. It is about enabling safe innovation.
Without governance, every employee becomes their own risk manager. That is not a sustainable strategy.
What Should Businesses Allow vs. Block?
Every organization is different, but most businesses should consider:
Allowing:
AI tools that operate within secure enterprise environments
AI integrated into platforms you already control, such as Microsoft 365
AI use cases that do not involve sensitive data
Blocking or Restricting:
Public AI tools for confidential data processing
Unsanctioned AI browser extensions
AI applications requesting excessive permissions
The key is visibility. If IT does not know what AI tools are being used, they cannot protect the organization.
AI Policies Should Not Be an Afterthought
AI policies should address:
Acceptable use guidelines
Data classification and handling rules
Security review processes for new AI tools
Employee training on AI risks
Incident response procedures specific to AI misuse
The goal is clarity. When employees know what is allowed and why, adoption becomes safer and more strategic.
This topic feels slightly uncomfortable because it forces leadership to admit something: AI adoption is already happening, whether there is a policy or not.
The question is not whether your team is using AI, the question is whether you have guardrails in place.
Ready to Put Guardrails Around AI?
AI can absolutely drive efficiency and growth. But without governance, it can also introduce unnecessary risk.
RCS Professional Services helps organizations:
Assess AI exposure and shadow AI usage
Develop AI governance and acceptable use policies
Align AI tools with Microsoft security controls
Strengthen identity, access management, and data protection
Train employees on secure AI adoption
If you want to embrace AI without compromising security, we are here to help.
